Tools of the Trade articles from March 2004

Tools of the Trade archives from March 2004

Pressure switch.(Editor's Note)
March 1, 2004... Talk about switching chemicals used in pressure treated lumber from chromated copper arsenate (CCA) to other treatments is nothing new, so I wasn't surprised to learn about the recently adopted EPA-proposed changes that led to a transition away...

Nailer standards feedback.(Mail call: readers sound off)
March 1, 2004... I recently bought a new flaming nailer. When I got home and realized it would not bump-fire I blew a gasket. I called the dealer and ranted about convenience and my right to shoot my damn self and repetitive stress finger injuries. He said I...

Cell phone liabilities: if you or your staff use cell phones on the job, know your responsibilities.(Tech)
March 1, 2004... Cell phones are as important in the construction business as nail guns and cordless drills. But while they provide a major convenience, recent studies have revealed the safety risks of using a cell phone while driving. In the past three...

10 years pure tools.(Cutting edge: your source for trade news)
March 1, 2004... REMEMBER WHEN? In the Summer 1994 issue, TOOLS showcased DeWalt's--and the industry's--first 14.4-volt drill. ? SURVEY QUESTION OF THE MONTH If you could design a new tool, what would it do? Here's what you said: * Make time...

Jobsite radio.(Hot Finds)
March 1, 2004... In addition to a radio, the new Power Box PB10-CD jobsite radio includes a CD player, auxiliary jack for MP3 players, four-way GFCI power outlet, one-hour Bosch battery charger, end a 12-volt outlet for cell phones and two-way radios. Protected...

Cheap imitations: tool counterfeiting hits U.S. market.(News)
March 1, 2004... Buy a bargain-priced tool out of the trunk of a car and your real deal could turn into a raw deal. The Power Tool Institute (PTI) is warning consumers that tool counterfeiting--a practice that began in Europe--is now starting to occur in...

Take five: Milwaukee offers five-year warranty.(News)
March 1, 2004... Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp. is now offering a five-year limited warranty on all of its power tools manufactured after Oct. 1, 2003, and will repair or replace any defective tool within five years of the date of purchase. The company also is...

Web site software.(Hot Finds)
March 1, 2004... Web Site in a Box promises to make it easy for small businesses to create a Web site in about 30 minutes. A one-year subscription includes Web space, Web site hosting, domain registration, and e-mail accounts. Most importantly, the page-builder...

Rechargeable batteries.(Hot Finds)
March 1, 2004... If your digital camera is chewing up batteries faster than you can replace them, check out Panasonic's new rechargeable battery system. According to the company, in tests, the up to 2,100-mAh batteries took three times more photos than other...

Go with the flow: how to paint, even when you really don't want to.(Site lines: dispatches from the field)
March 1, 2004... A job usually isn't done until it's painted, and sometimes--despite your best efforts to avoid it--you're going to have to pick up a brush or roller and make it happen. Here's how to make sure that you don't regret the outcome. Follow these...

Square deal: framer's tricks for getting sill plates square and level.(Site lines: dispatches from the field)
March 1, 2004... The first thing I do when I walk onto a new job is sight-down the stem walls. On those few occasions when they're not straight and flat, I pull the lines square and smooth the bumps before I even think about framing. Spend some time setting...

Bosch CS20 sidewinder circ saw: we get first shot at testing Bosch's newest saw.(First Test)
March 1, 2004... The first thing you notice about Bosch's new CS20 sidewinder circ saw is its unique Direct Connect plug. I've replaced enough cords on circ saws to know that the connection between the cord and saw is a wear point. Framers lower or raise their...

Mega tools for killer work: how do architectural woodworkers make their magic? Check out their shops.
March 1, 2004... Architectural woodworkers are a special breed. They work to paper-thin tolerances on the biggest, smartest machines ever built for machining lumber. They produce work with such exacting precision and beauty that it will make your best trim guy...

Ship shape: if you're serious about woodworking, you'll be adding a shaper to your shop floor. We tested five mid-size machines from 3 to 3.6 hp.(Tool test: 3-HP shapers)
March 1, 2004... Nothing says "custom" like having a 450-pound shaper stationed on your shop floor. You could try to pull off radius work, trim profiles, raised panels, and fancy mantels without one, but it wouldn't be easy. And it wouldn't come out nearly as...

Suck it up: nature may not like vacuums, but we love them! We field- and shop-tested nine wet/dry vacs that sell for $200 or more.(Tool test: wet/dry vacuums)
March 1, 2004... Wet/dry vacuums don't cut, shape, drill, shoot, or sand. In fact, some people hardly consider them to be "tools" at all. Yet, we expect a lot from them when we have to clean up a jobsite, empty water from a sump-pump pit, or control dust and...

Fancy Flatwork 2: more trade secrets for decorative concrete.
March 1, 2004... Most decorative concrete techniques involve changing the color and texture of a concrete surface to make it look like a more expensive material such as brick, flagstone, and slate. Skilled finishers can produce stone- and tile-like surfaces...

Eyewear.(Special focus: safety products)
March 1, 2004... Flywear protective eyewear features the popular dual-lens "fly eye" styling of street-wear products. The glasses, which meet ANSI Z87.1-2003 and CSA Z94.3 standards, have dual-aspheric lenses with prescription-quality optics to reduce eye...

Roof anchors.(Special focus: safety products)
March 1, 2004... The company has introduced a line of permanent roof anchors for a variety of applications, including roof installation, gutter cleaning, and chimney repair. The Miner Claw, shown here, provides one permanent anchorage point when attached to a...

Tool lanyard.(Special focus: safety products)
March 1, 2004... The Squids 3100 tool lanyard tethers tools to workers to prevent dropped tools, which can lead to injuries and lost productivity. The product features a stretchable cord surrounded by a tubular nylon webbing with stitching at both ends; an...

Gloves.(Special focus: safety products)
March 1, 2004... The Griptec Glove System includes 3M super-gripping material integrated into the glove palms and a separate piece of material with adhesive for attachment to the grip of hand and power tools. The glove system reduces the amount of required grip...

Work wear.(New Products)
March 1, 2004... Ideal for contractors in warm climates, the gray cotton canvas collection from Skillers features 10-ounce, 100 percent cotton material made with a canvas weave that is light and soft. The clothes have similar design features of the company's...

Fasteners.(New Products)
March 1, 2004... Designed specifically for more corrosive pressure treated lumber with ACQ and appropriate for use in all pressure treated lumber situations, Thickcoat Galvanized fasteners feature 2 1/2 times more zinc than traditional electroplated fasteners,...

Angle grinder abrasives.(New Products)
March 1, 2004... The Quick Loading Adapter on SandBlaster abrasives for 4- and 4 1/2-inch angle grinders allows you to switch between discs quickly and easily without a wrench. The adapter is strong to support the disc, but is flexible enough to finish...

Tape measure.(New Products)
March 1, 2004... The PlanReader tape measure features two print scales on its blade that indicate standard inch markings along one edge and the correlating architect's 1/4-inch scale along the other edge, allowing for faster and more accurate readings of...

Hand saw.(New Products)
March 1, 2004... Irwin's 15-inch short saw offers a new solution to an old problem: a magnetic blade guard. The double-sided guard snaps on easily to protect the saw's teeth and the user. The saw has large, eight-point teeth that provide 30 percent faster...

A reverence for wood.(ToolHounds: we just love tools. Is that a problem?)
March 1, 2004... Standing in their state-of-the-art woodworking shop in Essex, Mass., it's hard to imagine Mark Richey's and Greg Porfido's humble woodworking roots--until they start talking about their craft. While they're surrounded by millions of dollars...