Machinery, Tools, Research, Reviews and Safety

Saw recently Menard's is now advertising Craftsman tool boxes so apparently will not be exclusive to Lowe's. Wonder what impact if any it will have have Menard's branded Performax & Masterforce tool storage? I know many of you don't have access to a Menard's since they more regional to the Midwest & mid-South... Menard's Sale Circular

In case you were considering any Festool products...As if they already weren't premium priced... Festool Announces 2017 Price Hike

well, been wanting to replace an older saw (left tilt) i got rid of when xfering to home shop, found i enjoyed using one on occassion, well one popped up on offer up, was in sorta dismal shape, left outside, ect. so after a week or so of dickering, and working it hard, i managed to make a deal today and brought home the saw. i will need to find an cast iron extention top, and a new mag switch, saw is a unisaw. left tilt 230v 3 hp, unit single phase, plan is to have both saws in same line right tilt on left with table space between and left tilt way out on right, to save footprint space in shop. just need to find some parts, clean it up some, some l…

I have an old Warner 1/2 hp motor, 1440 rpm, probably built in the 50's. It powers a lathe which was also built about the same time, and has seen a fair amount of use, now in its third home. I know that it was turning CCW up until I plugged it in, and it brewed up CW. Name plate says 220/110 (and it's 1-phase). The motor leads have a woven cover insulation, and there is no wiring diagram anywhere. Also, I don't know if I'd trust the color of the wires; one wire has the label "3" on it. I have a bit of experience with motors, but not enough to understand wye and delta and bezacktly why it chose now to reverse itself, but I assume there is some phase thingy change bet…

After I made the band saw fence I thought I should make an easier way to keep it in place instead of using a welding clamp. After thinking it over for a while I came up with this. I found a couple pieces of UHMW I had come across and saved. To my delight they fit perfectly into the square aluminum tube. I drilled and threaded a couple holes in a 3/4 inch steel rod. One hole for the lock screw and one hole for a lock bolt to hold on the table edge. I drilled a hole in the center of the two blocks for the rod at the wood lathe and cut a dado in the two blocks at the table saw for the locking screw. …

The van or the contents? Good thing is you _might_ only have to buy the contents once and the van will need to be replaced in a few years. Business must be good if you can trash everything you have and start over with everything, including that $250 wrench set. https://www.protoolreviews.com/festool-systainer-systems-for-van-storage-solutions/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=milwaukee_leaf_blower_gets_a_massive_performance_upgrade_plus_the_latest_news_and_reviews&utm_term=2022-10-16 FWIW, I saw a video last night comparing a bunch of brands of open-end / ratchet box end wrenches from $4 to Snap On ones…

Changes at the top levels announced...likely part of the TTS purchase agreement. http://www.woodworkersjournal.com/management-changes-at-sawstop/?utm_medium=email

I search CL tools every morning and often come across ads for the older Craftsman radial arm saws. If there's a pic and a low price, I'll email the owner and inform them of the recall for $100, along with a link to the website. There has been some unusual reactions to this over the years. One guy emailed back and asked me to not send him such info. Another (who was asking $75 for his saw) mailed me a check for the extra $25 thanking me for informing him. More common is nothing, or a "thank you" email. But this morning I got an email that said: "THE NAME ON THIS SAW HAS, SEARS & ROBUCKS. OPEN FOR OFFERS, JUST WANT TO UNLOAD IT.". This person doen't eve…

So I was picking up some moldy sweet gum tree stumps and the lady I’m getting them from says she’s selling for lathe cause she’s never used it and they are moving. The price is insane at 50 dollars. It’s a bench pro 4 speed wood lathe. I’ve been looking it up online and I get nothing. It’s a off/sub brand and just trying to get some info on before I pull the trigger on it. I’m going back tomorrow with my tools to see if it runs and turns nice. Anyone heard of it or has one maybe.

What did you do with your old cordless tools when you replaced it by purchasing a new one because it was cheaper than to replace the battery on the old one, which would no longer hold a charge and the batteries were Ni-cad? Danl

My dad purchased a Harbor Freight Saw Blade Sharpener a couple months ago, and had a hard time setting it up. He stated that his ol brain just doesn't work the best anymore for this sort of stuff, not too mention typically HF directions can be a PITA. So he asked me if I could take it home and set it up for him and show him how to use it. Before I even read the instructions I looked it up on YouTube and it seemed a pretty straight forward contraption to use. It actually came pretty much assembled out of the box. All I had to do was tweak a few of the settings on it to bring it into calibration sort of, then the rest went along pretty smooth. I wasn…

Can somebody explain this to me? https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-100-ft-10-3-Gauge-58-Extreme-Weather-Extension-Cord-758-103100RCL46/301210975 This cord, supposedly, is a 10 gauge. But is only rated for 15 Amps!!! Yet, other 10 gauge extension cords are rated for 20 Amps. In my limited knowledge/experience a 10 gauge should easily hold 20 Amps. Did I miss something? Somebody please enlighten me.

Not a good day today. The switch on my table saw went out in the off position. The saw is 21 yrs. old this yr. I had replaced the switch 5 yrs. ago. It was difficult to obtain because the saw is a Delta. I had my notes and ordered the same replacement switch. The switch was ordered from REPLACEMENT PARTS.com. They indicated that it will be 18-21 days for them to receive the switch from Delta warehouse and I paid to have 3-day turn-around from REPLACEMENT PARTS. This is all predicated that Delta really does have the part. I have been down this path before when I tried to get a replacement part for my refrigerator and ended up cancelling my order. Maybe a good tim…

The Tormek sharpener came up in a thread a couple days ago. Coincidentally, I got a flyer from Grizzly yesterday. They have a Tormek knockoff. Does anyone have this Griz model? How does it work for you?

On Milwaukee tape measure right now out the store?

Before I fall into the Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor I thought I would ask here. My router has variable speed. Does anyone have a good formula or memory jogger as to when to use which speed? I did a little round over work this past weekend and discovered all the cuts with the grain were smooth and crisp and all the across the grain cuts were burnt. Maybe it's the operator's head-space and timing issue.

Hi all, I ask this question, because i am having a real hard time finding a drill bit or drill bit set with any quality other than bad. I have purchased 2 7mm drill bits over the last few years, and both were pretty much dull out of the package. can someone point me to a place that makes quality drill bits? I prefer Brad point, but it isn't absolutely required. Thanks

So, my inherited 10” Craftsman bench drill press is on the ropes. The motor is losing power and wants to stall but the drill is good other than that. I looked at replacing the motor (113.219100) but I can’t find a suitable replacement. Buying a new one isn’t an issue but two things are critical. Overall height and spindle travel. The 10” fits nicely on my bench (not too tall) and has a full 3” spindle travel. Unfortunately, many of the new one only have 2” of spindle travel. With all of that do y’all have any suggestions with either a replacement motor or a new press?

My Hammer rip fence died. AT LAST~!!!!! I hated that thing. It was as if some one brought their 12 year old to work and let her design and engineer the rip fence. So I order some stinkin bleedin OVERKILL metal 0.200" thick 2" x 3" steel tube 1/4" thick 3" x 3" angle Some more smaller angle and some 2"x 3/8" bar. I had a hunk of 3/8 x 6" laying around Here's my progress so far: End view of the Fence in progress There are 13, 1/4-20 bolts holding them together pinned on the ends with dowel pins Yes I hand tapped them. I hung it on the saw tonight. There is also an end support. This is about 60 …

I bought an old 10 inch Craftsman bandsaw. It gets the job done but I stink at cutting straight lines. I have watched some videos on making a fence but was curious if any of you have your own and what was your experience. Thanks.