Tools of the Trade articles from May 2003

Tools of the Trade archives from May 2003

Training day. (Editor's Note).(E & K, training program)(Editorial)
May 1, 2003... Do you ever get frustrated with your crew members' abilities, l wishing they did better work or did things "your way"? Do you realize how much you can shape and guide your team's performance through clear communication and formal training? ...

Manufacturers respond to testing. (Mail call: readers sound off).
May 1, 2003... I would like to address some of the comments regarding our Makita 6347DWDE MFORCE Cordless Drill in your January/February 2003 tool test of cordless drill/drivers (Driving Range, page 54). Our new Shift Lock Switch is unique in that it...

Double rip-off. (Mail call: readers sound off).
May 1, 2003... Add me to the list of tradesmen who have been recently ripped off. The thieves stole about $3,500 in tools from my truck after they broke into my camper shell and jobbox that was in the rear. It was all new stuff--Paslode nailers, 18-volt combo...

First test: Warner Tool Wheeler. (Cutting edge: your source for trade news).
May 1, 2003... Testing Warner Tool's new Tool Wheeler, the marriage of a hand truck and a small rolling scaffold, made me realize two things: When I was a contractor, I should've bought a hand truck; I should've bought a small rolling scaffold, too. ...

Spanish-language resources: NAHB books aid English-Spanish communication on jobsites. (Cutting edge: your source for trade news).(National Association of Home Builders)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... As the number of Spanish-speaking contractors continues to rise, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is beefing up its Builder Books collection with several new English-Spanish construction books. Designed to improve overall...

Web watch: Web site tracks tool recalls. (Cutting edge: your source for trade news).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... No matter how well tools are made, every once in awhile even the best companies have to recall a product or even an entire product line. And it's not always easy to track these events. Toolrecalls.com (www.tool recalls.com) has been developed...

Give me a brake: expert tips for making jobsite flashings from aluminum coil stock. (Site lines: dispatches from the field).(Column)
May 1, 2003... We brake metal all over our remodeling projects and use it for everything from flashing to fascia material. Over my 20-year remodeling career, I've learned a few things about getting it right. A simple gauge, proper nailing, and using the...

Masonry magic: installing manufactured stone products. (Site lines: dispatches from the field).
May 1, 2003... Fieldstone, limestone, river rock, split rock, red rock, or ledgestone--it doesn't matter what style, region, or theme you're trying to emulate--there's most likely a manufactured stone product line to match it. The components of manufactured...

Jig saw accessory. (Great gadgets: more new tools for less than $100).
May 1, 2003... I enjoy using a hand coping saw; the cuts are precise and dependable and I'm good at it. But sometimes it takes too long to muscle through 5/4 or hardwood crowns. To speed things up, I've coped with my jig saw, but that was no picnic either....

Plumb bob. (Great gadgets: more new tools for less than $100).
May 1, 2003... With so many laser devices now, I thought plumb bobs might have made the endangered species list--but not on my planet. They're inexpensive and work well. For sure, plumb bobs have quirks--tangled strings, getting them to hover in the right...

Utility knife. (Great gadgets: more new tools for less than $100).
May 1, 2003... This is one tough knife. The slide action for the blade is smooth and stays locked out for a cut. The blade change/body opening system opens wide so you can reach the blades easily. The knife is comfortable to hold and its blade storage...

Editors' Choice Awards: honoring innovation and leadership in tool design.
May 1, 2003... Our mission at HANLEY-WOOD'S TOOLS OF THE TRADE is to bring you the best tool coverage in the industry to help you work faster, safer, and smarter. It's hard work, sure, but it's fun, too. Especially when it comes to searching out the annual...

2 for 1: router conversion kits offer plunge- and fixed-base routers in one package. (Tool test: routers).(Product/Service Evaluation)(Cover Story)
May 1, 2003... Router conversion kits are the latest evolution in router design and utility. By using a detachable, exchangeable motor that can be transferred in and out of either a plunge-base or a fixed-base configuration, tool manufacturers provide two...

No pain no grain: these new belt sanders run smooth, straight, and clean and take some of the pain out of sanding. (Tool test: 3x21-inch belt sanders).
May 1, 2003... Beads of sweat collect on my brow whenever I hand out belt sanders during the boat building classes I teach. In the wrong hands these powerful tools can easily do more damage--like sanding through the hull of a boat in seconds--than good. The...

Frame of mind: a production framer's techniques and attitude help break the speed limit on custom homes.
May 1, 2003... To some custom builders, "production framing" conjures up images of slapped-together walls, shoddy work, and general chaos. The truth is the term has no more relationship to poorly constructed buildings than the phrase "custom framing" has to...

Support stand. (Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories).
May 1, 2003... Designed to support or move heavy wood and metal stock, the 6119 single-roller support stand can be used with a variety of power tools to support long pieces and move stock forward or backward. According to Wolfcraft, the heavy-duty roller...

Line locator. (Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories).
May 1, 2003... The Ridgid/Kollmann NaviTrack line locator is a fast and accurate way to locate underground pipe, cable, and utility lines, says the maker, Ridge Tool Co. Designed for ease of use, NaviTrack operates in three modes: a search mode with gauges...

Tile saw. (Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories).
May 1, 2003... The Core Cut CC1000T wide-cutting tile saw from Diamond Products can rip-cut to 24 inches and diagonal-cut to 18 inches. Designed for large pieces of tile, marble, granite, stone, and masonry, the tool has a 10-inch blade capacity and features...

Layout manager. (Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories).
May 1, 2003... A pocket-sized personal computer with data collection software, the LM80 is designed for use by concrete and general contractors to guide them in the layout of points on the jobsite, says the maker, Trimble. Along with general layout and...

Staple fun. (Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories).
May 1, 2003... The PowerFast Outward Clinch Staple gun from DESA International features a piston and spring design the company says requires one-third less effort to activate than competing brands. Designed for repetitive fastening in HVAC work, the staple...

Fasteners. (Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories).
May 1, 2003... New from PrimeSource, the PrimeGuard Plus fastener line can be used for exterior commercial or residential construction. The nails and screws, which are designed to resist corrosion and prevent discoloration and staining, are available in...

Autofeed screwgun. (Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories).
May 1, 2003... PAM Fastening Technology's P13KDE autofeed screwgun is 36 3/4 inches long with extension, so it can be used while in a standing position. The tool features posi-lock depth settings, a 2,500-rpm Milwaukee motor, side handle, non-slip nosepiece,...

Tool bag. (Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories).
May 1, 2003... Paktek's ToolPak 4Panel backpack allows users to carry tools hands-free with ergonomic shoulder straps. The bag features four tool panels that fold out for easy access, more than 60 compartments for holding tools, a large diagram/document...

Saw blade. (Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories).
May 1, 2003... The Power Twister Diamond Blade can cut quickly and accurately through concrete and metal at the same time with no reduction in cutting depth, says the maker, First Edition Products. The blades can be used for a variety of tasks, including auto...

Tool hounds: we just love tools. Is that a problem?(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... When Yale-New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Conn., approached Robert Wilkins about starting a woodworking program there, some of Wilkins' friends were incredulous. "Woodworking in a hospital, are you kidding? People go to the hospital after...