Tools of the Trade articles from November 2002

Tools of the Trade archives from November 2002

Beg, borrow, but don't steal. (Editor's Note).(Editorial)
November 1, 2002... It's hard for me to understand why people steal our tools, but every day I hear another story about somebody who was ripped off. And it isn't like some Robin Hood-type is out there trying to fight the injustices of tool-rich...

Tile saw test tested. (Readers sound off).(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2002... I am a contractor specializing in dimensional stone and tile work and was excited to see your review of 10-inch wet tile saws in your July/August 2002 issue. I've enjoyed reading TOOLS OF THE TRADE for two years now, but until then most of the...

Hispanic backlash. (Readers sound off).(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2002... It is disheartening to watch the editor of a world-class trade publication like yours jump onto the pro-immigrant bandwagon (Editor's Note, July/August 2002). I am puzzled that you could buy into the big lie about immigrants "picking up the...

Clarification.(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2002... In our Wet Tile Saw tool test (July/August 2002), our tool tester described a feature that controls blade speed during a cut as a "clutch." While this is essentially the function of this feature, it is not actually a clutch. Also, MK Diamond's...

Toolsofthetrade.net online upgrades: web site content and functions expanded. (Cutting edge: your source for trade news).(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... This is a fast-moving world we live in, that's for sure, especially if you're in the construction business. So we're always looking for ways to help you stay ahead of the curve in each issue of our magazine. Our Web site designers and editors...

Sneak peek: miter saw with up-front controls. (Cutting edge: your source for trade news).
November 1, 2002... Randall Coe has a reputation in the tool industry for true innovation, and it's lucky for Bosch that he's on their product team. So when he offered us the opportunity to be the first to see the company's new miter saw, we jumped at the chance....

Test drive: truck with a twist: four-wheel steering for tight turns. (Cutting edge: your source for trade news).(GMC Sierra Quadrasteer pickup reviewed)
November 1, 2002... Today's pickup tracks are a far cry from the basic beaters I drove when I started out in construction 30 years ago. But great new features like all-wheel drive, super cargo capacity, and extended cabs have added size along with performance....

Buying tools: tips for choosing the right tool. (Cutting edge: your source for trade news).(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2002... We test hundreds of tools here at TOOLS OF THE TRADE. And while our testers compare all types of tools every month, they always look at the same features that can make a tool a winner--or a loser. Here's what you should look for when buying...

Great gadgets: we field test more cool tools that cost less than $100. (Site lines: dispatches from the field).
November 1, 2002... Lumber Leverage Bar As the quality of framing lumber goes down, the time I spend wrestling twisted boards into place goes up--especially when framing floor systems. Lining up a crooked 2x12 with a rim joist layout mark often requires two...

Buying a digital camera: shopping for a digital camera? Confused by all the choices? Here are some tips from our technology editor. (Site lines: dispatches from the field).(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2002... Size. It's a pretty good bet the camera you can tuck in your pocket will be the one you use most often day-to-day. If you plan on using your digital camera to document your jobs, smaller and lighter is definitely better. Resolution. The...

Airborne--all the way: here's how to choose the right compressor. (Site lines: dispatches from the field).(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2002... There are four essential criteria for choosing a compressor that's best for you: what you do, how much of it you do, how fast you do it, and your access to power. Small Jobs/Trim Work. This is a hot category, with many choices and terrific...

Road star: our third annual Site Commander[TM] is ready for work and headed for prime time.(The Site Commander Ultimate Work Truck program )
November 1, 2002... I just saw Arnold Schwarzenegger's latest movie, The Nailbanger. In this flick he plays an action movie hero who retires to become a framing contractor. Everything seems normal until one morning when he tells his secretary, "Ah'll be back," and...

World's best tool stores: combine great tools with history, knowledge, dedication, and service, and what do you get?
November 1, 2002... Drive through any city or town in this country before dawn and you'll see America getting ready for work. Predawn lights signal another day, another dollar. Hands that reach through darkness to turn on those, lights will be steering a truck or...

Rolling tool stores.(Colorado Fasteners )(Company Profile)
November 1, 2002... Meet Colorado Fasteners of Edwards, Colo. This 26-year-old company is so unique we couldn't slot it in with the others. They do everything the other stores do, except they do it all from a fleet of traveling stores supported by one...

The new vans: think they're all alike? Look again. (Work Vans).
November 1, 2002... For most tradesmen, when it comes to work there are only two kinds of vehicles: pickup trucks and panel vans. Pickups have gotten lots of attention and lots of upgrades in recent years because vehicle manufacturers woke up to the fact that...

Hang time: four new nailers make it faster and easier to install joist hangers and other framing hardware. (Tool Test: pneumatic nailers for framing hardware).
November 1, 2002... Rookie framers always get stuck with the worst work, like cutting out doorplates and knocking down braces. They also get stuck doing work that's just plain miserable, like nailing off joist hangers. Anyone who's ever been sent into the dungeon...

26th Annual STAFDA Convention & Trade Show. (Special Advertising Section).
November 1, 2002... Wondering what's new in specialty tools and fasteners? STAFDA's 26th Annual Convention and Trade Show in Anaheim, California, November 10-12, 2002, will bring you up to date. This month, leading manufacturing and distribution companies within...

Right on track: get the most from your sliding compound miter saw from frame to finish. (Sliding Compound Miter Saw).(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2002... Every time my tool-laden van would lurch around another curve, and the sound of crashing tools mixed with, the reek of spilled gasoline, I'd think about getting a new truck--or a new careen I didn't do either, but decided instead to travel...

Generator. (Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories).
November 1, 2002... New from Yamaha, the YG2800i generator features inverter technology that adjusts engine speed automatically to match power demand, allowing for greater fuel efficiency and quieter operation. The unit has a 5.5-hp, overhead valve, air-cooled,...

Router. (Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories).
November 1, 2002... DeWalt's new fixed-based routers can be used with interchangeable D-handle and plunge bases, creating a tool package that can be adapted for a variety of uses. The options include a 1 3/4-hp 11-amp fixed-base router and a 2 1/4-hp 12-amp...

Chalk reel. (Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories).
November 1, 2002... Designed for pros with large projects such as roofing and black topping, the Strait-Line large-capacity chalk reel from American Tool holds 10 ounces of chalk and extends 180 feet. The unit features heavy-duty braided line and a fast-rewind...

Tape measure. (Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories).
November 1, 2002... Levelution's Next tape measure offers "unleaded measuring," allowing for one-handed, pencil-free marking, the maker says. The unit features a precision-ground, hardened steel marking wheel that engages by tilting the tape body. It will make...

Cordless nailer. (Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories).
November 1, 2002... The latest addition to Senco's line of cordless nailers, the AirFree 32 16-gauge finish nailer features a battery-powered internal-drive mechanism and does not require fuel cells for operation. According to the firm, the unit will drive up to...

Bedliner. (Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories).
November 1, 2002... The Pendaliner SR Skid Resistor provides two times more skid resistance than comparable drop-in bedliners, according to the manufacturer, Penda Truck Accessories. The bedliner features a non-abrasive, skid-resistant texture that won't wear...

Portable saw. (Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories).
November 1, 2002... The Twin Cutter from Craftsman features two 6 1/8-inch, 36-tooth, carbide-tipped blades that run flush with each other and rotate in opposite directions, eliminating kickback and reducing vibration, the maker says. The saw synchronizes cutting...

Cordless drills. (Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories).
November 1, 2002... MForce cordless drills from Makita feature a Shift Lock drive system, which offers instant, one-touch shifting from drill mode to driver mode. For maximum performance, the tools include a two-piece D-31 motor, dual-sealed ball bearings, and a...

Tool hounds: we just love tools. Is that a problem?(timber framing hand tools)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Talking to 33-year-old Scott Carlson is like stepping into a time machine that takes you into the early 19th century. Carlson is a joiner, or timber framer, who builds frames in Ohio the way they used to 200 years ago. The first thing you...