Tag: Tool Review

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Tool Primer: How To Finish Your Woodworking Project: Sanding

woodshopcowboy

In the next two Tool Primer articles, I will discuss my process for finishing a woodworking project.   The finishing process is the difference between a good woodworking project and a heirloom piece of furniture.  When I want to really knock a project out of the park, I focus much of my energy on choosing and creating a proper finish.

Boiled Linseed Oil, Shellac, Paste Wax
Boiled Linseed Oil, Shellac, Paste Wax

So here’s my advice: sand it well and thin it as well.
In this article, I’ll  focus on sanding.  More after the jump!
Continue reading “Tool Primer: How To Finish Your Woodworking Project: Sanding”

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Tool Primer: How to Select and Use Power Drills

woodshopcowboy

The first power tool I probably ever used (and owned) was a power drill.  The lowly power drill can do a whole lot of things if you know how to use it.  A power drill can strip paint, drill big holes, little holes, create dowel joints, sand curves and screw stuff together.  It makes pocket holes and wood split.  If you don’t know exactly what a power drill is, it is a handheld tool which spins a metal bit attached to an electric motor via a chuck.  The magic of the drill is in the bit.

In short, it’s pretty essential to the hobbyist and homeowner.  In this post, I’ll break down the types of (power) drills available for the average homeowner/hobbyist/woodshop teacher and give some tips on how to choose which is right for you.

First, let’s take a walk through history, why don’t we? Continue reading “Tool Primer: How to Select and Use Power Drills”

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Gear Review: SKIL 7-1/4″ Circular Saw Mo. 5480

woodshopcowboy

If you are in the market for a 7-1/4″ circular saw for light homeowner use, I don’t see any reason not to buy a SKIL 5480.  It’s cheap, durable construction, dead simple set-up and with a decent saw guide, can create clean cuts all day long.  The hard plastic casing has held up to three years of abuse, the metal foot plate hasn’t rusted and kept its smooth action.  It has a metal blade guard.  It’s big enough to get the job done.  Buy it.  Skip the laser. Continue reading Gear Review: SKIL 7-1/4″ Circular Saw Mo. 5480

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Tool Review: Marples’ Japanese Style Saws

woodshopcowboy

Some new gear found its way into my home-shop.  I’ve recently bought the Marples/Irwin-branded version of this saw by Shark: The manufacturer patterned this saw after Japanese ryoba saws.  Some quick thoughts – it has two saw blades.  The larger teeth (the 8ish ppi) side seems to excel at ripping, while the 17ppi side excels at cross-cutting.  I have no idea whether the saw was designed in this way, but that’s the way she works for me.  It’s two handed design allows the saw to cut quite fast and straight.  Bench hooks seem to be completely useless though, so to … Continue reading Tool Review: Marples’ Japanese Style Saws

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The Things they Carried (Cool Tools Everyday Carry Contest)

woodshopcowboy

Kevin Kelly, editor of Wired magizine, runs an interesting blog on Cool Tools.  He recently held a contest looking for tools which are carried everyday.  This year, I’ve been refining my tool belt to carry the tools that make my job run. So let’s start, shall we?  From right to left: Canvas Tool Pouch:  It’s light, rugged and cheap.  An obvious catchall, I often put the small tools of the day in the various pockets.  A few tools reside permenently inside its pockets – #2 Phillips drivers, a hex wrench which tightens down the miter box, Moleskine notebook, digital camera, … Continue reading The Things they Carried (Cool Tools Everyday Carry Contest)