BuffaloFeeds » Toolmonger » February 15, 2010

Toolmonger (6 unread)

If Your Shelf Is A Rockin’…

Posted: February 15th, 2010, 11:11am MST by Benjamen Johnson

Using shelf pins is one of the most common ways to make adjustable shelves, but they do have at least one downside — if the shelf isn’t exactly flat or the case is racked, the shelves might not contact all four supports, leaving you with a shelf that rocks — and not in a hip way.

Spiral Supports fit in the same holes as 5mm shelf pins and use a unique method to make sure all four supports always contact the shelf. If one support isn’t touching the shelf, just use a flat blade screwdriver to turn the support clockwise until the shelf is stable. Another advantage of these Spiral Supports is that you can use the supports to raise or lower the shelf — albeit by a small amount.

The Spiral Supports are available in clear, white, light brown, dark brown, and black. For $6 you can buy 25 clear spiral supports at Woodcraft; otherwise you can purchase 15 Spiral Supports for $7 on the corporate website.

Spiral Supports [Corporate Site]
Spiral Supports [Woodcraft]
B&D’s Decked-Out Li-Ion Driver

Posted: February 15th, 2010, 10:31am MST by Chuck Cage

Admittedly, it’s so covered with carefully-branded “features” that we almost completely overlooked this little driver when it launched. But considering the positive experiences we’ve had with the Smartdriver, we spun around for another look. Here’s what we see at second glance: a Smartdriver-like 3.6V li-ion screwdriver with the addition of a clutch and a screw holder.

And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Remove the contrived “SmartSelect Technology” sticker — complete with “project icons” representing lengths of screws — and you’ve got a simple clutch just like you see on larger drivers. And even with only 44 in-lb of torque to apply toward stripping a screw, we can clearly see uses for a clutch in this application.

The screw holder we’re not so sure about. It’ll prove handy if you’re driving screws a lot, but many of the people we know who’re big fans of the Smartdriver use it primarily for removing and installing machine screws. They’d benefit from the clutch, but the screw holder — not so much. Of course, it’s retractable, so just keeping it stowed makes sense, too.

So the bottom line: For around $55 — and as low as $40 online — you’ll pay about $15 more than a new Smartdriver, and about $25 more than what we’ve normally seen the Smartdriver go for on sale. Is $15-$25 a fair price to pay for a clutch and screw holder? That depends entirely on how many wood screws you drive.

LI4000 Li-Ion Screwdriver [Black & Decker]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]
Dealmonger: E-Z UP Eclipse II 8′ x 8′ Canopy

Posted: February 15th, 2010, 10:09am MST by Nick Carter

Right now E-Z Up 4 Less has the EZ UP Eclipse II 8′ x 8′ Canopy for $429.00.

We’ve been using the E-Z Up Eclipse II for many years when vending our jewelry outdoors. In the winter months I set it up on the back deck as a place to do woodworking and other messy tasks that are best not done in the house. The name E-Z Up is a bit of a misnomer — while it’s not difficult to get the canopy up, it is a bit of a struggle for one person, especially someone small (like my wife). It is incredibly easy to take down but E-Z Down isn’t as good a name.

The Eclipse II has a steel frame and is quite rugged. In all the time we’ve used it, the only maintenance has been replacing the occasional nut or screw that came loose. There are numerous knockoffs of the pop-up canopy out there, so I’d love to hear opinions on other brands that people use. When shopping around it’s important to make sure you’re getting the canopy and frame. Many vendors show the complete unit, but the listing is only for the fabric top or the steel frame alone.

Ez Up Eclipse II 8′ x 8′ Canopy [ezup4less.com]
Cheap-Ass Tools: Harbor Freight’s Multifuntion Power Tool

Posted: February 15th, 2010, 9:47am MST by Chuck Cage

Don’t have $400 to shell out for a Fein Multimaster? Don’t even have $100 for Dremel’s Multi-Max? How ’bout $40 for Harbor Freight’s Chicago Electric knock-off? I can’t imagine the build quality falls anywhere in the range of the Fein and Dremel, but hey — if you’ve got $40 you can find out.

It delivers 19,000 oscillations per minute (compared to as much as 21,000 for the Fein and Dremel). But that’s where the similarities end. While the Fein kit includes a ton of sanding, sawing, and other accessories and the Dremel ships in a variety of kits, the HF model ships with a couple of saws, one cutter, and two sanding sheets.

But here’s the real downer: While the Fein and Dremel offer variable-speed settings, you get just an on-off switch with the HF special. And we’re betting that’s a real deal-killer on this tool, which is designed for fine, delicate work.

What do you think? Is the Fein really $300 better than the Dremel? Is the Dremel $60 better than the HF? Let us know in comments.

Multi-Function Power Tool [Harbor Freight]
Razor Sharp Edgemaking System

Posted: February 15th, 2010, 8:26am MST by Gordon DeWitte

I remember seeing one of these systems demonstrated at a Woodcraft store a few years ago. I was impressed — which is, after all, the whole point of a good demonstration — at the time, but have not heard much about it since (it’s still available from Woodcraft online). The Razor Sharp system has two compressed paper wheels. The silicon-carbide coated wheel is used, with a conditioning wax for lubrication and heat control, to create a burr or wire edge. Then the slotted wheel is used, with jewelers’ rouge, to remove the burrs and polish the edge. The manufacturer claims Razor Sharp can sharpen any knife (circular blades, curved blades, reverse curved blades, serrated blades, wavy blades, and straight edges) in addition to axes, chisels, draw knives, gouges, head knives, lathe tools, leather punches, needles, planer blades, scissors, v-tools, “and more.” They also unconditionally guarantee the system. The 6″ Deluxe kit (two 6″ dia. wheels 3/4″ thick with 5/8″ arbor and 1/2″ bushing, grit pack, and instructions) costs around $44 (at Oso Grande Knives and Woodcraft).

Have any Toolmongers used the Razor System? What did you think?

Razor Sharp Edgemaking System [Manufacturer's Site]
TV Tonight: Turbo Snail Mail

Posted: February 15th, 2010, 7:21am MST by Nick Carter
(TV Tonight, Monday, February 15th, 2010) We get a new Top Gear with armored vehicles and a race against the Royal Mail.

All times are central
- Holmes in New Orleans: Moving Along at a Hurricane Clip (HGTV, 5:00 pm)
- Dirty Jobs: Floating Fish Factory (Discovery, 5:00 pm)
- Trains & Locomotives (RFD-TV, 5:00 pm)
- Dirty Jobs: Reindeer Farm (Discovery, 6:00 pm)
- Top Gear: Season 13 Ep. 4 (BBC America, 7:00 pm) NEW
- Dirty Jobs: Egg Farm (Discovery, 7:00 pm)
- Top Gear: Season 13 Ep. 3 (BBC America, 8:00 pm)
- Dirty Jobs: Toilet Crusher (Discovery, 8:00 pm)
- Dirty Jobs: Cranberry Farmer (Discovery, 9:00 pm)
- Ask This Old House: Painting Kitchen Cabinets; Installing Cabinet Accessories (DIY, 10:30 pm)