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Building Your Own Drum, Belt or Thickness Sander?
2007-12-07 17:48:00
Sometimes I have a hard time telling if woodworkers at WoodNet are joking around or not. Like when Snipe Hunter said he’s going to build a drum sander out of a treadmill: “We (the lovely Mrs Snipe Hunter) have this real nice treadmill collecting dust with digital fpm readout. The motor is plenty strong enough. I ...
More About: Building , Belt , Drum

Best Router Table Under $250?
2007-11-28 15:09:00
For many woodworkers the router table is their second big project - second to the work bench. You can learn a great deal by making your own, plus it’s customized to your needs. 99.9% of woodworkers in forums will suggest you build your own. This approach is great for more seasoned woodworkers who know what they ...
More About: Table , Router

Best Impact Drill/Driver?
2007-11-26 18:54:00
A woodworker at WoodNet recently asked for advice on picking a new cordless impact drill/driver. Here’s how he plans to use the new driver: “My use will be for driving self-tapping screws in metal building repair, pocket-hole screws in wood, deck screws, and other woodworking applications.” Most notably, some Woodnetters advised him against getting an impact driver ...
More About: Driver , Drill

2 Part Video Guide to Buying a Scroll Saw
2007-10-19 22:10:00
Do your projects call for intricate or delicate cuts? Are you interested in fretwork, marquetry or intarsia? Check out these videos then for an excellent introduction on what to look for when you’re buying your first scroll saw. What to look for in a Scroll Saw Part One Selecting A Scroll Saw Part Two The creator of ...
More About: Video , Buying , Guide , Guid

Video: How to Cut a Circle on a Table Saw
2007-10-19 19:18:00
If you’d asked me three minutes ago if I thought it was possible to cut a circle on a table saw I would have said - “probably not,” and then, “why would you want to, isn’t that what a band saw or jig saw’s for?” Well, I find my first impulse proven wrong, and for those ...
More About: Video , Table , Circle

A Router Buying Guide for the First Time Router Buyer
2007-09-03 17:14:00
So this is going to be your first router, huh? Well, before we start digging into the collets and EVS and rated amperage and plunge vs. fixed base issues I’d like to start us off with two quotes from two expert woodworkers who are long time router users. If you’re just wanting to get in ...
More About: Buying , Time , Buyer , Guide , Router

The (Eternal) Question: Which Cheap Table Saw Should I Buy!?
2007-08-23 18:00:00
Somehow these discussions never get old to me - someone in a forum offers a dollar amount, a list of intended uses and a tool. Then the forum members give their opinions on which tools fit the bill. A recent visitor to WoodNet gave these parameters: “I’m looking into adding a table saw and have it narrowed ...
More About: Question , Table , Cheap , Eternal

Can You Claim Power Tool Depreciation on Taxes?
2007-08-23 17:23:00
An interesting discussion arose recently in the WoodNet.net forum recently: can you claim tool value depreciation on your taxes? Upon researching I found that the short answer is - unless you’re turning a profit with those tools 3 years out of 5 you can’t. The long answer is… talk to your CPA The discussion ...
More About: Power , Taxes , Tool , Depreciation , Reci

Shhh?. Test the ToolCrib Beta Search?
2007-06-08 17:46:00
…You can’t find it at ToolCrib.com… you have to click beta.toolcrib.com. Do a search for your favorite tools… you’ll notice quite a few differences in the results Tell us what you think by commenting this post or emailing Garrett: GFrench@ToolCrib.com>GFrench@ToolCrib.com . -ToolCrib.com Team
More About: Interviews , Beta , Search , Test

Top Cabinet Saws for a Small Pro Wood Shop
2007-05-17 14:09:00
Here’s a recent question we got from a guy who runs a small wood shop and wanted to know what his best bet was for a cabinet saw: Thus far I have my choices down to two saws: Powermatic 2000 or Jet Xactasaw. I’m leaning more towards the Powermatic 2000 but I know it’s just for ...
More About: Wood , Small , Shop , Mall , Cabinet

5 Questions You Should Ask Before Buying Reconditioned Power Tools
2007-05-17 00:49:00
Reconditioned power tools - depending on who you ask - are either the bane or the boon of the power tool industry. Mostly they’re the boon, especially if it’s a name brand tool from a name brand reseller. However if you’re not careful there’s a chance that your great deal today may turn into tomorrow’s yard ...
More About: Power , Tools , Buying , Questions , Quest

Interview with Bosch: The Bosch Power Tool Reconditioning Process
2007-05-17 00:25:00
I wrote to Bosch recently with 5 questions about their tool reconditioning process. I hope their answers help you to make more educated decisions about Bosch reconditioned power tools! 1) What is a “certified factory reconditioned tool”? A certified factory reconditioned tool has been through a complete inspection by factory trained technicians at the Robert Bosch Power ...
More About: Interviews , Interview , Tool , Condition

Thomas Moser Bed Made by Woodworker?s Wife
2007-05-14 00:02:00
This WoodNet thread really blew my mind: WoodNetter ksquared photographed and wrote about the build process his wife went through to build a gorgeous Thom as Moser bed. Not only is the finished bed beautiful, but there’s a fantastic write up with very clear photographs that follow along with the process. I think the most amazing thing is ...
More About: Wife , Made , Worker

Top 11 Cordless Drills/Drivers FamilyWoodworking Poll
2007-05-13 21:08:00
A FamilyWoodworking member started a poll recently and asked members what kind of drill/driver they used. 98 votes later here are the break downs: DeWalt: 26 Makita: 18 Panasonic: 10 Ryobi: 8 Bosch: 8 Craftsman: 5 Milwaukee: 5 Festool: 4 Hitachi: 3 Porter-Cable: 2 Rigid: 1 Other: 8 You’re shorting yourself if you skip reading through the thread though. Especially if you’re in the market for a cordless drill. ...
More About: Drivers , Poll , King , Rivers

ToolCrib.com?s Ultimate Guide to Online Home Remodeling DIY Resources
2007-04-29 18:34:00
This is a stake in the ground and a starting point for a project that will grow over time - ToolCrib.com’s Ultimate Guide to Online DIY Resources . Here’s what we’ve got right now: 1) DIY Info Sites 2) DIY Blogs 3) DIY Forums 4) DIY Resources from ToolCrib.com What I imagine this growing into: Groupings based around actual home remodeling DIY projects ...
More About: Home , Mate

Frank Pellow?s Work Bench Chronicles
2007-03-30 23:49:00
You last heard of Fran k Pellow in The Story of a “Forum Assisted” Woodworking Shop: Frank Pellow?s Shop Build Journal. His latest chronicles - which haven’t made it to book status quite yet, perhaps because he’s not finished yet - describe his new work bench. And what a bench it’s shaping up to be! He got the ...
More About: Work , Rank , Chronicles

How Would You Outfit Your Wood Shop from Scratch with ONLY $1000?
2007-03-30 22:39:00
(Hello Wood Whisperer readers So… here’s the scenario: 1) You have no woodworking tools. 2) You have $1000 tool budget for a YEAR. What tools would you buy? I asked this hypothetical question of The Wood Whisperer Marc Spagnuolo and he answered here: Zero Tools and $1000. Then I worked my way around ToolCrib.com’s favorite forums to get their ...
More About: With , Your , Shop , Only

Can You Cut Steel Siding with a Miter Saw?
2007-03-29 03:52:00
I didn’t know the proper answer to this question: “can I use a mitre saw to cut steel siding? If so what type of blade do I need.” So I headed on over to the WoodNet forum to hear what the Woodnetters thought. Here are some suggestions regarding how one should cut steel siding from the forum thread ...
More About: With , Mite , Steel

The New Norms: Top Online Woodworking Videos from Woodsmith and the Wood Wh
2007-03-20 20:24:00
If you’re like the majority of woodworkers then the chances are good that Norm Abram is on the list of your most influential woodworkers… Did you know that there’s a new crop of “Norms” starting up online? That’s right I’m talking about the friendly guys at Wood smith and the coolest woodworker online The Wood Whisperer. I picked ...
More About: Video , Videos , Work , The N

Sometimes You Ask Us to Play Name That Tool?
2007-03-19 20:43:00
Sometimes you send us questions like this: “I’m interested in making a stand for my fish tank and I would like a tool that allows screws to be drill into the wood at an angle. This tool makes the holes and it appears very common in cabinet making.” I’m better with words than with wood so I ...
More About: Time , Play , Tool , Hat , Name

Q/A: Best DIYer Table Saw for Ripping Plywood? Under $300?
2007-03-19 19:54:00
A ToolCrib.com visitor asked us recently what was the best DIYer table saw for ripping plywood and paneling… in the $300 range. I posted his question at Wood Net and learned three key things. Here’s the thread: best table saw for DIYer in $300> The first and most important thing I learned is that he’s better off NOT ...
More About: Best , Tabl , Table , Plywood

ToolCrib.com?s Guide to Your 31 Most Influential Woodworkers
2007-03-10 17:08:00
ToolCrib.com recently asked the Wood Net, FamilyWoodworking and LumberJocks forums who were their TOP FIVE most influential woodworkers. After tallying their votes we had a list of over 100 different “most influential” woodworkers. Here’s the WoodNet thread. Here’s the thread in FamilyWoodworking. And here’s LumberJocks. Of these, 31 received 2 or more mentions, and so that’s who we investigated ...
More About: Workers , Work , Tool , Your

Making the Power Tool Battery Decision: NiMH vs. NiCad vs. Li-Ion
2007-03-07 02:27:01
A Tool Crib.com visitor asked us recently: “What is the difference between NiMH and NiCd and which is best when using 220v power to charge battery?” So. To tackle the first part of the question we have to look at the criteria for making the power tool battery decision. And then bring Lithium Ion into the equation to round out the choices. Get helpful articles that help you make informed power tool decisions by signing up for the ToolCrib.com newsletter! Criteria for Making Your Power Tool Battery Decision According to Building a Better Power-Tool Battery you should be looking at a battery’s run time, life cycle, volts and amp-hour rating. Run Time: Quite simply run time is the amount of work a tool can do before its charge runs out. Life Cycle: Life cycle is how many times the battery can be recharged during its life time. Volts (Power): Volts will determine work output of the tool. John Sara, cordless product manager for Milwaukee Electric Tool, quoted in the artic...
More About: King

ToolCrib.com?s Ultimate Guide to Free Router Table Plans
2007-03-04 02:25:03
This is the first in a series that will focus on free workshop plans. Subscribe to the Tool Crib.com email newsletter to stay up to date on ALL of our woodworking and power tool resources! The router table is a classic wood shop project, and if you’re as thrifty as I am then there’s no question that you’re going to build your own (though, cough cough, our associates at Amazon have a fantastic array of prebuilt router tables . I searched through free woodworking plans from our ultimate guide to hand pick these free router table plans for you. This article is designed to be a great starting point for your router table project, and to get you thinking about all the possible options out there. So browse the plans, and let your imagination run wild. And check out the links to forum discussions at the end of the article for more insight I organized the best plans I found into three lists: Space Saver and Bench Top Router Tabl es Full Size/Professional Router Tables Rou...
More About: Free , Guide , Plans

Amazon Weekend Sale - Great Power Tool Deals for March 4 and 5
2007-03-04 02:25:03
What is it with Amazon on the weekends? They give out power tool deals like they were Saturday morning cartoons or something… Check out these Weekend Sale Deals that I added to the power tool deals section of our blog today: Bosch 1587AVSK Top-Handle Jig Saw Kit - $85.49 GMC ATBR1500 2 1/4 HP Router Kit With 3 Bases - $47.49 Denali 10 Inch Compound Miter saw - $47.49 Gerber 22-41506 Clutch Mini Pliers - $9.99 GMC AJS58LS 5.8 Amp Top Handle Jigsaw - $18.99 Tags: Amazon Weekend Sale, -, Great Power Tool Deals

ToolCrib.com?s Ultimate Guide to Over 4,000 Free Woodworking Plans
2007-02-28 14:22:03
We recently posted about Free WW.com, a site devoted to free woodworking plans. Judging from out site stats you guys ate them up. We set the hounds on hunting out all the free woodworking plan sites that the web has to offer, and we think we’re getting pretty close to pointing to all of them right here. If you’re wondering how we got the 4,000 number I’ll admit - it was a lot of guess work. On sites like the first one, where I estimate around 2,500 plans, I counted the number of categories (180) and multiplied that by the lowest number I found in the sampling of categories I checked in (15) and rounded down. I stayed conservative any time I couldn’t get an exact count. Scientific? Heck no! But who cares? There’s lots and lots and lots of free plans for you to start rummaging through… so DIG IN to these plans and get your butt into the work shop! (if you’d rather not go through them all by hand scroll down for a search box that lets you searc...
More About: Work , Tool , Wood , Guide

WoodNet?s Top 7 Most Influential Woodworkers
2007-02-27 14:21:01
I polled the guys at Wood net recently to see who were their top five most influential woodworkers… It turned out to be a pretty popular and highly personal topic. Great stuff for those seeking to broaden their woodworking influences… What I published here today is but a small part of a larger survey I’m doing. I also asked at LumberJocks and will re-ask at FamilyWoodworking now that I have refined my question. You’re welcome to contribute to the “most influential woodworker project” too by commenting this thread or emailing GFrench@ToolCrib.com about your top five most influential woodworkers. Here’s a sneak peek at the WoodNet top ten so far… I will check back there before I put together another “ultimate guide” 1) Norm Abram - 27 “The guy in plaid,” “Nahm…” He goes by many names and Woodnetters mentioned him 27 times as a “most influential” woodworker. Especially in the early y...
More About: Workers , Work , Most , Dnet

$289.97 Off Delta 36-731 10-Inch Right Tilt Cabinet Saw
2007-02-23 20:17:04
Don’t look at Amazon’s list price of $2,440.82, this Delta beauty queen usually sits at $1588.97. Today - and we DON’T know how long this will last - you can take her home for $1,299.00. This is the lowest price I’ve ever seen on the Delta 36-731. You WILL have to pay $149.00 shipping for this 476 pound tool. Here are her specs: * 3-horsepower cabinet saw with 50-inch unifence system; magnetic switch * Industrial T-slot miter gage; full beveled front edge; 4-inch rear dust port * Cast-iron base, carbide-tipped blade * Includes saw, fence system, adjustment tool kit, blade, table insert * 74 by 45 by 42 inches; 476 pounds; 2-year warranty This price could go up at any time… and if it goes any lower within 30 days you can get a refund (learn how)! So get your Delta 36-731 10-Inch Right Tilt 3 Horsepower Cabinet Saw today! Safety first! If you buy this saw read the manual for safety and then read our guide to the most dangerous power tools to see where...

The new ToolCrib.com Newsletter
2007-02-23 02:15:02
The first Volume of the Tool Crib.com News letter is out into the world. Thanks to everyone for the great response. Click here to check it out and click here to make sure you are on the list for the next one. Tags: toolcrib.com, newsletter, woodworking, diy, home, improvement
More About: The N , Letter , Newsletter

Woodworker Interview Project + Most Influential Woodworkers
2007-02-23 02:15:02
I’m not afraid to admit that I know nothing about woodworking First and foremost because I have very little shame, to the chagrin of the LOML when we’re out at dinner. And secondly because I know I can rely on the guys at FamilyWoodworking and WoodNet for a healthy dose of woodworking wisdom. Building from the collaborative success of our Ultimate Guide to the Top Ten Most Dangerous Woodworking Power Tools I went to both forums today and asked them about good questions to ask of influential woodworkers. I thought I’d link to them from here so you can see the “conversations” emerge… I think I may have to re-ask my question in WoodNet cause I’ve got crickets there for now . Anyways, check out: Who are your top five most influential woodworkers? and woodworker interviews project And please comment or email me: GFrench@ToolCrib.com about YOUR favorite woodworkers and questions you’d like to ask them!
More About: Workers , Inter , Work , Project , Interview