Popular Woodworking Magazine » Tool Reviews

Substitute for Steel Wool Substitute

Robert W. Lang — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:52:36 +0000

One way to tell that you’re getting old is when technology marches forward, providing a replacement for something you think of as new. Non-woven abrasive pads (Scotch-Brite is one brand name) were a great alternative to steel wool, much like cassettes were way better than 8-track tapes. Steel wool leaves behind little bits of metal. … Read more »

The post Substitute for Steel Wool Substitute appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Gramercy Holdfasts-the Real Story

Robert W. Lang — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 18:15:41 +0000

Way back in 2005, I wrote an article for issue #4 of Woodworking Magazine about holdfasts. At the time, very few woodworkers knew what a holdfast was, and the article reviewed available manufactured holdfasts, as well as a few blacksmith made ones. We recently put the original holdfast article online, and included a link to … Read more »

The post Gramercy Holdfasts-the Real Story appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Tool Test: Festool Domino XL DF 700

Article Index — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 14:25:16 +0000

By Matthew Teague Page 16Festool recently released the Domino XL DF 700, big brother to its revolutionary Domino DF 500, one of the most innovative tools of the last few decades. Aside from the size, the loose-tenon joints created by the XL are the same as with the earlier version. From a machine that resembles a biscuit joiner, a router-type bit both plunges and oscillates to cut mortises in mating parts. Into each mortise fits a loose tenon, or “Domino.”How’s the fit? As good as I’ve seen, whether cut by hand or power. And lining up the joint couldn’t be easier.Cut butt joints on square or angled parts, align the two mating pieces and mark the tenon location on both pieces with one quick swipe of your pencil. Line up the machine and make the plunge cuts. The XL also has an improved indexing system that allows for even less measuring.For the combination of speed and strength, this joinery system is tough to beat.Video: See a collection of XL reviews. Read more »

The post Tool Test: Festool Domino XL DF 700 appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Tool Test: M-Power CRB7 Combination Router Base

Article Index — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 14:20:56 +0000

By Steve Shanesy Page 16M-Power Tools offers an aftermarket router base that offers a number of features at the very reasonable price of about $90. It can be mounted to any router that has 5/16"-diameter edge-guide holes spaced between 35/64"and 51/8".One key feature is an indexed micro-adjusting wheel that lets you dial in the router bit to a measurement or layout line – it’s particularly useful when routing dados or grooves in combination with a guide rail or circle-cutting jig.And speaking of cutting circles, the base comes with a pivot pin and pre-drilled holes for cutting circles as small as 3/4" and up to nearly 9" in diameter.Video: See the CRB7 in action. Read more »

The post Tool Test: M-Power CRB7 Combination Router Base appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

First Look: Lie-Nielsen 610 Low-angle Rabbeting Jack Plane

Christopher Schwarz — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 12:52:46 +0000

If you have attended any of the Lie-Nielsen Hand Tool Events in the last year and you have a sharp eye, then you probably noticed an odd-looking low-angle jack plane on one of the benches. It’s much like the No. 62 that Lie-Nielsen has been making for many years, but its sidewalls are open so … Read more »

The post First Look: Lie-Nielsen 610 Low-angle Rabbeting Jack Plane appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Bosch ‘Enhances’ Jigsaws

Robert W. Lang — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 20:42:58 +0000

Last week I was at the North American headquarters of Bosch Tools, part of a group of woodworking journalists taking a look at new offerings of the company’s products. The first woodworking tools we were shown were a pair of new jigsaws, the top-handle model JS572EL and the barrel-grip model JS572EBL. My first thoughts were … Read more »

The post Bosch ‘Enhances’ Jigsaws appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Tool Test: Lee Valley Knife Hinges

Matthew Teague — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:28:22 +0000

by Matthew Teague Page 16The first time I installed knife hinges I did so with an inexpensive pair, thinking it would be a good way to learn the process without wasting a lot of money on what is a notoriously finicky piece of hardware. Instead, I learned why quality knife hinges are worth every cent.Any play or wiggle in the hinge will show up in the swing of the door, and making adjustments after installation is difficult if not impossible. Knife hinges made of thin, stamped steel, with irregularities in the thickness of the leaves or imperfections in the action of the pivot, simply won’t function as they should. You can’t pay me enough to use cheap ones again.With that first set of knife hinges in mind, I was hesitant to try the new ones from Lee Valley. Once I got them in my hands, however, I was more hopeful. They have the weight and smooth action of quality hardware, and the brass versions are hard to distinguish from Brusso’s (long the standard by which knife hinges are measured).Likewise, as far as installation goes, I recently installed a few pairs of Brusso hinges and wouldn’t walk across the street for the difference. Like the Brusso line, the Lee Valley hinges are available in straight and offset orientations and in a wide range of sizes. You have your choice of either brass or stainless steel.And they’re priced notably less than comparable hinges from Brusso, which means Lee Valley will likely become my first stop for knife hinges.If I have one complaint, it’s that the Lee Valley hinges don’t come with screws. It’s not a huge problem with the brass hinges, but the stainless finish is akin in appearance to brushed nickel, so matching the screws is a challenge. While I love the look of the stainless versions, I wish Lee Valley provided matching screws.Web site: Lee Valley PDF: Learn to install knife hinges: InstallKinfeHinges Read more »

The post Tool Test: Lee Valley Knife Hinges appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Tool Test: Infinity Tools Thick-kerf, Flat-top Table Saw Blades

Steve Shanesy — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:24:56 +0000

by Steve Shanesy Page 16When we think table saw blades, our experience limits our thinking to rip, crosscut or combination, and 1⁄8" kerf or thin kerf. Then there’s the number of teeth and type of grind: flat top, alternate-tooth bevel (ATB) or triple-chip. Each of these has its purpose and, if sharp, performs a dedicated task well.Now, Infinity Cutting Tools offers a new table saw blade that cuts joints cleanly with just one setup.These 8" blades come with 24 teeth in kerf widths of 5⁄32" and 1⁄4". They feature a flat-top tooth grind and a side grind to optimize tooth geometry for side clearance. This tooth configuration and grind makes clean, flat-bottomed cuts either with or across the grain in hardwoods, plywood, laminates and veneered panels. No more “bat ears” left by ATB blades or dado sets.These blades are also perfect for cutting box joints, rabbets, dados and grooves at the table saw – no need to clean up the bottoms after. And if you are partial to using your table saw to cut tenons, these blades are ideal for cutting a joint with a shoulder equal to or more narrow than the blade kerf. All that’s required for each shoulder is a single pass with the stock on end, supported with a jig riding the saw fence.In addition to single blades, Infinity offers sets of blades and shims to space two blades apart for making various-width cuts or even make two box-joint cuts in one pass.These specialty blades provide a solid solution for numerous table saw operations, and provide superior results while saving time.Video: See an easy way to cut tenons using the table saw. (Coming soon.) Web site: Infinity Blade Read more »

The post Tool Test: Infinity Tools Thick-kerf, Flat-top Table Saw Blades appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Tool Test: Lie-Nielsen Closed-throat Routers

Christopher Schwarz — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:19:12 +0000

This joinery-tweaking plane belongs in every woodworker’s tool kit.by Christopher Schwarz Page 14Even when I am in full-blown power, power, power mode in the workshop, there are two handplanes I turn to all the time: a block plane and a router plane. Most woodworkers own a block plane, but only a fraction own a router plane, a tool I affectionately call “a chisel with a depth stop.” Router planes are the ultimate joinery-tweaking tool. They get your tenons sized to perfection, your dados sunk to the desired depth and your hinges swinging sweetly. And with two new versions from Lie-Nielsen Toolworks, you now have a selection unheard of since World War II.Lie-Nielsen now offers four router planes – two sizes with two different kinds of throats. The sizes are self-explanatory: The large planes are for full-size joinery and cutting deep recesses; the small routers are for hinge mortises and inlay. The different throats require more explanation.An “open-throat” router has a hump in its casting right in front of the iron. This hump allows you to better see what you are cutting, but it prevents you from using the tool on the edges of narrow boards without modifying the tool’s sole. A “closed-throat” router slightly reduces your visibility but it allows you to work on edges with ease.Lie-Nielsen’s two new routers have closed throats, which increases your choices and tightens the competition with Veritas of Canada, which offers only closed-throat routers.So the question on the minds of many woodworkers is: Who makes the best closed-throat router? For the small routers, I think Lie-Nielsen is the winner. The small Veritas router has an iron with a round post that tends to rotate when the tool is used in heavy cuts.For the large routers, it’s a dead heat. Both brands offer fences that are largely unused by most woodworkers – a fence comes standard on the Lie-Nielsen and is an option on the Veritas. Both brands offer depth stops that work 10,000 times better than the depth stop on the traditional Stanley router. And both brands have a variety of blades. The Veritas comes with two blades for $139; the Lie-Nielsen comes with one blade (and the fence) for $140.So the choice comes down to aesthetics and ergonomics. No matter which brand you choose, you’ll be rewarded with more accurate joints. So add these tools to your “must-have” list.Video: See the easy way to sharpen a router plane’s blade. Read more »

The post Tool Test: Lie-Nielsen Closed-throat Routers appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

New Glue Tool/Brush from Rockler

Steve Shanesy — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 20:25:11 +0000

Over the years I have developed my index finger as a highly skilled glue-spreading appendage. Combine it with a proper bead of glue on the edge of a board and I can spread it evenly in nearly one swipe. The only bad part is the glue left on your finger then puts glue where you … Read more »

The post New Glue Tool/Brush from Rockler appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.