Official Luthiers Forum!

I thought some of you other folks who have limited workspace, like me, might be interested in the XShop. It probably wouldn't fit the bill for the full time builders but would probably work for us part-timers. Just FYI, I have no connection with Skil. If nothing else we can debate the merits of all-in-one tools.
Skil XShop

_________________
Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

Dunno, the only part of the tool that looks vaguely attractive is the tablesaw bit, and even then, I think you can do better. You have to supply your own router for the router table, your own portable belt sander for the belt sander, the drill press (which looks a LOT flimsier than my cheapie chinese drill press) is also BYO, and not lookin' that great..

I'd just go buy a table saw and a staionary sander, and hide the sander under said saw when it wasn't in use. At first glance, that doesn't look like particularly good value for money.Mattia Valente38397.183275463

I don't know how much it cost so I can't say if it is a smart thing to buy, but it looks like a really good thing for someone with a very small shop or garage. My table saw is exactly like that one without the other tool extensions. It is a really good saw for the money, $200.00 with stand, 15 amp motor.

They sell Skil products in my local big DIY store. They seem very well made for the money they charge. For the small hobby builder, doing three or four guitars a year, who can't afford money and space for separate dedicated bench tools this seems to be a good alternative. OK you definitely need a separate bench pillar drill but I see no reason why the rest of the outfit shouldn't be fine as a starter kit.

Colin

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

If you look at the contest page, the complete setup is about $575. A decent table saw and router table will match that. I'm thinking of building by own with the router table as an outfeed extension of the table saw. I would consider this if I hadn't already bought the table saw and drill press. I do own several Skil tools and they all are holding up very well.    Don A38397.7472685185

_________________
Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

I saw the new Skil xshop at lowes the other night. It was going for $400.00 without the attachments. For the money it looks like a bad investment. The fence isn't any good, it has very small work surfaces, uses a small blade, and is probably underpowered. For the same money you would be able to get a better bench top saw and seperate router table. Basically, that is all that comes with the model they had. I was surprised it was as bad as it was. The few Skil tools I already have are pretty good.

[QUOTE=Joe V] I saw the new Skil xshop at lowes the other night. It was going for $400.00 without the attachments. For the money it looks like a bad investment. The fence isn't any good, it has very small work surfaces, uses a small blade, and is probably underpowered. For the same money you would be able to get a better bench top saw and seperate router table. Basically, that is all that comes with the model they had. I was surprised it was as bad as it was. The few Skil tools I already have are pretty good.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the feedback Joe. I was afraid it was too good to be true. Well back to building a combo unit with MDF.

_________________
Don Atwood
Arlington, VA