A big hi! from India

2150 Views 20 Replies 12 Participants Last post by paramphoto, Dec 12, 2011

paramphoto

Discussion Starter · Nov 10, 2011

My name's Param and I've recently joined routerforums - though I've been a hobby woodworker all through my childhood, it's only about three years ago I decided to quit my corporate job in the automotive world and follow my passion by setting up 25, Mulberry, an interiors and residential landscaping outfit in Bangalore, India.

Now, I'm finally, finally (whew!) setting up a dedicated, 1200 square-foot woodworking shop with the best hand and power tools available in India - believe me, I envy you for the range of stuff you have in the Western world and the prices you can buy them at!

However, even if I can't get those really, really nice tools, I think I'm really going to benefit from your collective knowledge through this forum. I look forward to interacting and learning from all of you.

If you'd like an idea of what I have newly picked up in the power tools department, my profile has a small list - yep, I know the idea of a combination woodworking machine is alien to those in the USA, and even more so, a "Chiwanese" one. But they say a bad carpenter blames his tools, so I'm going to go right ahead and make the best of what I have - just to give you an idea of what can be done with pretty much nothing, the kitchen featured here was built (by me and my small team) out of recycled, Burma teak wood, a couple of block planes, a few old chisels... and a 4-in handheld Hitachi circular saw - I hope you like what you see!

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paramphoto

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 11, 2011

many thanks, all!

xplorx4 said:
Greetings Param and welcome to the router forums, we are glad to have you join us. Wow some nice work!!!

Thanks so much for the welcome... I'm sure there's a wealth of knowledge out there with you all... and I'm hoping to learn and share! Thanks, xplorx... just looking forward to working with some REAL tools and a REAL space now!

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paramphoto

Discussion Starter · #9 · Nov 14, 2011

thanks for the words of encouragement!

OPG3 said:
Param, After reviewing your photos I must say that it looks really nice! My dad was raised in a very nice home which was built with zero power tools! It had some amazing woodwork, which including made-on-site turnings and fretwork, a very nice curved stairway and some roof dormers "to die for". There is very little woodwork that cannot be done with hand tools, but your project looks as if there were zero "handicaps". Keep-up the good work and the photos are great! Thanks for sharing them! OPG3

I agree, OPG3... India could've boasted of some 'master carpenters' even a decade ago - people with no power tools, the most basic of kit, but with an arsenal of aesthetics and workmanship. Unfortunately, all that is gone now! What I'm trying to do now is to bring back some of that culture into woodworking... thanks for your words of encouragement!

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paramphoto

Discussion Starter · #14 · Dec 12, 2011

Slapshot said:
Welcome, it's nice to see someone chase their dream for the passion not just for the money.

Andy, many thanks for the words of encouragement! Hope to continue interacting with you on routerforums in time to come!

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paramphoto

Discussion Starter · #15 · Dec 12, 2011 (Edited)

gav said:
Param, I notice you don't actually have a router listed as one of your tools.
I have in the past seen that there are some routers made in India. Have you any experience with them ? They look quite different in styling to the ones we're used to.

Hi Gavin, we do have routers available here - Bosch, Makita, Hitachi, Black and Decker, DeWalt... and a plethora of other makes that I haven't heard of! These are, of course, handhelds and could also be mounted, as is often done, onto a table.

On the other hand, I do have a router built into my 5-in-one ML393-C combination machine - it's a 3hp/44volt-3phase heavy-duty unit that in India we call a 'spindle shaper' with a 2hp 440v-3phase dust collector system attached - it's built into the outfeed side of the sliding table saw and can be cranked up as and when needed - pic of the combo machine's attached - BTW, the combination machine has these - a 12-inch tilt saw, with a 4-in scoring blade that also tilts, on a 6-foot sliding table with an outrigger system, a spindle shaper, a jointer/planer, a thicknesser, and a horizontal drill/slot mortiser.... each with their own, dedicated 3hp motors.

True, I don't as yet have a handheld plunge/laminate router in my kit, but am hoping to add one in a short while and would appreciate the right advise on this future acquisition!

Remember, I'm still working to build my shop, and as yet, pretty much of all the kit listed with me is brand-new and box packaged or warehoused... I have not started making sawdust with them as yet, and already the fingers are itching to get some action started!

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paramphoto

Discussion Starter · #16 · Dec 12, 2011

glwatson said:
Param, look like you don't have anything or one to blame for the woodworking you turned out. Very professional...Like to see your shop when it is finished.
keep up the great work.
GLW

George, many thanks... hope to do and show better work in time to come!

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paramphoto

Discussion Starter · #18 · Dec 12, 2011

willblev76 said:
Welcome form the STL-MO to the forum!

Many thanks!

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paramphoto

Discussion Starter · #19 · Dec 12, 2011

harrysin said:
I'll bet there will be a fair few wet keyboards as members salivate with envy whilst looking at that combo machine.

Ha ha ha... Harry, the grass is always greener on the other side... I've been looking at the panel saws/jointers and the rest of the kit you have in the West and wow, I must say, do you have options!

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paramphoto

Discussion Starter · #21 · Dec 12, 2011 (Edited)

gav said:
Sweet Combi machine !! That is going to make cutting large sheets a breeze.
Out of interest, how much does a machine like that sell for in India ?
In one of the pics of your kitchen I noticed an upper cabinet door that looks like the panel is woven wood . Is it woven wood or is it carved to look like that ?
I had been thinking of attempting to weave some thin stock I've had laying around for a while.

Hi Gavin, well... the combo machine with a dust collector costs about 300,000 Indian rupees... or about 6000 USD... not inexpensive from what I know!

Sharp eye there! The upper panel over the 'fridge is indeed woven wood... it's a nice way to allow ventilation if you don't want to go the 'louvers' way... the stock needs to be kinda green, and after sizing it right, I usually dunk it into a bucket of water for a few days before I start weaving... this is teak wood, BTW.

And if you notice, the woven woodwork continues on the left too, below the countertop (the same pic) ... three drawers that hold potatoes, onions, beets and other veggies that'd rather breathe and not be stuck into the fridge!

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A big hi! from India

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