I keep spending money

[chippygeoff]

Hi everyone. Purely for something to do, and I hope you all find this interesting, I sat down earlier and just wrote down some figures and at the end of it all I found it staggering. As many of you know I have only recently got back into scroll sawing and some would say all you really need is a scroll saw and a piece of sandpaper, that may be true for some people but in my workshop at the moment I have a Dewalt 788 scroll saw, a band saw. a compound mitre saw. a drill press, several rolls and packets of silicone carbide abrasives in various makes and grit grades. a shelf full of various wood and a large range of finishing items like sealers and waxes.

 

Because I am so hooked on scroll sawing, it is like a disease and gets worse with each passing day, I find I need other things now like an air filter, a vacuum dust extractor, a belt disc sander, a Dremel with various attachments. a work light. $200 of blades from Mike, a foot switch for the scroll saw, Oh, and an Excalibur 21. I am fortunate that I shall be able to get these items in a couple of weeks and then there is my wish list for Christmas. A bench top thicknesser, a stack of rare wood and a hard drive full of new plans for the coming year, not much to ask for but when you add up all the cost it is mind blowing.I will have to attend craft fairs for the next couple of years to pay for it all.Having stated all of this there are many scrollers out there with far less than me producing really good work while there are yet still others that have every conceivable tool and don't know what way the scroll saw blade goes in. Its a funny old world we live in.

[amazingkevin]

Hello chippygeoff!Very interesting list of tools you have.I'm working bout of a car trunck and cut down on a lot of things you have.I use scroll reverse blades to not need a sander ,a fan and scroll outdoors to avoid the dust and dust collectors and face masks.I try to get wood small enough to fit the scroll saw with out cutting down to

size with a table saw.i use a battery drill instead of a drill press as space for tools in a ford focus is small.I've made a rolling storeage table ,scrolling table to keep on the side of my friends car repair shop out of the rain.I still have all the good tools ,planer,sanders etc in a small warehouse but work around them as the price of gas to mget them is high.Thats my 2 cents worth!

[Bill WIlson]

Hey Geoff,

 

Like any good hobby, the relentless need for more equipment is part of the bargain. I've been making sawdust for over 30 years and have come to accumulate a number of tools. I still find that there is no end in sight, as old tools wear out and need replaced or upgraded or new ones come to light that I just discovered I needed. Sometimes I think tool hoarding is half the fun.

[qlty]

You didn't mention a drill press important if you are stacking to get starting holes in straight or a band saw for resawing for small projects on your wish list and it can go on and on =$$$$,how ever I have obtained much of my tool inventory from yard sales and craigs list at a fraction of the new retail cost.

[Marshall]

I can say that if you have a hobby sooner or later you'll have what you need , it'll just take time to get what you need or want . I can say for the last 25 years I've collected just what I've wanted and needed and it's come too the point that I need no more or have room for any more . Just remember that if it's your passion it will probably last - and this will be part of my retirement - my hobby . I think that we all need a hobby or something that helps with building our patience - it has me .......MB.... .

[PawPawRay]

I think the old addage "He who dies with the most tools -- wins" is in the back of most of our minds. How ever, I'm cheep and try to make as much as I can. I'm in the middle of making my own thickness sander.

[DeenaKay]

I understand this completely. My daughter works for Harbor Freight, and it is sooo hard not to stop in for a visit. I am taking a week off from my day job in Jan. to reorganize my work room. Need more shelves, more hangers for clamps, and just more more more.

[wombatie]

I think that a warning sign should be put on all scroll saw saying in very large letters,

 

SCROLLING IS ADDICTIVE.

 

Marg

[Clayton717]

I think that a warning sign should be put on all scroll saw saying in very large letters,

 

SCROLLING IS ADDICTIVE.

 

Marg

 

I agree with you 100% Marge, they should put one on most power tools.

You think scrolling is a money pit, try geting into pen turning. But both of them are great hobbies.

[Travis]

Nobody said hobbies were cheap. They're a money pit. Good thing they're so much fun.

 

If it makes you feel better, my dad's hobby is fishing. He has a $30k boat sitting in his driveway that he puts into the water 4-5 times a year.

[qlty]

I would guess 1/2 or more of my tools (and i have a bunch) were obtained at less than 1/2 the retail price at tag sales or on Craig's list.Did I mention I am a bit Frugal ?