The ToolCrib.com Blog

RSS Feed Homepage

Articles: 1, 2, 3, 4

SawStop Bandsaw Prototype - Video
2008-04-08 18:37:00
I just saw this on YouTube, thought you’d dig it. It’s pretty old I think but still cool! Here are some other posts that mention SawStop: Sawstop vs. Powermatic PM 2000 in the Professional Wood Shop BOSCH Places Second in Battle of Power Tool Brands! Guess Who Got First? (SawStop placed 17th) The 11 Top Woodworking Power Tools That ...
More About: Video , Prototype

Building a UniSaw ?Frankensaw? From the Ground Up
2008-04-07 22:30:00
There are over 4,000 ToolCrib newsletter readers and over 500 visitors a day to the blog. I’m afraid this post about building a UniSaw out of spare parts is only going to appeal to about 4 of you. But I know that those who like it are REALLY going to like it In other ...
More About: Building , Ground

How Sharp is Sharp Enough for Woodworking Tools (+video)
2008-04-02 22:50:00
So I’ve been spending a little time in the Woodworking Hand Tools section over at Woodnet. That’s right - I’ve been exploring the crazy world of the Galoot One member posed the question - how do you guys measure sharpness? There’s not a good measure for sharpness, at least not that I could ...
More About: Video , Sharp

Getting the Most Out of Your Benchtop or Contractor Table Saw
2008-03-19 17:27:00
When I researched and wrote the ToolCrib.com table saw buying guide I pretty much panned benchtops. I recommended to folks that they go for a guide and circ saw if they were seriously considering a benchtop. Sometimes you’ve just got to work with the tools at hand though. Maybe you got a benchtopper before you ...
More About: Table , Contractor

Cyclone Dust Collectors: Gorilla vs. Clear Vue vs. Grizzly
2008-03-17 19:34:00
For those new to wood shop dust collection, a cyclone dust collection system differs from older dust collection systems because almost no dust reaches the filter - it all ends up in the collection bin. Until I started reading through this thread on WoodNet - with over 200 posts - I didn’t realize that nothing ...
More About: Clear , Gorilla , Cyclone

ToolCrib.com?s Ultimate Guide to Free Woodworking Workbench Plans
2008-03-10 20:31:00
We all know what the most dangerous power tool in your workshop is (it’s you … so what’s the most useful/important tool? No, it’s not your table saw… it’s your WORKBENCH. Woodworkers often look at the workbench as an essential project, a core project that both teaches and creates a highly useful product. My ...
More About: Free , Guide , Plans , Woodworking , Ultimate

The Quest Begins for a Wooden Guitar Hero Controller?
2008-03-08 00:09:00
Now… there are no details yet if this could work, but the gamer geeks at WoodNet are wondering about creating a wooden Guitar Hero controller. As a fan of Guitar Hero (along with my wife and nephew) this topic caught my attention. I started searching around in the hopes that someone will actually make some ...
More About: Quest , Controller

Do You Wear Your Wedding Ring in the Shop?
2008-03-05 19:11:00
Rings are always mentioned when it comes to power tool safety - in that list of things NOT to wear in the shop. Along with long hair, dangling necklaces and long sleeves, rings can get caught in the machinery and cause you serious physical harm. That said, the LOYL (love of your life) may cause you ...
More About: Interviews , Wedding , Shop , Ring , Wear

Questions to Ask When Buying a Used Powermatic 66 Table Saw
2008-02-28 19:18:00
Whenever a woodworker mentions he’s in the market for a hybrid table saw there’s always someone standing around to tell him he should just take the money and invest in a used cabinet saw. A SawmillCreek member (a Creeker) asked his fellow woodworkers to help him evaluate a used Powermatic 66 opportunity he found online. I ...
More About: Buying , Questions , Table

Do You Have a TV In Your Wood Shop?
2008-02-12 19:28:00
A member at the SawmillCreek forum asked his fellow creekers whether they had TVs in their shops… he needed some data to show to his wife because he was seeking her agreement on a new TV. I’m someone who’s easily distracted so having a TV on while I’m working would drive me nuts. I was blown ...
More About: Wood , Shop

The Top Five Power Tools We Buy But Never Use…
2008-02-11 16:51:00
Have you ever dropped tens of dollars or even hundreds on a woodworking tool or accessory that you never used? These are the tools that are collecting dust instead of making it… Maybe it was a deal too good to pass up. Maybe it was an accessory to your table saw or router. No matter how you came by it though, you’ve never found use for it. The WoodNetter Mike C asked a similar question recently and we went and tallied up the responses to bring you the top five woodworking tools we buy but never use… And for the record “never use” roughly means “haven’t used once in the past year.” Read through the list and let it be a warning to you… not that you shouldn’t buy any of these tools, but just to think twice before you do. Also, be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom for an interesting theory… or even a conspiracy… about why we buy needless tools Disclaimer: This survey represents a single forum’s o...
More About: Power , Tools

The Ultimate Guide to Making Wooden Hinges
2008-02-04 17:32:00
I love woodworking forums. The free flow of information, the friendships, the “strong discussions” about power tools… One of my favorite forums remains FamilyWoodworking.org, both for the spirit in which they built it and the friendliness of the guys posting there. Here’s an example of what I consider to be a “gem” of a Family Woodworking ...
More About: Guide , Ultimate , Wooden

Drum Sander Leaving Lines in Wood?
2008-02-04 15:58:00
A Wood Netter wrote in to his buddies to ask about the lines left in his wood by his 18″ Delta drum sander. Here’s what he said: “I’m wondering if anyone can help me out in eliminating lines in the wood after sanding on a drum sander (18″ Delta). I’ve ran the grit schedule of 80, 120, and I”m ...
More About: Drum , Lines , Leaving

Video: John Deere Just Killed Your Chain Saw
2008-01-25 19:40:00
Don’t let your chain saw watch this video… he won’t come out of the shed for shame. This is a video of John Deere’s 1270D Wheeled Harvester that I found over at WoodNet. Apparently the thing has computer functionality too: “The harvester comes fully equipped with a John Deere processing head combined with a powerful John ...
More About: Video , Killed , Chain

Tool Belts vs. Shop Aprons in Your Woodshop
2008-01-22 15:54:00
A great question came up over at the FamilyWoodworking.org woodworking forum (FW is a welcoming and friendly spin off of SawmillCreek.org). Mr. Sean Wright over there wrote recently: “When in your shop, do you wear a tool belt, a shop apron, or just work clothes?” “Up until recently I just wore work clothes. Then I picked up ...
More About: Tool , Shop , Belts

When Kickback Calls? Six Favorite Table Saw Splitters
2008-01-18 23:29:00
What is it about kick back that opens up your eyes to the importance of a splitter on your table saw? I think this quote from a ‘Creeker just about sums it up: “Yesterday, I actually had a pretty serious kick-back incident with a 30″ long piece of 2×4 I was trying to rip in half. ...
More About: Calls , Table , Favorite

Power Tool Decibel Levels Could Be Hurting Your Ears
2008-01-15 17:10:00
Do you wear hearing protection while running your woodworking tools? If you’re using tools louder than a band saw (roughly rated at 90 decibels) then you should PROTECT YOUR EARS. A woodworker over at the ‘Creek got his hands on a decibel measuring instrument and got a read on the tools that he uses regularly. You ...
More About: Power , Tool , Ears

Best Table Saw Miter Gauge: Incra vs. Osborne vs. Kreg
2007-12-15 17:20:00
Do your woodworking projects turn out a little less (or more…) than square? It might be time for you to graduate from the table saw miter gauge that came with your machine. A recent thread at the WoodNet forum, “Considering buying an aftermarket miter gauge,” set me off on a quest to see what other woodworkers ...
More About: Table , Osborne , Gauge

Band Saw Tire Maintenance
2007-12-13 17:05:00
Take care of your tools and they will take care of you. Band saw tire maintenance is a must! A recent post in WoodNet offered some great advice on cleaning band saw tires. To round things out I dug around for more band saw tune up resources and pulled out the stuff just relating to ...
More About: Maintenance , Tena , Tire

Grizzly 1023 vs. Delta Unisaw and Craftsman Hybrid
2007-12-11 16:40:00
Some people like boxing. I like a good power tool face off in the forums, where woodworkers start posting in ALL CAPS AT EACH OTHER in defense of their favorite brand. To me there’s a lot of good wisdom in these kinds of fist fights, er… conversations A recent WoodNet forum post asked about ...
More About: Hybrid , Delta , Craftsman

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