Posts in the «tools» Category
- Review: TayTools Jack Plane
TayTools #5 jack plane more than lived up to my expectations of what a jack plane should do.
- Low profile bench dogs
I don’t often work with thin stock, but when I do, I have issues with being able to plane it because my dogs are too tall. I need some dogs that are along the line of 1/4″ thick. My wood dogs are too thick, as are my plastic ones. So turned to the internet to […]
- Multi-set drill index with guide
I have a bunch of drill bits. Anything over 1/4″ I don’t go through that rapidly, but anything under 1/4″ they are prone to breakage or other tip damage. As a result I have a bunch of these small packs of bits that are incomplete sets. It is a pain to rifle through them for […]
- Best woodworking pencil
I know a lot of people disrespect the mechanical pencil for the wood-shop because the lead is too thin and breaks too easily. I used to have similar complaints. I work with a lot of irregular wood with rough saw marks and things that would spell the end for the fragile lead on a mechanical […]
- My favorite screwdriver
I am redoing my kitchen with new cabinets and as a result, was putting in a lot of screws. Some I could access with my drill driver, others were not easily accessed or were too small to work safely with the drill. My hands were getting a bit achy and so I was looking for […]
- Florida Chainsaw Mill
Anybody who is into natural woodworking is likely familiar with the “Alaskan Chainsaw Mill.” Carried into the wilderness, slung over a well muscled shoulder and ready to turn logs into lumber. These mills made by Granberg and others are impressive, but that is just not how we roll down in Florida. We are grayer, more […]
- Easy clamping cauls
A few years ago I saw these bar clamps made by Sergio Acuña Padin on Youtube. His channel is full of clever, inexpensive tool builds. I liked these clamps because they were simple, effective and cheap. They are perfect for panel glue-ups. I have quite a few pipe clamps, so I didn’t really have a […]
- Black and Decker Electric Chainsaw
I recently needed a chainsaw to take care of some wood that had found its way to my driveway. I pulled out my 16 year old 16″ Poulan chainsaw that had not been used in over 10 years. I quickly discovered that all the fuel lines had deteriorated. So I bought replacement lines and filters […]
- Gang Saw
I wanted to build a frame saw for resawing wood, especially large slabs. Previously my resawing logs technique has either been to use my bandsaw milling sled for smaller logs or my one-man rip saw for logs that won’t fit on my bandsaw. Then I thought about the old saw mills that used to use […]
- Router Planing Bit Options
I built a router sled back a while ago to use in flattening some slabs. Over the course of flattening multiple slabs, I have had the chance to try a few bit options. Keep in mind that when planing with a router, you want to only have half the bit working at removing wood. So […]
- Coping Saw – Blade Direction – You lead, blade follows
Almost every coping saw being sold today is set-up wrong. They are backwards. This is not a discussion of the push versus pull in terms of does it cut on the push stroke or the pull stroke. Most of them are set up to cut on the pull stroke, and I am fine with that. […]
- Easy Router Sled
A while back, a neighbor was cutting down an oak tree that was either a Southern Live Oak or a Swamp Laurel Oak. I tried to ID it using this oak tree guide but I no longer have access to leaves or acorns from that tree. They are pretty common, seem to grow fast and […]
- Simple Tool Oiler
I took a simple suggestion from Paul Sellers to make an oiler can by winding up a strip of cloth and putting it in a little can. I made three small ones using some caps from spraypaint cans. I squirted in several soakings of 3-in-1 oil and have found it to be very easy […]
- Starter Woodworking Kit
My son and I were recently talking about what tools I would replace immediately if my shop got wiped out by hurricane or sink hole. I have a lot of old tools. Many of them are not essential, but I keep them because the have family history (my Dad’s, my Grandfather’s, my Great uncle’s). […]
- Bench Bull Meets Moxon Vise = Bulloxon
My son and I have a game we play in the car (when I am not driving) called “I Draw, You Draw.” I started it to get him to focus on details. On one half of the paper, I draw something that only has a few steps. (maybe a circle with a line) then I […]
- Carver’s Mallets – Father Son Project
At our previous house we had a huge mango tree in our back yard. It made the best mangoes each year, but also made a mess of the yard and attracted a few zillion fruit flies. About 6 years ago I cut off a larger branch and stored away two sections of it for a […]
- Craftsman Miter Station Model 88136301
I was at a Habitat for Humanity ReStore a few weeks back with my son. In a pile of saws I saw a 24″ long backsaw peaking out with a $5.00 price tag on it. I looked it over. Not a Disston, Warranted Superior. I explained to my son that we had a longer better […]
- Handscrew Repair
My Father has recently decided he is too old to do workshop type work anymore. At 83 I’ll let him use that excuse. As a result of his decision he has started unloading some of his tools on me. Many have seen better days. Florida’s salt air is hard enough on tools, and much of […]
- Home Depot Choosing China Again
I was in my local Home Depot yesterday and walking through the tool section looking to buy a couple of bar clamps. I have always favored the Jorgensen brand because they are sturdy, well made, and are made in the USA. I have always appreciated that Home Depot carries them. So I walk […]
- Workbench Serendipity Favors … someone else
Every old tool fan has a story of the one that got away. Some great old gem of a tool that slipped through their fingers for some reason or another. My most recent one still makes me shake my head in disbelief. I’m not fully up and running with my new garage bay workshop. To […]