[mgmine]

This is just my personal opinion (and you know what they say about opinions) but if you have electricity nearby and the job takes more than a few seconds then use a corded tool. Battery tools are handy, but they can't get the job done like a corded tool. Let's say your battery is getting low and you are in the middle of the job. What happens to the rpm of the bit? It starts going slower and then what happens. Your otherwise nice job gets ruined. Yes, you can switch the battery out but by the time you realize that something is wrong it's too late. A cord won't get in the way and besides you will find that if you mount the router on a table, you will never see the cord.

 

[mgmine]

Before diving into router land, I would suggest that you build a table. Signs aren't something that you would make but the shelves with heart cut outs would be made on the table. You would use a pattern bit and a template. Cut the heart out with a jig saw a little smaller than the actual heart size. The edges of the shelves would also be shaped or rounded using a table. I would suggest Craigslist for a small drill press. Your shop vac would be hooked up behind the fence to give you the dust prevention that you will need.

 

[mgmine]

FYI A motor powered by.lithium ion stops dead in its tracks when the batter dies....on any brushless or brushed motor cordless tool.

I didn't know that. My battery are older DeWalt 18.5V ones. So, the lithium ones don't give you warning that they are losing power? The just stop in the middle of whatever you are doing?

 

[mgmine]

You really can't have a shop without a good table saw. If you can find an old cast iron Craftsman with a separate motor buy it. You mentioned the DeWalt planer. If you get a plainer then go for the DeWalt. You cannot use an electric hand planer to make things smooth and straight. Don't bother with a jointer planer there are work arounds, so you don't need it. A router is actually pretty far down on a list of must have tools. If you plan on making furniture, then get a pocket hole jig a table saw and a RO sander.

 

[mgmine]

To flatten a workbench top I used the DeWalt 735 planer. I planed down enough 2x3's on 3 sides to make the bench about 30" wide. I then glued the top up in 3 sections that would fit through the planer. After each section was planed smooth, I then glued the 3 sections together and sanded whatever imperfection there was when the 3 were joined together.

 

[mgmine]

There are a few things that will help to keep you safe. The first is to try and not stand directly behind a board being ripped. This will protect you from being hit in the stomach should the board kick back. If you can afford it get a set of Jessem Stock Guides or some other type of hold down. This would make it next to impossible for the board to kick back Next would be to never to cut strips that are so narrow that you risk cutting your fingers off. Cut the narrow strip on the outside of the blade if possible and not trapped between the bade and the fence. There are other things to keep you safe but I would go int everything. As for the saw as I mentioned before, look for a good used saw. Like almost everything else you buy today the newer things are not built like the older ones. Look for cast iron, look for a separate motor at least 1 HP and if possible, something made in the US or Canada. The old General machines that were made in Canada are good as are the Craftsman and Delta and of course Powermatic. Where in Canada are you located?

 

[mgmine]

Most saws will tilt. If you post links to what you are interested in, I'm sure that you will get feedback as to whether or not it's a good saw and price. I took a look at Owen sound Craigslist but didn't see anything. You can always save your search and have Craigslist notify you when something comes up.

 

[mgmine]

Keep us updated, If you have the room you can always add another table saw. The advantage to having two saws is that if you are working on a project that requires many cuts the same size you don't have to keep adjusting your saw when you switch to another size or different type of blade.