Joined
·
11 Posts
Hello, Everyone! :smile::smile::smile:
First off, let me say that I'm embarrassed to say I'm completely ignorant as to woodworking, woodworking/workshop terminology and I have little knowledge as to woodcutting equipment but I have always had a great respect and admiration for all individuals of the woodworking trade.
I am volunteering for a local woodworking project destined to create employment for men and women whom have recently lost their jobs and for retired individuals who need to supplement their incomes.
As part of my work, I am responsible for purchasing equipment to set up a small woodworking workshop for the manufacturing of small wooden crates that will be used for the packaging of fruits and vegetables.
For the sake of making the best purchasing decisions possible, I have come here as I need expert feedback and input as to the specifications of the equipment that will be best suited for getting the job done as efficiently and economically as possible. Faced with high electricity costs in the locality, I need to ensure the equipment will be suited for the workshop and that the equipment that will use the least amount of electricity possible to ensure the productivity and the profits for the woodworking shop will be as high as possible. With that said, the equipment also needs to be of a reliable, decent brand that will provide durability. All of the equipment needs to operate at 120 volts to ensure the lowest electrical bill possible, thereby allowing the project to be as profitable as possible for the benefit of the workers.
Here are the details.
The lumber that is going to be used is recently-cut (wet) softwood pine that hasn't undergone any treatment whatsoever. The lumber is obtained from the outer part of pine trees and it has quite a lot of bark on it. Since I am not sure of the correct terminology, I will also refer to the lumber as wood scraps/wood strips here.
A total of 27 wood pieces need to be cut for the assembly of each crate. 100 crates will be assembled per day for a grand total of 2700 wood pieces to be cut each day. Two experienced people will be working the saws.
The strips of pine wood scraps/lumber come in irregular sizes. They measure an average of 69 inch (1.75 metres) in length and have a thickness of approximately 4 inches (10 centimetres) at their thickest points, and each have a maximum width of approximately 12 inches (30 centimetres). None of the pieces of lumber measure more than 78 inches (2.00 metres) in length and they have an approximately width of 12 inches (30 centimetres) and a thickness of 4 inches (10 centimetres) at their thickest points.
Here are the measurements for the lumber/wood pieces:
Dimensions of the lumber/wood strips from which the smaller pieces will be cut:
Length: in between 59 inches (1.50 metres) and 78 inches (2.00 metres) ((69 inches (1.75 metres average))
Width: approx. 12 inches (30 centimetres)
Thickness: approx. 4 inches (10 centimetres (at its thickest point)
The thickness of the wood strips to be obtained from the above lumber is 3 cm or a little bit more than 1 inch (approx. 1 1/5 (one and one fifth) of an inch).
Questions:
I do know that a bandsaw is needed to strip down the lumber/wood strips pieces into workable pieces, some of which will afterward be cut down with a table saw into the working pieces that will be used in the assembly/construction of the crates. A bandsaw with an efficient dust collection system would be preferred, although it is not a must. The bandsaw I need must operate at 120 volts.
I need to know the following information:
Size of the bandsaw that will be best suited to cut down these wood strips/pieces: 9'', 10'', 12'', 17'', 24'', etc.
Characteristics/Strength of the motor: How many HP? RPM? Speed, etc. What is the minimum HP that would be needed? What is the maximum HP and speed would you recommend? What would be the ideal?
What brand/make/model bandsaw would you recommend me buying?
Would a 9'' or 10'' bandsaw do? More particularly, would a Craftsman 1/3 HP 3.5 AMP 10'' bandsaw with a speed of 2,780 feet (847 metres)/minute be a good choice? I was looking at the Craftsman 20400 10'' bandsaw due to the generally positive reviews I have read on it, for its sturdy build and for its apparent good dust recollection system. Is Craftsman to be completely avoided for getting the job done? Am I completely foolish to be looking at it for the particular needs the workshop will have, or would you recommend it? Could I even use a 9'' 2.5 AMP 1/3 HP bandsaw with a speed of 2460 feet (750 metres) per minute instead of the 10''? 1 AMP less electrical consumption would be better as this will mean lower electrical costs. For this reason, I would be inclined to go with the 9'' bandsaw. But the big question is, would a 9'' band saw do the job? The guy at the local hardware store told me to get a 24'' 7.5 HP bandsaw but I think this is excessive! After all, the lumber is soft pinewood, measures an an average of 69 inches (1.75 metres) long, is 12 inches (30 centimetres) wide and no more than 4 inches (10 cm) thick at its thickest point! Please advise.
Characteristics of the blade needed for the bandsaw: The cuts will be more rougher than fine (not for furniture) and I need to ensure there is as little wasted wood possible from each piece of lumber to maximize the number of working pieces that can be extracted from each piece of lumber/wood strip.
As for the bandsaw blade, it should be made from what material? How many teeth per inch must the blade of? What should its length be? What brand blade would you recommend, if any? Are there any blades out there that should be avoided because they are made of inferior materials and break easily? Which blades and brands should be sought? I need a durable blade that needs the least amount of sharpening possible, since sharpening would take away a lot of production time. What blade would you use in this situation? Please share your thoughts/recommendations. All input/advice is welcome and greatly appreciated! Please keep in mind that the lumber used is recently-cut pinewood.
Table Saw:
Some of the cleaned/stripped down lumber/wood pieces will need to be cut into smaller pieces, the largest/thickest of which having the following measurements:
Length: 12 ½'' (32 cm)
Width: 1'' (2.5 cm)
Thickness: approx. 1 inch (1 and one fifth of an inch) (3 cm)
I was thinking of purchasing either a table saw or a mitering table saw for cutting these pieces. Although the pieces required for the small crates don't need mitered cuts, my thoughts are that a mitering table saw would be useful to add some versatility to the workshop in the event mitered cuts would be needed for any other woodworking job. Should I just go with a straightforward table saw instead of the mitered saw? What characteristics would I need for either one?
What size table saw would you recommend? How many HP?, RPM?, etc. What is the minimum/maximum HP/size needed for best efficiency and durability of the equipment. What brand(s) would you recommend? Taking into account the pieces that need to be cut are relatively thin, how long would you operate the equipment? E.g. for two hours, and then take a 30 minute rest in between each work period? 5400 wood pieces to be cut each day. The work will be done outdoors in a well-ventilated area. Could overheating be an issue?
As for the disk, from what material should it be made of? How many teeth/inch must the disk have? Again, I need to ensure there is the least amount of wood wasted/wood dust generated possible, and also, it would be nice if production time could be kept to its highest if the time spent sharpening blades is kept to a minimum. Would a 40-T steel carbide disk be apt? What brand(s) disk would you recommend?
Lastly...I would appreciate it if you could give me an idea as to how long the equipment can be operated before overheating. I have downloaded the manuals of some equipment and they didn't mention operation times...they just mentioned ensuring the ventilation slots don't get covered with saw dust to prevent the motors from heating up. Do I need to get something heavy duty to avoid any heating issues? All work will be done outdoors in a well-ventilated covered/roofed workshop (the workshop will have no walls).
I would greatly appreciate any and all of your valuable feedback/comments/advice/recommendations as to my above questions so that I can complete my research and go ahead purchasing the equipment. I want to make sure I make the best purchasing decisions possible and I know your thoughts and opinions will be of great help to me in my making a decision.
Many thanks for taking to everyone who takes their time to respond. I truly appreciate your valuable time.
P.S. I would also need your recommendation as to which pneumatic nailing guns and compressor(s) to buy. Nail size is 1 ¼ inch (3d) . A total of 2,700 nails need to be nailed per day for the assembly of the 100 crates. How many nailings per gun would you recommend on a daily basis? How many nailing guns can, let's day, a 2HP compressor handle?
Women will also be doing the work, so something sturdy but lightweight would be nice. I suppose heavy duty guns would be necessary, right? What brand/make/model nail guns would you buy if you were in my position? What brand/size compressor would you recommend? How many HP do I need? How many nailing guns can be hooked up to each compressor?
Again, many many thanks. I anxiously look forward to reading your kind replies! :smile::smile::smile:
Jason
First off, let me say that I'm embarrassed to say I'm completely ignorant as to woodworking, woodworking/workshop terminology and I have little knowledge as to woodcutting equipment but I have always had a great respect and admiration for all individuals of the woodworking trade.
I am volunteering for a local woodworking project destined to create employment for men and women whom have recently lost their jobs and for retired individuals who need to supplement their incomes.
As part of my work, I am responsible for purchasing equipment to set up a small woodworking workshop for the manufacturing of small wooden crates that will be used for the packaging of fruits and vegetables.
For the sake of making the best purchasing decisions possible, I have come here as I need expert feedback and input as to the specifications of the equipment that will be best suited for getting the job done as efficiently and economically as possible. Faced with high electricity costs in the locality, I need to ensure the equipment will be suited for the workshop and that the equipment that will use the least amount of electricity possible to ensure the productivity and the profits for the woodworking shop will be as high as possible. With that said, the equipment also needs to be of a reliable, decent brand that will provide durability. All of the equipment needs to operate at 120 volts to ensure the lowest electrical bill possible, thereby allowing the project to be as profitable as possible for the benefit of the workers.
Here are the details.
The lumber that is going to be used is recently-cut (wet) softwood pine that hasn't undergone any treatment whatsoever. The lumber is obtained from the outer part of pine trees and it has quite a lot of bark on it. Since I am not sure of the correct terminology, I will also refer to the lumber as wood scraps/wood strips here.
A total of 27 wood pieces need to be cut for the assembly of each crate. 100 crates will be assembled per day for a grand total of 2700 wood pieces to be cut each day. Two experienced people will be working the saws.
The strips of pine wood scraps/lumber come in irregular sizes. They measure an average of 69 inch (1.75 metres) in length and have a thickness of approximately 4 inches (10 centimetres) at their thickest points, and each have a maximum width of approximately 12 inches (30 centimetres). None of the pieces of lumber measure more than 78 inches (2.00 metres) in length and they have an approximately width of 12 inches (30 centimetres) and a thickness of 4 inches (10 centimetres) at their thickest points.
Here are the measurements for the lumber/wood pieces:
Dimensions of the lumber/wood strips from which the smaller pieces will be cut:
Length: in between 59 inches (1.50 metres) and 78 inches (2.00 metres) ((69 inches (1.75 metres average))
Width: approx. 12 inches (30 centimetres)
Thickness: approx. 4 inches (10 centimetres (at its thickest point)
The thickness of the wood strips to be obtained from the above lumber is 3 cm or a little bit more than 1 inch (approx. 1 1/5 (one and one fifth) of an inch).
Questions:
I do know that a bandsaw is needed to strip down the lumber/wood strips pieces into workable pieces, some of which will afterward be cut down with a table saw into the working pieces that will be used in the assembly/construction of the crates. A bandsaw with an efficient dust collection system would be preferred, although it is not a must. The bandsaw I need must operate at 120 volts.
I need to know the following information:
Size of the bandsaw that will be best suited to cut down these wood strips/pieces: 9'', 10'', 12'', 17'', 24'', etc.
Characteristics/Strength of the motor: How many HP? RPM? Speed, etc. What is the minimum HP that would be needed? What is the maximum HP and speed would you recommend? What would be the ideal?
What brand/make/model bandsaw would you recommend me buying?
Would a 9'' or 10'' bandsaw do? More particularly, would a Craftsman 1/3 HP 3.5 AMP 10'' bandsaw with a speed of 2,780 feet (847 metres)/minute be a good choice? I was looking at the Craftsman 20400 10'' bandsaw due to the generally positive reviews I have read on it, for its sturdy build and for its apparent good dust recollection system. Is Craftsman to be completely avoided for getting the job done? Am I completely foolish to be looking at it for the particular needs the workshop will have, or would you recommend it? Could I even use a 9'' 2.5 AMP 1/3 HP bandsaw with a speed of 2460 feet (750 metres) per minute instead of the 10''? 1 AMP less electrical consumption would be better as this will mean lower electrical costs. For this reason, I would be inclined to go with the 9'' bandsaw. But the big question is, would a 9'' band saw do the job? The guy at the local hardware store told me to get a 24'' 7.5 HP bandsaw but I think this is excessive! After all, the lumber is soft pinewood, measures an an average of 69 inches (1.75 metres) long, is 12 inches (30 centimetres) wide and no more than 4 inches (10 cm) thick at its thickest point! Please advise.
Characteristics of the blade needed for the bandsaw: The cuts will be more rougher than fine (not for furniture) and I need to ensure there is as little wasted wood possible from each piece of lumber to maximize the number of working pieces that can be extracted from each piece of lumber/wood strip.
As for the bandsaw blade, it should be made from what material? How many teeth per inch must the blade of? What should its length be? What brand blade would you recommend, if any? Are there any blades out there that should be avoided because they are made of inferior materials and break easily? Which blades and brands should be sought? I need a durable blade that needs the least amount of sharpening possible, since sharpening would take away a lot of production time. What blade would you use in this situation? Please share your thoughts/recommendations. All input/advice is welcome and greatly appreciated! Please keep in mind that the lumber used is recently-cut pinewood.
Table Saw:
Some of the cleaned/stripped down lumber/wood pieces will need to be cut into smaller pieces, the largest/thickest of which having the following measurements:
Length: 12 ½'' (32 cm)
Width: 1'' (2.5 cm)
Thickness: approx. 1 inch (1 and one fifth of an inch) (3 cm)
I was thinking of purchasing either a table saw or a mitering table saw for cutting these pieces. Although the pieces required for the small crates don't need mitered cuts, my thoughts are that a mitering table saw would be useful to add some versatility to the workshop in the event mitered cuts would be needed for any other woodworking job. Should I just go with a straightforward table saw instead of the mitered saw? What characteristics would I need for either one?
What size table saw would you recommend? How many HP?, RPM?, etc. What is the minimum/maximum HP/size needed for best efficiency and durability of the equipment. What brand(s) would you recommend? Taking into account the pieces that need to be cut are relatively thin, how long would you operate the equipment? E.g. for two hours, and then take a 30 minute rest in between each work period? 5400 wood pieces to be cut each day. The work will be done outdoors in a well-ventilated area. Could overheating be an issue?
As for the disk, from what material should it be made of? How many teeth/inch must the disk have? Again, I need to ensure there is the least amount of wood wasted/wood dust generated possible, and also, it would be nice if production time could be kept to its highest if the time spent sharpening blades is kept to a minimum. Would a 40-T steel carbide disk be apt? What brand(s) disk would you recommend?
Lastly...I would appreciate it if you could give me an idea as to how long the equipment can be operated before overheating. I have downloaded the manuals of some equipment and they didn't mention operation times...they just mentioned ensuring the ventilation slots don't get covered with saw dust to prevent the motors from heating up. Do I need to get something heavy duty to avoid any heating issues? All work will be done outdoors in a well-ventilated covered/roofed workshop (the workshop will have no walls).
I would greatly appreciate any and all of your valuable feedback/comments/advice/recommendations as to my above questions so that I can complete my research and go ahead purchasing the equipment. I want to make sure I make the best purchasing decisions possible and I know your thoughts and opinions will be of great help to me in my making a decision.
Many thanks for taking to everyone who takes their time to respond. I truly appreciate your valuable time.
P.S. I would also need your recommendation as to which pneumatic nailing guns and compressor(s) to buy. Nail size is 1 ¼ inch (3d) . A total of 2,700 nails need to be nailed per day for the assembly of the 100 crates. How many nailings per gun would you recommend on a daily basis? How many nailing guns can, let's day, a 2HP compressor handle?
Women will also be doing the work, so something sturdy but lightweight would be nice. I suppose heavy duty guns would be necessary, right? What brand/make/model nail guns would you buy if you were in my position? What brand/size compressor would you recommend? How many HP do I need? How many nailing guns can be hooked up to each compressor?
Again, many many thanks. I anxiously look forward to reading your kind replies! :smile::smile::smile:
Jason