Alternate title: is indexing full sheets of plywood a PITA?
I’ve pretty much settled on the SO5 for my new machine, but do I really need the 4x4?
Help me decide?
I CAN make space for the 4x4, but the 2x4 would be an easier fit. I’m guessing 60% of what I THINK I will be making on it would fit 2x4 with no indexing needed, but %80-%85 would fit the 4x4.
Is indexing really as easy as some videos make it out to be? Or am I going to be annoyed at slight errors and finicky setup?
Some things I am wanting to make: custom studio furniture with tops and parts over 4’ long, cabinetry built inside, and finer furniture. Also lamps but those could mostly be done on a 2x2 machine. Mostly plywood some hardwood. Also looking forward to being able to do aluminum and brass, acrylic etc.
Also setting up a side hustle for my wife painting signs and decor items I can crank out on the machine.
Also looking to get the 2.2kw VFD, in a buy once cry once type of guy!
go with the 4x4. Yes, tiling is possible. But not as precise as needed with fine furniture. And: if you can make space for the 4x4 one will need that space also if you do larger pieces with tiling anyway.
I do not now about the kW of the spindles. I have the “regular” air cooled 65mm spindle, and never had the impression the power would not be enough. I did never cut metal though, might be different, don’t know. But for wood the 65mm spindle is very good. If you do serious work avoid the router. Good for smaller (shorter cutting times since the routers are not made for hours and hours of uninterrupted work) projects.
If you are tiling a piece that is 4x4, you will need to support the part that is off the machine. You will have a footprint similar to the 4x4 machine anyways… Just go with the bigger option; you can do so much on it.
This really depends on what you are going to be doing, but if you ever decide to build cabinets or something similar… You want the 4x4.
I did my kitchen cabinets on the 4x4 and I wish I had more space while I was doing it. No way would I have been able to do it on a 4x2.
I have a 2x4 so5 pro. I have not done the tiling process as yet.
I would assume you need at least the stock length minus the bed length on BOTH sides of the machine for input and output. Probably add feet to be able to move the material.
Once you figure out the indexing, I think it would be easy enough, but it will never be easier than not needing to do it at all.
The 2.2kW spindle is awesome, it’s a great choice. (I say that as the person who did not want to sell a bigger spindle, but I was proven wrong once again)
It sounds like you’re leaning towards the 4x4 because it can handle more of your projects without needing indexing. While indexing is possible, having extra space could help avoid some potential issues. I’ve done some tiling and didn’t find it to be a pain.
Watching this video a couple of times and practicing with a few pieces really helped, as practice always does.
Given the variety of projects you have in mind—like custom furniture, cabinetry, and more—the larger bed will offer more flexibility. Your wife’s sign and decor business could also benefit from the additional capacity.
Although I don’t have one, I think investing in the 2.2kw VFD is a smart move. It fits well with your “buy once, cry once” approach, ensuring a solid setup.
I had the space for the 4x4, so that’s what I went with. If you have the room and would use the larger size, then my recommendation would be to go for the larger size.
For me. I do nested parts. The larger my stock piece the less waste I have. The less time the spindle sits idle.
After running two 3xxl for a couple years with hdz and 2.2kw spindle. I upgraded to a 4x4 with the same spindle. Paid for the 4x4 in material savings alone in the first year. Plus I get 6-8x the production as a single xxl due to rigidity speed and size.
I what was a 3 days a week sector of my business has turned into a 1/2-1 day a week sector.
Sorry for the rambling. Get the bigger machine.
There are never days I wish I had a smaller machine. There are days I wish I had a bigger machine but I would have to replace my table saw with it to make it fit.
I have a smaller Shapeoko 3 XL, and generally work on smaller projects but here is one advantage to increased bed size that I don’t see a lot of people talk about. I frequently use fixtures to hold work.
I have this fixture mounted on the (far) right side of my work area, as I am currently working on some boxes for xmas presents. But this leaves the left side of my (small by comparison) Shapeoko 3 XL open to work on other projects while the Epoxy is curing.
You mentioned side-hustle, efficiency is money, so I would think a well used 4x4 work area would therefore pay for itself.
I have the 2x4 unit.
I would have gone to 4x4 but my environment would not comfortably support it.
The cost difference is negligible given the extra capability.
I’m going to go against the norm here and state that the 2x4 is a HIGHLY under rated size. I have a 4x4, and have used over 2’ of Y only a few times. I have a larger shop, so I have the room for the 4x4 and glad I have it. But if I had just a slightly smaller shop, I would have gone 2x4. A bench for a 4x4 is an undertaking involving more than a sheet of material. A 2x4 fits on top of most of the toolchests available now, with a slightly extended top.
We’re almost done building our shop; we opted for 4x4 and my buddy found a table from Kreg that has turned out to be a fantastic investment. While building it we weren’t sure it was going to be very stable but holy cow the thing is rock solid.
We use the Kreg tables a lot in the shop — some folks have gone with diagonal bracing, and just dropping a sheet of plywood on the bottom as a shelf helps with mass and so forth.
