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Lightweight, Compact Saw
I wanted a miter saw for trim work, flooring and woodworking projects, but I didn’t want to get a 10” for a few reasons. First is the size, I don’t have the space for one. Second is the weight and third is the cost. I was able to get this saw at Home Depot for $130 and for the small size it will be able to cut nearly anything I will need it for: Maximum crosscut dimensions: 90° – 1-1/2 in. x 10 in.; 45° – 1-1/2 in. x 6 in.Sliding head provides maximum cap...
A Great New Addition To My Shop
Manufacturer: Grizzly Industrial, Inc.Model: Grizzly G0513P – 17” 2 HP Bandsaw, Polar Bear SeriesModel: Shop Fox G7314Z – Heavy-Duty Mobile BaseCost: $895 and $74.95 Overview First a note about this “review”. This is more of an informational post, not so much of a review as I have not owned a bandsaw before, and therefore have nothing to compare it to. Having a bandsaw in the shop opens a completely new avenue of possibilities in the way wood is cut: ev...
Inexpensive way to save a lot of time.
I have to share my shop space with two cars in the winter. All that humidity from melting snow wreaks havoc on the cast iron table saw top and drill press table and post. I set out to find a good way to seal/protect the exposed steel so that come spring, I did not have to spend a day preparing surfaces for woodworking. I came across SLIPIT and after reading some reviews, decided to give it shot. One of the great things about this product is that it not only seals the surface, but makes th...
Harbor Freight Fluorescent Magnifying Lamp
This is a review of the Harbor Freight Fluorescent Magnifying Lamp. Purchased today, it was on sale (in store) for $29.99. The construction is all metal, I assumed that there would be some plastic involved, but was pleasantly surprised when the box was opened. The only plastic are the magnifier cover and the knob. The fluorescent tube in circular with 22w of light and no buzzing or flickering. The 5” magnifier is clear, no obvious imperfections. The arm articulates with litt...
Quick Release Clamps: Jorgensen vs. Harbor Freight
I recently purchased some Harbor Freight clamps that are still on sale, “12 clamps, “18 clamps and “36 clamps (the picture shows the 36” as yellow, but they are blue in the store). Decided to go with these because, quite honestly, they look almost exactly like Jorgensen clamps. The main difference, besides the cost, is the plastic/rubberized grip versus the Jorgensen’s hardwood. Although the castings are a bit rough, there’s no doubt where the Harbor F...
Sikaflex Self-Leveling Sealant
Woodworking in the garage has many challenges, space and lack of airflow are two at the top of my list. Another is cleanup. There’s not too much that can be done about space, and I’m stuck with the airflow situation. But cleanup is something that I’m finally getting under control. For example, all the large power tools are mobile, as is the workbench and tool storage. That allows for the garage floor to be swept from one end to the other. The floor is divided into fo...
Porter Cable Table Saw Model PCB270TS
Recently, I had ran into a problem with my old Craftsman table saw. I decided to replace it instead of repairing it. Having used it for a couple weekends and making quite a few cuts, I’ve come to really appreciate this machine. My views might not be fully objective having come from a twenty year old Craftsman, but this new saw is just fantastic. Yes, there are a few shortcomings (which I will detail), but the pros far outweigh the cons. To begin with, the PCB270TS quick and easy...
Leecraft HT-1 Zero Clearance Insert
I’ve always made my own zero clearance inserts, and on the old Craftsman table I used previously, it was a pain to make them correctly. With my new Porter-Cable saw, it looked to be even more painful. This time around, a purchased ZCI seems like the way to go. A quick search showed one manufacturer appearing multiple times in the search results: Leecraft. A couple blanks were purchased from, and fulfilled by, Woodcraft via Amazon. When received, I was surprised by how heavy an...
Woodstock International D4241 12" Cyclone Separator
A couple weeks ago I purchased the Porter Cable table saw. One of the features is the dust port sized for a shop vac, and it works really well with my Ridged vacuum. Time for a cyclone separator, since all my sawdust will end up in the shop vac and replacing filters can be costly. There are a lot of separators available, and the price range is fairly wide. I’ve been looking a the offerings from Rockler” and ””Oneida name just a couple. There is a decent review o...
A tape measure I didn't realize I needed.
I was at Menards looking for a smaller tape measure (I have a Kobalt 30’ and a Craftsman 30’). For the vast majority of the time, I only need a 12’ tape like the chrome Stanley version. Well, it’s surprisingly hard to find. My son pointed out the Fastcap, and I thought it too gimmicky, with the built-in writing area and pencil sharpener. But then I pulled out the tape and was floored. A flat tape measure! Genius! And for less than $5, it was worth taking a cha...
