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Fast, Light, Durable Framing Saw
2 years ago, I built a new 2nd floor deck with ‘picture framed’ outside deck boards, which requires cutting a number of 45-degree miters. I got frustrated with my old circular saw, so off to the big box I went. I came home with a Ridgid Fuego Compact Framing Saw, and couldn’t be happier. This saw is light-weight (only weighs 8 pounds), and tough … the shoe is composite, and the guard is magnesium. The depth and bevel settings are easy and accurate, and the sho...
My New 'Favorite Plane'
I have a new favorite plane. OK … every one of my planes has been my favorite at one time or another, but my new Veritas Apron Plane is now at the top of my list. A couple of technical details. The Veritas Apron Plane is a small, low-angle block plane that weighs in at about 14 ounces (much lighter than my Stanley 60 1/2). It is 5-1/2” long and 1-3/4” wide, and is made of ductile cast iron. I ordered mine with an A2 blade. The bed is set at 12-degrees, and the Norris-styl...
Excellent Finish Sanding Solution
I have been looking for a better sanding solution for door frames, small panels, drawer boxes, etc, and I think I have found it. I ordered an 18” x 2” V-Drum The Works kit from Stockroom Supply (http://www.stockroomsupply.com) in Ontario, Canada. The Works kit includes the 18” drum, bearings, 2 – 10yd rolls of sandpaper, 2 balanced pulleys, Linkbelt, and a plan to build the box. Total cost to build this machine, including the V-Drum kit, motor, materials, and ...
Bostitch CPACK270 / CAP1516
I bought the Bostitch CPACK270 ‘kit’ in June of 2007, and have found it to a great addition to my shop. It gets used a lot. The ‘kit’ included:—CAP1516 1.5HP (Peak) oil-free contractor compressor—SB-1664FN 16-gauge, 2-1/2in. finish nailer—SB-2IN1 combination brad nailer/finish stapler—3/8in. x 25ft. heavy duty airline with MPT fittings—Tire inflator chuck—Thread sealant tape The CAP1516 is a light-weight compressor (19-1/2 lb.)...
Workshop Heating Solution
Winters get pretty cold where I live (Wisconsin) and my garage/shop, though it is attached to the house, could get pretty uncomfortable in winter time. Since I am not about to quit doing what I love for 4 or 5 months a year, I started looking into my options for heating the garage. Space is at a real premium down there, so whatever I chose had to be hung from the ceiling. There was already a 240-volt, unused service in the workshop, so electric heat was the way to go. I selected the Fah...
Porter-Cable 390K ROS
The Porter-Cable 390K 5” variable speed low profile Random Orbital Sander is a quality tool that delivers great performance. The low profile makes this sander much easier to control than other, taller sanders. The motor used is a constant response motor, which keeps it from bogging down regardless of the amount of pressure you put on it. The 390K is the most aggressive sander I own (I also have sanders from Milwaukee, B&D, and Craftsman) in terms of the material it will remove, y...
Rockler Mortise Machine Table And Fence
This table/fence solved a lot of problems, and really improved the performance of my Jet JBM-5 Mortising Machine. It provides a much larger work surface than the stock table, and comes with 2 of Rockler’s Rotary Guides that help secure the workpiece against the fence, but allow movements to the right or left so you can slide the workpiece as needed. I made one small modification when I installed the fence. I have never trusted wood screws in MDF for this type of fixture, so instea...
Jet JBM-5 Bench Mortising Machine
I have been using my JBM-5 for over 3 years now, and consider it a good investment for my home workshop. I haven’t kept track of the number of mortises I have done with it, but just about everything I build uses mortise and tenon joinery. The JBM-5 fence can be a pain to set. The fence is attached to a steel hex rod that is held in place by a thumb screw. There is no rack & pinion fence adjustment (like the one on Delta’s mortiser), so getting the workpiece positioned corre...
New Plastic Dust Deputy Arrests Dust
The demo at AWFS and videos online were just too convincing … I ordered the new Oneida Dust Deputy kit ($99.00 plus $10.50 S&H). It was money well spent. The ‘kit’ comes with the plastic cyclone, two buckets, lid, hardware and hoses. The cone itself is a tough, heavy plastic, and the hose connections are tapered so my ShopVac hoses fit tight and stay put. Assembly took under 5 minutes. Instead of a copper wire and washer recommended by the manufacturer for static disc...
Shop Fox Classic Fence - A Real Gem
Review: Shop Fox Classic Fence Bottom line: The “Shop Fox Classic Fence” has proven to be an excellent addition to my workshop. My table saw is a Jet JWTS-10 (708100). I have always liked this saw (see review at http://lumberjocks.com/reviews/333), but was never completely satisfied with the fence. After a good deal of online research, I settled on the “Shop Fox Classic Fence”, and found a very good deal on it from Warren Cutlery, a Shop Fox dealer in Rhinebec...
