Tools of the Trade articles from November 2003

Tools of the Trade archives from November 2003

Editor's note.
November 1, 2003... My first truck was a lot like my first girlfriend; "high-maintenance" could describe them both. She (the truck) was a classic old red International with big wheel fenders, springs popping up through the seat cushions, and a one-station radio...

Tool launch report: the latest tools and trends from this year's National Hardware Show.(News)
November 1, 2003... August was a big tool month this year in and around Chicago's National Hardware Show. There was lots of action: hungry new competitors, revamped tool lines, innovative technology, and smart inventions--all of them vying for room in your gang...

Cordless cutter.(Hot Finds)
November 1, 2003... The X-Band is the world's first cordless portable band saw, according to the company. Invented by a Union pipefitter, the X-Band quickly cuts pipe, conduit, all-thread, and rebar with low vibration and one-handed operation. The 8-pound tool has...

Shoulder Dolly.(Hot Finds)
November 1, 2003... You won't believe the material you can muscle with the Shoulder Dolly. Two tough, adjustable straps run between two workers wearing shoulder harnesses. The workers apply backward pressure to the straps using large muscle groups in their legs,...

Verizon adds push to talk feature to wireless phones.(Product Info)
November 1, 2003... Verizon Wireless customers can now get instant communication around the country with the new "Push to Talk" walkie-talkie feature, which allows users to connect directly with other Verizon customers via a Push to Talk--capable handset. The...

KwikPole.(Hot Finds)
November 1, 2003... KwikPole's work poles offer a 2-for-1 deal: They stretch plastic sheeting tightly between the floor and ceiling to contain dust, while also working as an extra support for overhead work. For dust control, a pivoting, locking pad grabs sheet...

Tile/stone saw.(Hot Finds)
November 1, 2003... The T050 5-inch tile/stone saw looks like a circ saw married a sliding compound saw. This marriage, however, provides a light, mobile tile and stone cutting saw with enough capacity tn cut 24 inch tiles diagonally, according to the company....

Battery recycling.(News)
November 1, 2003... Recycling your cordless tool, phone, laptop, and any other rechargeable batteries just got easier. While you can still collect and mail them in as you might have done before, now you can take your spent batteries to national retailers for drop...

Simpson Strong-Tie opens research laboratory.(News)
November 1, 2003... Simpson Strong-Tie is working to improve building safety in disaster-prone areas with the help of its new structural engineering and research laboratory. The timber connector company opened the Tyrell Gilb Research Lab in Stockton, Calif., on...

Anchors away: choosing and setting concrete anchors.(SiteLines: dispatches from the field)
November 1, 2003... My crew fastens almost everything into concrete, from metal track and staging to 3-ton air conditioners to toilet paper holders. As a result, we deal with a wide range of anchors. To keep my crew moving, I go through a pre-job layout and make a...

Quick layout and double-checks: a framer's notebook.(SiteLines: dispatches from the field)
November 1, 2003... Picture these scenarios: You've agonized to measure, double-check, and line up a complicated roofline, but after nailing up the rafters, you notice that the fascia lines are out of whack. Or, you've cut out all of your stair stringers, only to...

Nailer accessory.(Great gadgets: cools tools for $100 or less.)
November 1, 2003... These swivel-action little gems make working with nailers easier than ever. The Industrial Ball Swivel Connectors replace the male coupling on your nailer, and their ability to swivel eliminates twisting and kinking in the air hose, so you can...

Pocket-hole Jig.(Great gadgets: cools tools for $100 or less.)
November 1, 2003... Pocket-hole joints are fast and reliable, and they stay tight, even under adverse conditions like high humidity. Pocket holes are old news in cabinet shops where drilling them involves big tables, pneumatic clamps, and some really expensive...

Sawhorses.(Great gadgets: cools tools for $100 or less.)
November 1, 2003... I use sawhorses constantly. While there are collapsible sawhorses that take up less truck space than my homemade ones, I haven't found many that are light, inexpensive, or durable enough for my liking. But site-built horses also are limited;...

Hard hat hero: our forth annual Site Commander[TM] hits the big time.(Site Commander[TM])(Cover Story)
November 1, 2003... I stepped out of the "man-lift" and waded through a crowd of workers waiting for their ride down. Within minutes I was alone on top of this San Francisco high-rise, and I picked my way through a maze of rebar and cable to look out over the...

Pickup power: new trucks for 2004 are bigger, badder, and better.(Annual Truck Report)
November 1, 2003... If you've been holding off buying your next pickup, or are just waiting for the 2004 models to hit the showrooms, you could be looking pretty smart right about now. The upcoming model year is shaping up to be an important one for the truck...

Crown jewels: ten pneumatic staplers that will make you money.(Tool test: medium crown staplers)
November 1, 2003... As a framing contractor, I use medium crown staplers to fasten acres of wall sheeting every year, but they're also invaluable for building interior details like tub platforms, shower seats, fireplace surrounds, and arches. I used to tackle...

Door-hanger's toolbox: our door-hanging expert lays out the best tools for production, speed, and custom door-hanging.(Door-Hanging Setups)
November 1, 2003... I don't know of any trade that requires as many specialized tools as door hanging. Sure, you can do a perfect job with a circular saw, a sharp set of chisels, and a jack plane, but these days, production--not just craftsmanship--is a...

Hammers.(Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories)
November 1, 2003... Vaughan & Bushnell has added solid steel and fiberglass units to its Blue Max high-performance framing hammer line. The solid steel hammer features a Shock-Blok vibration-absorbing hickory and laminated rubber insert; the fiberglass model has a...

Duct tape.(Product watch: keeping you on the top of the latest tools and accessories)
November 1, 2003... 3M offers the industry's first transparent duct tape, "allowing for less noticeable home repair jobs. According to the company, the Scotch product lasts six times longer than other heavy-duty duct tapes, is UV--and water-resistant, unwinds and...

Chain saw.(Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories)
November 1, 2003... Designed specifically for cutting thick concrete, the K950 chain saw is the only handheld concrete saw that cuts perfectly square corners without over-cuts and makes up to 15-inch-deep cuts from one side, says Partner, and it can navigate tight...

Chisel.(Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories)
November 1, 2003... Bridge City Tool Works' FC-1 flushing chisel is designed for cleaning glue from the inside corners of woodworking projects, and its wide, flat bottom and dual cutting surfaces allow it to make thin shearing cuts on wood surfaces without lifting...

Saw blades.(Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories)
November 1, 2003... Mforce 7 1/4-inch, 24-tooth saw blades from Makita feature an M-shaped tooth design: a beveled face and two 10-degree angles that shear wood for a faster cut. According to the company, each tooth tip has two cutting points, providing a clean...

Utility knife.(Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories)
November 1, 2003... Alltrade's Squeeze Knife auto-loading utility knife offers easy three-step blade changing in three seconds or less. The tool comes with six heavy-duty SK-2 blades, which are stored in the tool body and are automatically loaded by squeezing the...

Table saw.(Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories)
November 1, 2003... The 10-inch cast iron table saw from Ridgid, model TS3650, features vibration-dampening cast iron construction, a Totally Enclosed Fan Cooled (TEFC) motor for longer life, and Herc-U-Lift, a caster system that allows the unit to be rolled...

Trowels.(Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories)
November 1, 2003... Ideal for larger jobs, Marshalltown's Inside Cove Trowels feature 3-inch lips and longer blade lengths for larger curbs. The tools feature wood handles, blue steel blades, and a riveted steel mounting. Three sizes are available: 6 inch by 4...

Adhesive applicator.(Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories)
November 1, 2003... The GlueFix 3002 hot-melt adhesive applicator from Steinel features an electronic heating system that provides an ideal bonding temperature for precise glue output over extended periods of time, the company says. The tool includes a mechanical...

Workstation.(Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories)
November 1, 2003... TracRac has redesigned its T2 workstation to increase cutting capacity and functionality. The unit features dual sliding extension arms to support material up to 20 feet in length. Other features include a Cam Lock tool mount that allows you to...

Ground fault circuit interrupters.(Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories)
November 1, 2003... Coleman Cable offers a line of ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) that provide protection from ground faults and open neutral conditions when working with electrical equipment, the company says. Seventeen different models are available in...

Vacuum.(Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories)
November 1, 2003... New from Bosch, the 3931 Airsweep 13-gallon wet/dry vacuum features Pulseclean, an electromagnetic filter-cleaning feature that shakes dust from the twin filters so that the vacuum maintains airflow and suction. The filters can be changed...

27th Annual STAFDA Convention & Trade Show.(Special Advertising Section)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2003... Custom LeatherCraft (CLC)[R] The #145 Tradesman[TM] Glove, part of the The Flex Grip[TM] Glove line from CLC, is designed for professional uses. The palm is made of Clarino, a high-tech breathable synthetic leather and includes textured...

We just love tools. Is that a problem?(Tool Hounds)
November 1, 2003... In his fully equipped woodworking shop, Wade Whitlock is missing just one thing most of us can't do without. You can look behind the table saw or lathe, under the work-bench, and all through the parts for the cabinets, built-ins, and furniture...