Two years ago I wrote about the ordeal of finding spare parts for the popular (but now discontinued) US-made Jorgensen rapid action vises. Unfortunately, after many years of smooth operation, the vise’s steel acme screw will eventually erode the threaded bronze insert and lose its grip on it. Until a few years ago, when Jorgensen…

  Harvey Tools recently released a new line of shop tools aimed at the hobbyist under the Ambassador name. We got a chance to put both the 14“ bandsaw and the C200-30 table saw to work in the shop, and overall, we were quite impressed—especially factoring in the bang for the buck factor. C-14 Bandsaw…

Tool: Installation Drill/Driver Shop Now  Manufacturer: Milwaukee MSRP: $179 (bare tool) I use mostly 12-volt cordless tools in my shop. Modern technology helps you do a lot with lighter, more compact tools. But it wasn’t until I needed to install hardware in a kitchen full of kitchen cabinets that I realized how much that compactness and flexibility…

While we lust for a 20″ monster, most woodworkers would be just as well off (or better) with a ‘suitcase planer.’ When I started woodworking in about 1993, I wanted two things: a table saw with a decent rip fence and the biggest thickness planer on the planet. In my opinion, planers are the biggest…

Tool: Ryobi One+ HP Brushless Series Shop Now  Manufacturer: Ryobi MSRP: $99+ I recently had the chance to sample the new line of ONE+ HP Brushless Power Tools from RYOBI. Like most brushless tools, they are more energy-efficient and powerful while featuring lightweight, compact design. There’s not a bad tool in the bunch, but a few were…

When you’ve been around for 100 years, you’re allowed to celebrate yourself, and that’s just what Powermatic is doing. Throughout 2021 they will be releasing seven tools to commemorate their centennial anniversary. First off this spring will be special editions of the 54H Jointer, 15HH Planer, PWBS-14CS Bandsaw, and PM1300XT dust collector. Each of these…

Tool: TID 18 impact driver Buy Now T18+3-E drill/driver Buy Now  Manufacturer: Festool MSRP: Starting at $199 for bare tool Premium Impact Driver and Drill Like all power tool companies, Festool is continuing to improve its battery technology and how it pairs with the tools these batteries are powering. You can see (and feel) the fruits of this…

This versatile hand tool should be every woodworker’s first plane purchase. As a “professional woodworker” I often get asked what’s the best bang-for-the-buck tool by people getting into this craft. My response is always to ask if they have a good quality block plane. I know, it’s not the big, awesome aircraft carrier-like jointer plane….

Hand Tool Starter Kit Tool: 45th Anniversary Set of Three Woodworking Tools Buy Now Manufacturer: Garrett Wade MSRP: $253 For a long time, there were really only a couple options to get started using planes and other hand tools: shell out big bucks for new, premium-quality tools that are ready to cut out of the box or…

Modern hand planes continue to be popular, and this low-angle block plane excels at trimming tenons, rabbets, and end grain. Tool: Skew Block Plane Buy Now Manufacturer: Veritas MSRP: $229 When you pick up the Veritas Skew Block Plane, you’ll notice that the blade is skewed at 15°, side to side. When using a regular plane,…

Planing the edge of a long board perpendicular to its face is a real challenge. To make the job easier, I built a guide that attaches to the side of my plane with rare earth magnets. Now jointing an edge is much easier. I simply alter my grip to take full advantage of the square-cornered…

Building this handmade saw cabinet employs vital hand tool techniques with an emphasis on dovetail, dado and mortise and tenon joinery.

Tool: Universal Handsaw [Buy Now]  Manufacturer: Irwin MSRP: $18.99 You’re at the lumberyard, trying to fit a 10-ft. cherry board into your hatchback. It’s OK to cut it in two, but with what? Most woodworkers would naturally think of a power tool, but truth be told, a good handsaw will do the job almost as fast. The…

Tool: Magnetic-Mount LED Work Light Shop Now  Manufacturer: Lee Valley MSRP: $36.50 I have a perfectly good light for my workbench, on an attachment that slips into the dog holes. And, it has a magnifier, which is becoming increasingly useful. However: My bench is against a wall, so the articulating arm of the light limits how…

Tool: Pro Grade Precision Sanding Sheets Shop Now  Manufacturer: 3M MSRP: $4.79/pack Everyone knows using the right tool for the job is the way to go, and that rule definitely applies to sandpaper. 3M has been one of the top choices for sandpaper for a while now. When Jonathan Katz-Moses ran his sandpaper showdown last summer…

Tool: Benchtop DC Personal Dust Collector Shop Now  Manufacturer: Oneida MSRP: $599 Dust really is the bane of the power tool woodworker. It’s also hazardous, especially if you spend much of your time woodworking. Dust collection on stationary tools and portable tools (hooked to a dust extractor) is getting better and better, but there are still times…

  Harvey Tools recently released a new line of shop tools aimed at the hobbyist under the Ambassador name. We got a chance to put both the 14“ bandsaw and the C200-30 table saw to work in the shop, and overall, we were quite impressed—especially factoring in the bang for the buck factor. C-14 Bandsaw…

Tool: Beginner Set of Tools Shop Now  Manufacturer: Jimmy Clewes MSRP: $743 A recent weekend of turning with Jimmy Clewes in Las Vegas led me to a new, favorite set of turning tools—Jimmy’s signature set of turning tools. Made for Jimmy by Doug Thompson, the tools are some of the nicest I’ve used. I mainly turn bowls,…

Tool: Installation Drill/Driver Shop Now  Manufacturer: Milwaukee MSRP: $179 (bare tool) I use mostly 12-volt cordless tools in my shop. Modern technology helps you do a lot with lighter, more compact tools. But it wasn’t until I needed to install hardware in a kitchen full of kitchen cabinets that I realized how much that compactness and flexibility…