By Bob Duncan A portable drum sander, such as a Sand-Flee, forgoes the conveyor belt and requires you to move the stock by hand. It takes a bit of practice to keep the feed rate steady, but Rolf Beuttenmuller, an SSW test cutter, sees the hand control as a plus. […]
By Bob Duncan Dust Off’s Shop Wipes are a must for every workshop. With four boys under age 10 (and their 1-year-old sister), my family goes through a lot of pre-moistened disinfecting wipes. Dust Off’s Shop Mate Wipes serve the same purpose in your shop. They clean residue, sap, and […]
By Bob Duncan Sometimes it is difficult to fit a sanding drum or rotary tool into a tight section of an intarsia or fretwork design. You can always hand-sand, but that’s often tedious and uncomfortable. The best tool to reach for is often a rasp, but the utility of traditional […]
By Bob Duncan Several commercial tabletop dust collectors are available, as are a host of plans for shop-made versions. The Tornado 1000, which is made in the USA by SMC Enterprises, stands out thanks to its large working area and the vast amount of air it can move. The Tornado […]
By Bob Duncan While there is a variety of wood putty out there to fill nail holes or minor dings, Kampel’s WoodFil Epoxy makes the repair process even easier. This two-part epoxy putty comes in a variety of colors; you can also mix custom colors using the standard selection. To […]
By Bob Duncan Everyone who has ever used a cordless drill as a power screwdriver has experienced the moment when you squeeze the trigger a little too hard and … CRACK! … snap the wood around the screw. This will never happen with Black & Decker’s new Autosense cordless drill. […]
By Bob Duncan When you’re displaying your work at craft or art shows, you often need temporary shelving or display space. The shelves need to be sturdy and solid, but you also need to be able to take them down quickly. Ply90 brackets turn ordinary 1/2″- to 3/4″-thick plywood into […]
By Bob Duncan Pegboard always seems like a good idea, but for tools, I’ve moved to a shelf/drawer system. But I kept the 4×8 sheet of pegboard tacked to my shop wall, because, well, it should be good for something. At Maker Faire in New York City last September, I […]
By Bob Duncan Black & Decker’s compact 8-volt Rechargeable Impact Screwdriver is one of the handiest tools in my shop. It is designed for small jobs, like general household repairs. The tool has a 1/4″ hex shaft chuck, and it comes with an integrated LED light that turns on when […]
By Bob Duncan Porter Cable has created a set of interchangeable tools that use the same battery and charger. The company has kept prices down by selling some tools without chargers, assuming you’ve already bought the charger with another set. The basic set includes a 1/2″-chuck cordless drill and a […]
