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Toolmonger (17 unread)

Kneeboarding On Concrete

Posted: March 15th, 2011, 11:58am MDT by Benjamen Johnson

Maybe you aren’t going to reach speeds of 40 MPH on these Marshalltown knee boards, but at least you won’t sink into the concrete while you’re shuffling along at 0.04 MPH.

Strap into the kneepads, lock your toes into the toe brackets, and you’re ready to work some concrete. The knee boards are made from 18 gauge stainless steel so they won’t turn into rust from contact with wet concrete all day. When the knee pads finally give out, you can replace them without having to buy a whole new pair of knee boards.

Pricing for Marshalltown’s KB230 knee boards start around $110.

Knee Boards [Marshalltown]
Street Pricing [Google]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]
Darwin Was Right: Human Hands Evolved For Tools

Posted: March 14th, 2011, 2:10pm MDT by Audra Heaslip

Scientists have known for at least a century that the human hand has unique characteristics designed for gripping and manipulating objects, as opposed to the locomotion-designed hands of our closest ape relatives. Recently, Dr. Stephen Lycett and Alastair Key of the University of Kent, England, published an article in the Journal of Archaeological Science showing an important breakthrough: Darwin was right — about our hands, that is.

Lycett and Key’s study measured how hand size affected users’ ability to cut rope using stone-flake tools similar to those discovered in Africa and used by early humans 2.6 million years ago. To sum up, hand size did prove to be a significant factor in how well different people could manipulate different forms of stone tools. The experiments support the concept that natural selection favored cave-folk with the correct “biometric variation” (i.e. more modern and less ape-like hands) — and therefore, those better able to use tools were more likely to live on and reproduce.

A final interesting thought from Dr. Lycett: “From a very early stage in our evolution, the cultural behaviour of our ancestors was influencing biological evolution in specific ways.” So, perhaps showing your kids the proper way to use hand tools really will make your distant descendants more successful at the survival game.

Stone Tools Influenced Hand Evolution in Our Ancestors
[University of Kent Research News]
Technology Based Evolution?
[Article by Lycett and Key from the Journal of Archeological Science]
Milwaukee Announces New Cordless Metal Saw

Posted: March 14th, 2011, 10:08am MDT by Benjamen Johnson

Milwaukee just keeps churning out cordless tools: The latest addition to their M18 line is a 5-3/8″ metal circular saw with a 1/8″ to 2″ cutting capacity for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, HVAC, and general construction.

The saw weighs just 5.8 lb. with the battery despite having a stainless steel shoe. It features an impact-resistant window and an LED light so you can actually see what you’re cutting from above the saw. Milwaukee built the saw around a 4-pole frameless motor spinning at 3600 RPM. This setup allows you to make over 200 cuts of 3/4″ EMT on one charge.

On their website, Milwaukee says the saw won’t be available until April 2011, although several online retailers already advertise it. Preliminary pricing for the kit (2682-22) with two Red Lithium batteries and a one-hour charger starts around $330, but if you already have M18 tools you can purchase a bare tool (2682-20) for $150. Both options ship with a METAL TECH 30-tooth carbide-tipped blade.

Press Release [Milwaukee]
Cordless Metal Saw [Milwaukee]
Street Pricing [Google]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]
Repacking The Truck Toolkit

Posted: March 11th, 2011, 4:42pm MST by Sean O'Hara

With a new truck parked outside the shop, I took the opportunity to reorganize my vehicle’s toolkit. As I shuffled things about, I found I needed different types of storage for the truck, so I began repacking with newfound efficiency. What you are looking at here (above) is the most useful thing the Craftsman Li-Ion bag has done since we destroyed all the tools that went in it a while back.

Another repurposed item was this sweet DeWalt magnetic storage box, which I found will hold an entire 40-piece socket set and still clip shut with no issue.

Both items, along with a DeWalt softside toolbag, packed all the tools and cables I needed to stow behind the seats — and they kept the back area, which had limited space to begin with, looking sharp and organized. A large bonus comes with the knowledge that I don’t have to hear crap rattle and clink every time the truck rolls over a bump — complete win.

DeWalt Tools [Website]
Magnetic Storage Box [Google Products]
UpRoot Your Weeds

Posted: March 10th, 2011, 1:22pm MST by Benjamen Johnson

Fiskar’s UpRoot Weed and Root Remover is like a Weed Hound with razor-sharp teeth. The stainless steel, serrated claws cut deeply into the soil to get at the roots of weeds like dandelions and thistles.

The shaft is made of aluminum and has bright orange markings so you can easily find it if you put it down on the ground. Capturing the weed is as simple as placing the UpRoot over the weed and stepping down on the foot. You then use the foot as a pivot and lever the weed out of the ground with the handle. To eject the weed you push down on the lower part of the handle while holding the upper part.

Pricing for the UpRoot starts around $30 before shipping.

UpRoot [Fiskars]
Street Pricing [Google]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]
CRKT’s Bachelor Tool

Posted: March 10th, 2011, 12:43pm MST by Benjamen Johnson

CRKT’s Eat N Tool is the perfect multi-tool for a bachelor. No more washing a spoon and a fork, no searching for a bottle opener for your beer, and no more hunting for a screwdriver to pop the top off that old can of Hershey’s coco in the back of the cupboard when you need chocolate.

The idea for the Eat N Tool came from New York City designer Liong Mah. I’m not quite sure what use he intended for the 6mm, 8mm, and 10mm wrenches built into the handle, but the large hole in the middle does serve as a thumb hole when you eat with the spork. You can clip the Eat N Tool to a belt loop so it’s always ready with the handy non-weight-bearing carabiner.

Made from 3CR13 stainless steel, the Eat N Tool is four inches long and weighs 1.5 oz. It’s available in a bead-blast or black Teflon finish and will cost you $6 to $7.

Eat N Tool [CRKT]
Street Pricing [Google]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]
Test Your Soil At Home

Posted: March 9th, 2011, 6:29pm MST by Benjamen Johnson

Snow is melting, the weather is warmer, and there are probably only a few more snow storms left this winter. That can only mean it’s time to start thinking about getting your lawn and garden ready for spring. To get the best results, you need to know your soil — its pH and what nutrients it’s missing. Usually the best way to do this is send away soil samples, but Luster Leaf kits allow you to test the soil at home with no waiting.

Luster Leaf provides kits for testing the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels in the soil and the soil pH. To test pH, add soil and water to the fill lines of the test chamber, break open a capsule, and shake the container. Then you just compare the color to the chart printed on the side of the container.

Testing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are a little more involved. They required you to mix 1 part soil to 5 parts water, shake it, and allow it to settle. Then you take a dropper and fill the test container, break up a capsule, and shake again. Finally you compare the color to the chart on the side of the testing container. Complete instructions are available with the kits, so please follow those rather than our abbreviated description.

The best pricing seems to be a kit with 10 tests each of pH, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, which runs $10 plus free shipping at Amazon.

Soil Test Kit [Luster Leaf]
Street Pricing [Google]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]
J.C. Whitney To The Rescue

Posted: March 9th, 2011, 1:26pm MST by Sean O'Hara

Chuck likes to say you could piece-part an entire Jeep from JC Whitney if you were so inclined. This is most likely true from what I can tell. Only slightly lesser known is the vast selection of truck accessories they have on tap.

My new (to me) Ranger had a bunch of small dings and scratches on the top of the bed, as one might expect from a truck that was used like one. I could of course let that go, as it really doesn’t hurt the value of a truck in Texas — however, a set of bed rail caps were a much better solution.

For $75 I got a set of plastic caps shipped to the house where it took less than ten minutes to install them, and had my truck looking newer than I thought it would. The selection of plastic over metal caps was a simple one: They’re easy and cheap to replace, plastic won’t mar the finish of any wood that happens to come in contact with them, and the metal ones always seem to leave behind holes and scratches of their own if you ever want to remove them.

At this point, I’m now done with modifying my truck. It’s shameful, really. Several years ago I’d have been going crazy trying to pack more gear onto it. At this point I’m pretty happy with the stock radio, wheels, liner and all the rest of the stock gear. I must be getting old.

Bed rail caps [JC Whitney]
A Scraper For All Occasions

Posted: March 8th, 2011, 9:06am MST by Benjamen Johnson

Scrapers work well for removing glue, paint, and other finishes, but not every surface is flat. For cleaning up curved surfaces, a scraper that can accept blades with different curved profiles would come in handy.

The WoodRiver scraper set from WoodCraft comes with five different blades: a straight blade for flat surfaces; 1/2″, 7/8″, and 1-1/4″ concave blades for convex surfaces like chair legs; and a 1-1/2″ convex blade for concave surfaces. The head is made of cast iron and the 5-1/4″ long handle and forward knob are made of hardwood. The forward knob pulls double duty, allowing you to apply more pressure when you’re scraping, and it unscrews for blade changes.

The scraper and blades come in a wooden storage case to keep them together and protect the blades. You’ll pay $33 plus shipping for the scraper set.

Scraper Set [Woodcraft]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]
Filter-A-Fan: Box Fan Dust Filter

Posted: March 7th, 2011, 1:39pm MST by Benjamen Johnson

The old furnace-filter-in-front-of-a-box-fan trick is well known, but it has its downsides. If you don’t attach the filter to the box, it’ll fall off when you shut off the fan. Also, air leaks around the filter, making it less effective. You can build your own shroud to fix these problems, but if you don’t have the time you can buy the Filter-A-Fan.

The Filter-A-Fan fits LASKO model #3733 and GALAXY model #4733 fans. Just remove the screws that hold on the guard and use those screws to hold the Filter-A-Fan in place. The Filter-A-Fan shroud runs $35 by itself, or you can buy it with a fan for $60 before shipping. You’ll have to supply your own 16″ x 16″ filter.

To be honest, I’m not really sure who the market of this product is. A business or professional woodworker will just drop the money on a proper air cleaner, and a DIYer who might not want to spend a lot of money is more likely to make his own. Maybe if they lowered the price to $10 or $15 it would be more attractive.

Filter-A-Fan [Corporate Website]
Filter-A-Fan [Eagle America]
Preview: Bosch MX25E Corded Oscillating Multi-Tool

Posted: March 7th, 2011, 12:19pm MST by Sean O'Hara

The oscillating multi-tool must be a larger market than we first suspected, because Bosch and other manufacturers keep cranking out tools and attachments for them at breakneck speed. The latest we’ve seen is the MX25E corded multitool. Yep, you heard right: corded.

The MX25E, like any other of its kind, is built to do flush cutting, plunge cutting, sanding, grinding, grout removal, scraping, and whatever else you can manage to do with it — except this one is built to run with 2.5 amps of power and go all day, not just until a 12v battery runs down. We’re guessing Bosch talked to enough contractors who liked using an oscillating multi-tool, but didn’t want the hassle of charging and keeping up with the change out on the jobsite.

The new system uses the same OIS 12-point attachment system the 12v unit does, and features the variable speed control and well as an OSCAD1 adapter that doesn’t lock you into the Bosch-only bits. In our opinion, the adapter is a sign Bosch at least understands that locking consumers (even pros) into one line isn’t going to work. It’s a small thing, but worthy of note.

We don’t use one much around the shop; however there are plenty of folks who do. Flooring contractors love them and we’re thinking the price reflects that. There are two kits: The MX25E-21 runs about $159 and features 4 cutting, grinding, and scraping accessories — 16 sanding and a bag. Then there’s the MX25E-33 that runs $199 and features 6 cutting, grinding, and scraping accessories, 26 sanding accessories, and an accessory box and carrying case. So pick your poison when they begin arriving at the local big boxes soon.

MX25E Corded Oscillating Multi-Tool [Bosch]
It’s Just Cool: The Versa-Block

Posted: March 4th, 2011, 4:23pm MST by Benjamen Johnson

The Versa-Block from Eagle Jigs has been around for a while, but it’s still a neat solution to pack 16 different precise measurements into one octagon-shaped jig. You’d use it primarily for setting bit and blade heights, but the octagon shape also measures 45º, 90º, and 135º angles.

Eagle Jigs CNC-mills the Versa-Block from aluminum and anodizes it. The three stacked octagons provide measurements ranging 1/16″ to 1″ in 1/16″ increments. On one side you’ll find 1/8″, 1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″, 5/8″, 3/4″, 7/8″, and 1″, while the other has 1/16″, 3/16″, 5/16″, 7/16″, 9/16″, 11/16,” 13/16″, and 15/16″. The measurements for the side facing up are listed on the outer circle, and the ones for the side facing down are on the inner circle, so you don’t have to flip it over to look.

Woodworking Online has a short review of the Versa-Block on its website, along with a better picture. You can pick up a Versa Jig on sale at Eagle Jigs now for $30 before shipping.

Versa-Block [Eagle Jigs]
Versa-Block [Woodworking Online]
Mill Small Logs On Your Bandsaw

Posted: March 3rd, 2011, 11:46am MST by Benjamen Johnson

The wood for your next project might be hiding in your woodpile. With Carter’s AccuRight log mill and a bandsaw, you can turn those wood logs into usable boards or turning blanks. The 20″ long by 8″ wide log mill holds the wood securely so you can cut the necessary flat surfaces for safely resawing the log on your bandsaw.

The mill rides a bandsaw’s miter slot on an adjustable steel bar. The table is CNC milled from MDF, and the steel fence provides solid support for the material clamp. The clamp ends can be moved to any of the fence slots to accommodate the log you’re cutting.

Pricing for Carter’s AccuRight log mill starts at $129 before shipping.

Log Mill [Carter Products]
Log Mill [Peachtree USA]
Log Mill [Woodcraft]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]
Makita’s 12v Max Lineup

Posted: March 3rd, 2011, 9:06am MST by Sean O'Hara

In the last few years, it seems like the major players in the pro-level Li-Ion 12v market have typically been red or blue in color. However, Makita has recently expanded its line to include offerings that might look familiar if you frequent other expanded lines. It’s funny how standard lineups come about.

Makita’s line has been expanded to offer two driver drills, an impact driver, circular saw, vacuum, and of course an LED flashlight. They’re also getting the jump on the combo kits by making a kit for almost every combination of tools — so many we couldn’t fit them all in our normal graphic.

The lineup was good before, but with the addition of new tools like the flashlight and impact drills, it’s about as duty-oriented as any other system available. The drills come in at around 200 in-lbs. each and the impact drill is rated at 800 in-lbs. The flashlight is rated for 800 LUX with a 9-hour runtime. If these numbers sound familiar, you might be onto something. It seems to be the numbers expected from a 12v platform across the board.

I think my favorite addition has got to be the 12v vacuum that accepts a standard battery pack and converts from upright to dust-buster style, handheld. Every manufacturer seems to have one oddball tool in the smallest Li-Ion class and it’s cool to see something a little different from Makita. At least it doesn’t have a laser on it.

We love to see competition in the 12v marketplace; it’ll ultimately push the entire field to create better products on the whole. For now, California contractors will no doubt be pleased they have a black-and-white version of the tools other guys have had access to for the last year or two. We’re curious to see if they stack up to expectations.

Makita Cordless Power Tools [Makita]
Color-Coded Sandpaper

Posted: March 2nd, 2011, 12:57pm MST by Benjamen Johnson

At the end of January, A. J. Hamler wrote a blog entry ranting on several woodworking topics. One of his beefs was how sandpaper is hard to identify once you’ve cut up the sheet, since they only print the grit in one or two places — something we can all probably relate to. Here’s some sandpaper that I bet he’d like.

Color grit abrasives sold by Craft Supplies USA change the backing color of the sandpaper with each grit for easy identification. At a quarter a piece, you can buy a few stickers for around the shop to remind you which color matches which grit. They also print the grit on the back in large numbers.

Craft Supplies USA sells the sandpaper in 80, 120, 180, 240, 320, and 400 grit and claims the cloth-backed aluminum oxide abrasive is flexible and long-lasting. You’ll spend $6.50 for a single 3-3/4″ wide by 6+ feet long roll, or $33 for a combo pack containing rolls of every grit. It’ll cost you a whopping $11 to ship a single roll, but at least shipping only goes up a dollar for the combo pack.

Color Grit Abrasives [Craft Supplies USA]
Color Grit Chart [Craft Supplies USA]
Make Your Own Bar Gauge

Posted: March 1st, 2011, 10:37am MST by Benjamen Johnson

Smart woodworkers know that the less you use your tape measure or rule, the fewer mistakes you make. That’s one good reason to use a bar gauge instead. A bar gauge is simply an adjustable length stick, and Veritas makes some hardware that makes it easy to make your own.

In the Great White North, formally known as Canada, Veritas makes the bar gauge heads from brass and ABS plastic. To use them you just need two 1/4″ by 3/4″ strips, which are easily made by ripping 3/4″ thick board. Slip the bar gauge heads over the two sticks and tighten them down when the ends are at the desired length. Now you can easily transfer or compare measurements.

If you buy from Lee Valley, you also get two brass pins that you can use for transferring inside and outside measurements. You’ll pay $15 for these bar gauge heads before shipping.

Bar Gauge Heads [Veritas]
Bar Gauge Heads [Lee Valley]
Bar Gauge Heads [Highland Woodworking]
Measure Twice And So On

Posted: March 1st, 2011, 8:30am MST by Sean O'Hara

The saying “Measure twice and cut once” isn’t just a set of pretty words — it’s something some of us could remember a little more often. Since it’s just my own projects that get screwed up, most of the time I wing it and on occasion eyeball measurements. This time it’s going to cost me about 30 minutes.

As some of you might be able to spy straight off, what happened here is the guide roller on the router bit dipped below the edge of the wood and the router started cutting inside the line I wanted — which ruined the piece. First I tried to blame the bit for slipping. After a check it was sadly not the cause: It was me.

It’s my own fault, really. I had been sanding on all four sides of this piece getting it smooth and didn’t bother to check if that had changed the vertical depth. Of course it had. About 1.5 mm, to be exact, which is enough to slip the roller beneath the usable guide material. There are about 15 ways I could have prevented this, yet stupidity won the day.

I was so taken with my moronic display of craftsmanship (or lack thereof) I had to stop and write what I thought of my skills in a crude manner that sums up the experience for me. What’s that other saying: Some people serve as a warning to others? In this case, that would be me.