Tool Review-Bosch PS40-2A Impact Driver

The PS-40 Pocket Impact-Driver is a small and lighter version of a cordless drill that is designed with a hammering function that spins fast, to produce about three times the torque of a drill. This means an impact driver will put in screws, bolts, and other fasteners much faster than a drill would. It can drill holes, up to 1/2 inch and so handle just about any job a homeowner or contractor would do around the house. If you are looking for that all around tool for your tool shop, this is it.-Read More

BLUETOOTH YOUR HEARING PROTECTORS

Hearing protection is always a must when operating power tools, but makes listening to a radio or iPod difficult. Peltor solved part of this problem by offering a hearing protector with an AM/FM radio. Naturally, soon after I bought one of these headsets, they came out with a version that included an iPod hookup integral to the sound protection. This was a huge improvement to my "listening pleasure", but it soon became obvious that the iPod chord was going to be problematic, constantly getting caught on things around the shop. The final straw was when I snagged the chord so hard, I broke one of the internal wires. There had to be a better way.

Bluetooth headsets are rapidly coming on the market (I even have one built into my ski helmet), but no one has taken the "hint" on sound protection headphones. However, the solution was as simple by adding a Bluetooth receiver to the hearing protectors. -Read More

Weatherproofing the Rolling Wood Rack

The rolling wood rack I built must sit in my driveway to allow me to work in the garage, so eventually it was going to get rained on. At first I just threw a tarp over it which worked fine for several months, but this wasn't a perfect solution as had to be fastened all the time making access difficult. The rack sat outside for several months, while I was renovating the garage, and eventually the plastic tarp started to deteriorate from the sun and get pin holes from the wind abrading it on the corners of the wood. Naturally the day before I was going to do this project, a storm went through ripped holes in the tarp's weak areas and some of the wood got wet, leaving food for the fireplace.

I got a new tarp and decided to build and upper frame to secure the tarp in place and keep it away from the sharp wood corners. -Read More

Securing Lumber Loads

Carting all that lumber home can sometimes be a challenge, if not secured properly. Nothing ruins a day, like leaving your expensive lumber all over the highway and calling your auto insurance company. A few commercially available tools have come on the market that are designed to keep your load from sliding out the back of your pickup truck bed. They take advantage of the gap between the bed and tailgate. Even though these are made just down the road from me, I could not find a retailer that carried them. The other problem I noticed was that the "Load Latch" bowed the plywood sheets and could damage pre-finished plywood. Not to be deterred I came up with my own version, that was a lot cheaper too. -Read More

Workshop Renovation Part VIII-Special Purpose Tool Storage Cabinets

The next phase of workshop renovation project was the building of cabinets to hold my Shopsmith Special Purpose Tools (SPTs), accessories, jigs and long items. The carcass and base of these cabinets are exactly the same as the miter bench cabinets, with the exception of the dimensions. Basically just a big box. However, inside I made fixtures to support pullout tool trays and store long saw guides.-Read More

Workshop Renovation Part VII-Shop Compressed Air

Any well outfitted shop has an air compressor for running pneumatic tools, nail guns, cleaning off saw dust, etc. How that system is arranged can be important to work flow and decide if you will be constantly tripping over hoses. Many shops have large compressors that are not easily moved, so they run air to several work stations via a manifold system using galvanized pipe. This works well, but can get expensive with the cost of pipe and mounts. It also limits changes and is usually permanent. Another way to accomplish this task in a cheaper and less permanent manner is to use regular pneumatic air hose. To illustrate one such method I'll explain my own shop setup.-Read More

Tool Review-Wixey Digital Planer Gauge

If you have ever tried precision planing you know how difficult it is. This is especially true if you have to later go back and mill more stock after you have moved the planer's height setting. The Wixey Digital Planer Gauge has made precision planing possible at an economical cost. This simple digital gauge is designed for use on moving table height planers and is flexible enough to adapt to various models-Read More

Tool Review-Eliminator Quick Change Router Chuck

Everyone knows the frustration of trying to use multiple wrenches to loosen a router chuck for bit changes. Finally a solution has arrived, the Eliminator Quick Change Chuck. This is one little accessory you'll be glad you bought. -Read More

Workshop Renovation Part VI-The Miter/Storage Bench is Finally Complete

After months of work I finally finished and installed my miter bench and storage system. The bench includes four cabinets that contain bench top tools (ie: drum sander, chop saw, belt sander and router table) a miter saw with feed ramps, sanding down draft table and central saw dust vacuum system. All bench modules mount tool lifts that raise a tool for usage, or store it and provide an open bench work area. Additionally there are numerous cabinets and drawers for tool storage. -Read More

Tool Review-Ryobi P521 Cordless Orbital Jig Saw

"Murphy's Law" was a live and well when my old Craftsman jig saw died right in the middle of making a cut for my cabinet project. Covered with saw dust I ran down to the local home center to buy a replacement. Unfortunately the price of the saw I wanted was substantially more than could be found on the internet. I didn't want to buy a cheap saw I'd never use again, so I started to look for a cordless one that would compliment my tool arsenal. -Read More