Tools

Look Ma, No Clamps

A friend of mine used to claim that his favorite tool was his own spit. I'd never claim such a thing publicly, but I do admit to using some rather unorthodox tools at times: I've sharpened paint-can keys to scrape off glue squeeze-out, and ground threaded rod into various shapes for stamping wood. In this Continue reading»

Tool Test: Kreg Shelf-pin Jig

by Steve Shanesy
Page 14

From the April 2012 issue, #196

If your idea of a jig for drilling shelf-pin holes is a piece of pegboard, there’s an affordable alternative from Kreg Tool that allows you to step up your game. And even if you have moved beyond pegboard, this new jig will cut down on the possibility of drilling sets of holes in wrong locations.

You know the problem – misaligning the jig when you switch from cutting one row of holes to another. Opportunities to mess up are endless.

This shelf-pin jig, although compact, offers a number of features. It provides two options for setting the pin-hole locations from the cabinet edge. It has a fence to consistently repeat that setting and requires no tools to switch from the 1" setting to the 2" option.

Web site: Kreg Tool

Tool Test: Philadelphia Furniture Workshop Moxon Vise

by Megan Fitzpatrick
Page 14

From the April 2012 issue, #196

While Moxon-style twin-screw vises seem to be breeding like rabbits these days (see our November 2011 issue, #193 and our December 2010 issue, #187), this version, developed by Alan Turner and Mario Rodriguez at Philadelphia Furniture Workshop (and available through Tools for Working Wood) has some interesting features.

Perhaps most useful (for those who prefer to build furniture rather than shop fixtures) is that for just $30 more than the cost of the Benchcrafted twin-screw vise hardware alone, this vise arrives ready to use.

Web site: Tools for Working Wood

Tool Test: Bessey Auto-adjust Toggle Clamps

by Steve Shanesy
Page 12

From the April 2012 issue, #196

Toggle clamps are an indispensable workholding device for jigs, but they are a bit fussy to adjust to the desired height and clamp pressure. Leave it to Bessey to come up with clever innovations that give the traditional toggle clamp a big leap forward.

With these new versions, variation in thickness of the work is a non-issue. You can clamp a wide range of thicknesses, from a thin veneer to 23⁄4" stock, without a single adjustment. Just lift the lever handle, change material and lower the lever. Done. A simple screw adjustment provides a clamping pressure range from 50-550 pounds per square inch, and the selected pressure does not change when the material’s thickness changes.

Web site: Bessey Tools
Video: See this toggle clamp in action.

Tool Test: Liogier Hand-cut Rasps

First-class shaping tools from France.

by Robert W. Lang
Page 12

From the April 2012 issue, #196

In 2004, Popular Woodworking introduced hand-cut French rasps to American woodworkers. Those tools from Auriou were definitely a cut above what was previously available, and we happily added them to our tool kits.

A few months ago, we learned about another French maker, Liogier – a company similar to Auriou Toolworks at Forge de Saint Juery (Auriou’s current name). Both are family owned and have been making these tools for generations. I ordered a couple of cabinetmaker’s rasps and have been using them for the last few months. As with the Auriou rasps, these tools are a delight to use, and well worth the price.

Web site: Liogier
Video: Watch how these tools are made.

Favorite New Tools of 2011

So, with hours to go before the year ends (at least in my time zone), I've one more post for 2011: some of Popular Woodworking Magazine's favorite new tools for 2011. Caveat: Because most of us have been out of the office over the holidays, the following were chosen by me, Steve Shanesy, Christopher Schwarz Continue reading»

Tool Test: BLOKKZ Universal Clamping Blocks

By Steve Shanesy
Page: 16

From the February 2012 issue #195.
Buy the issue now.

I’ve made dozens of clamping cauls over the years to address the wide variety of oddball clamping conditions we run into in the shop. Some were simple and quick to make; others took more time.
Some worked perfectly; others just got me through.

VIDEO: See these clamps in action.