6 Best Woodworking Machinery and Tools - WL West’s Pick
A woodworker's tools are as much part of the trade as the wood itself. A rather cynical French saying goes that bad craftsmen always just ‘happen’ to have bad tools. However, we think that when the timber you work with is the size or weight of a horse, you're entitled to some damn good machinery to see your projects through.
From their origins in the mid nineteenth century, a key factor to the success and long life of WL West Timber as a company is a keen eye for investment in advanced machinery. Our yard features the highest quality, sturdiest heavy-duty machines available.
From planer tables to huge combination woodworking machines like our brand new MEBOR sawmill, here are six pieces of machinery in which any growing timber business ought to consider investing. We've worked with most of these for years; safe to say they're the best in the business.
1. Weinig Multi-Rip Saw
W L West & Sons Ltd Weinig Multi-Rip Saw
A combination of longitudinal and width cutting, commonly referred to as ‘ripping’, generally makes up the first stage in all solid wood processing. Cutting to size accurately is paramount to all woodworking projects; getting it wrong has massive repercussions down the line.
The multiple blades on this automated saw allow for the size of the cut to be changed while the machine is still running, saving us lots of time and effort.
2. Weinig Unimat 1000 - 7 Head Profile Moulder
Key to a woodworking business with projects as varied as ours is versatility. A 7-headed moulder like our Weinig Unimat allows our joinery department to machine bespoke profiles for each project.
3. Hydraulic Presses
WL West Hydraulic press
Not technically a machine, but still a very useful piece of kit.
Hydraulic presses of this calibre allow us to laminate (glue) timber together for worktops and table tops.
Using this method we can also laminate beams using a PU adhesive, or external adhesive if needed. We can clamp sections of up to 1.2m wide and 4m long.
4. 5-axis CNC Machine
The latest illustration and design software compared to a toddler's magic drawing board is the analogy that comes to mind for this marvel.
CNC means Computer Numerical Control. The 5-axis refers to the five directions in which the machine's cutting tool may move. From the machining centre, the cutting tool may move along linear axes X, Y and Z, as well as rotate on axes A and B.
In the old world, it was necessary to not only draw designs by hand but to also follow them by hand, such that many curves were very difficult to render. But the creativity of engineers needs no longer be frustrated. The CNC system allows for a computerised design to be directly sent to the machine, where an automated cutting tool follows instructions that match the design's blueprints, themselves created with sophisticated designing software.
As well as ensuring precision to the nearest millimetre, this makes it possible to approach any part of the working material from any direction.
The result? A world of possibilities: with such freedom of movement, our Felder 5 Axis CNC machine can perform complex and intricate tasks to give timber any shape required.
We use it a lot on fir doors and joinery projects in particular.
5. Dust Extractor
WL West & Sons Ltd Mebor sawmill
Be not surprised, reader. Yes, a dust extractor is not only on this list, but damn near first place on it, too. Dust extractors are without doubt the single most important piece of machinery for any timber and sawmill businesses approaching industrial size
Say your CNC machine is out of order: your lead time may go up but at least you have your premises still standing. If your dust extractor goes out of order, the entire business grinds to a halt.
We love our dust extractor. Without it, we wouldn't have a business - quite literally. With no extraction system, our entire timber yard would go up in flames every twenty minutes.
6. Mebor HTZ 1400 Extreme 20
Of course, our huge, brand-new, definition-of-heavy-duty mothership of all sawmills would take the top spot.
Now that our MEBOR HTZ 1400 Extreme 20 is finally in place and fully functional, we're able to take on even bigger projects. Designed with the planet's hardest tropical woods in mind, there's no log this sawmill can't take (except maybe giant sequoia or baobabs).
We've waxed lyrical about this green monster for months, so we'll let a video of its capacities do the talking for us.
WL West Timber is a family-owned sawmill & timber merchant in West Sussex with over 155 years’ industry experience. We provide a wide range of air-dried oak and kiln-dried oak timber products and supplies. We also build and install custom projects for our customers.
For more news, tips and updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
For entirely finished products, timber supplies or woodworking tools, have a look at our online shop.
