BuffaloFeeds » Toolmonger » November 18, 2010

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• 

  Preview: Irwin SpeedHammer Masonry Bits

  Posted: November 18th, 2010, 12:35pm MST by Chuck Cage

  

  Irwin released a new SpeedHammer SDS-plus masonry bit line today aimed specifically at avoiding bit breakage due to rebar. Just like remodelers who tear into studs hoping not to snap a recip blade on a nail, folks drilling into masonry fear rebar — the steel reinforcement added to concrete projects. It’s damn tough to know exactly where they lie, and they’re hell on bits.

  Irwin claims the new bit is “optimized for cutting through rebar at high speed” and offers “twice the life of traditional masonry bits.” The press release is a little light on technical details, but we’ll definitely follow up with some questions. In the meantime, you might want to give ‘em a look.

• 

  Digital Plunge Router

  Posted: November 18th, 2010, 11:56am MST by Benjamen Johnson

  You knew it was coming. With all the digital readouts being sold on the market, it was only a matter of time before somebody slapped one an a router. Now Craftsman’s digital plunge router comes with an on-board digital display for setting cut depth.

  The display reads in increments of 1/64″ and you control it via three buttons: the on/off/zero button, the in/mm button, and the light button. You use the display to zero the bit and dial in the cut depth anywhere between 0 and 2″ with the depth stop knob. After locking in the depth knob, the tool works just like any other plunge router.

  The router uses a variable-speed 10A motor to deliver 2hp to the bit. You adjust the no-load motor speed between 15,000 and 25,000RPM with a dial labeled A though F, so you’ll probably have to look up the letter to speed conversion every time you set it. A dust sleeve surrounds the bit so you can remove the dust with a shop-vac.

  The router comes with 1/4″ and 1/2″ collets, wrench, dust shield, and vacuum attachment. Pricing starts around $150 before tax and shipping.

  Router [Sears]

• 

  Reader Question: Human Powered Digging Machines?

  Posted: November 18th, 2010, 11:31am MST by Chuck Cage

  

  TM reader Gaute Amundsen asks an interesting question: “Can we improve upon the shovel and wheelbarrow? Shovels and spades are simple and versatile, but the physics of shoveling are just horrible — as your back will quickly tell you. Having recently taken delivery of a truckload of aggregate for filling a cable trench — and another truckload of soil for the garden — I’ve had reason to ponder the question. After some Googling, I’m both intrigued and disappointed.”

  Some of the products Gaute ran across include the krafse (a sort of narrow shovel of Norwiegan descent, known for its ability to just skim the soil and pick up/move above-ground material) and the Wovel, which Toolmongers have weighed in on previously. Gaute wrote that he tried an improvised version of the Fresno scraper (pictured above) designed to be moved by two people and achieved some success in moving aggregate.

  But the question stands: “Even in the age of hydraulics there’s need for moving soil by hand. Can this really be state of the art? If anyone can answer this it must be the readers of Toolmonger!”

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