I have been exploring woodworking for approximately 6 years. My Father-in-law gave me my first power tool, a Craftsmen fixed base router. Soon after, I purchased a circular saw and some other various hand tools. As to how I caught the woodworking bug I can't be certain. Perhaps owning my first home brought on the desire to build or simply a childhood interest reincarnated. My initial purchases were modest not knowing if this new hobby would vanish faster than my interest to learn calligraphy. What was I thinking? With router and circular saw in tow, I was ready to build. My only knowledge of woodworking other than grade school woodshop class, where I was more interested in Cindy and Sally than mortise and tenon, was The New Yankee Workshop. I decided to purchase one of Norm's books providing numerous projects that any new hobbyist could tackle. Right? Well, not quite. I quickly learned many techniques used by Norm are done on large power tools, such as a table saw, bandsaw, and the like. After a moment of realization and clarity I pushed forward choosing one of the more simple projects, a bookcase. Many lessons were learned on this project but the most significant was my growing appreciation and enjoyment for this hobby. Three years in a make shift single car garage workshop I managed to build several bookcases, a blanket chest, an entry bench, and various storage units. All with nothing more than a circular saw, a router, and a lot of sawdust.

Throughout all this woodworking, my wife and I were blessed with two healthy kids, a boy and a girl. With a larger family came the need for a larger home. During the agonizing search for a new house, we came across what was to be our current home. From the very first step into the house there was no doubt in either of our minds this was the home for us. Everything about it was perfect. It felt like home. Then the decisive moment arrived when I went down to the basement. What I discovered was a finished workshop! That was it....where do I sign?

My woodworking adventures continued relatively unchanged for another 3 years. During this time an occasional purchase for new router bits, clamps, and other miscellaneous tools ensued. My workshop, or as my wife likes to refer it as the perpetual money pit, was quickly growing to a full-blown shop. Still something was missing. That something was a table saw.

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