Tools of the Trade articles from September 2003

Tools of the Trade archives from September 2003

Where is generation "T"?(Editor's Note)
September 1, 2003... No matter how you cut it, the building industry is hurting for skilled labor. It's a miracle that home-builders and the subcontractors who work for them have been able to maintain record number for new home starts on the shoulders of today's...

Filter feature in question.(Mail call: readers sound off)
September 1, 2003... I am writing about your article on gas cut-off saws in the July/August 2003 issue ("Diamonds in the Rough," page 50). Some of the article is well written and the opinions of the author are clearly stated to be nothing but that. But I think his...

Insurance crisis.(Mail call: readers sound off)
September 1, 2003... I was disappointed to read your recent Editor's Note berating insurance companies and blaming then primarily for the problems facing contractors as they seek to buy liability coverage (July/August 2003, page 11). You should recognize that...

Stucco fan.(Mail call: readers sound off)
September 1, 2003... I'd like to compliment both you and the author, David R. Crosby, for the article on stucco in the July/August 2003 issue (SiteLines, page 24). I'm glad you had the courage to print this article and the wisdom to select Mr. Crosby to write it....

Tool quality lives.(Mail call: readers sound off)
September 1, 2003... I was interested in your Editor's Note and the Global Positioning article in the March/April 2003 issue (pages 11 and 32). I am pleased that the issue of tool quality remains alive. I have been in the trades for 40 years now and have no...

Under pressure: new chemical alternatives for pressure treated lumber have framing fastener and hardware manufacturers jumping through hoops.(News)
September 1, 2003... On January 1, the lumber industry will undergo a major change as the EPA-phased transition away from CCA--the chemical used most commonly for pressure treated lumber--begins. CCA-treated lumber is being phased out for most residential uses...

Breakthrough fastener.(Hot Finds)
September 1, 2003... Hilti's new gas-powered GX 100 for shooting up to 1,000 fasteners an hour into concrete and steel is faster, lighter, and more efficient than any previous cordless fastening system, according to the company. One big breakthrough is how the...

Cordless vac.(Hot Finds)
September 1, 2003... Cordless convenience and a new dust filter design make DeWalt's DC500 2-gallon wet/dry vacuum look like a real advancement. The vac runs on A/C power or a DeWalt 12-, 14.4-, or 18-volt battery (not included), which makes moving it around...

Craftsman 21830 10-inch jobsite table saw.(First Test)
September 1, 2003... I started liking the 21830 table saw from the first time I grabbed its well-placed grips and pulled it out of the box. After milling up oak thresholds and ripping 1-by, 2-by, and 5/4 softwoods and 1/2-inch OSB, the tool's power and thoughtful...

Copemaster.(Hot Finds)
September 1, 2003... The Copemaster is a revolutionary new tool for coping moldings. It works like a key-duplicator: Insert a coped pattern into one side and a length of pre-mitered molding into the other. The stylus follows the pattern and a side-cutting saw blade...

High-pressure framing nailer.(Hot Finds)
September 1, 2003... Tomasulo, Katy Porter-Cable is delivering more power and less weight to roofing and framing contractors with the new CLFCP350 175-psi high-pressure framing nailer and its associated compressor. The first of its kind in the industry, the...

Wobble Light.(First Test)
September 1, 2003... At first glance, the Wobble Light is a bit funny looking, but in use it's a tough work light that casts a good light for jobs that burn your midnight oil. The light's 500-watt bulb nicely brightens 360 degrees of floor, walls, and ceiling in a...

19 steps to site-built stairs: to avoid simple but costly errors while rough-framing stairs, a checklist keeps this framer on track.(SiteLines: dispatches from the field)
September 1, 2003... Most of the custom homes I build have two stories and therefore require a set of stairs, and, except for a wrought iron spiral job, ever) staircase gets built on site. To make it easy to remember all the nuances of stair framing, I use a...

Protecting your work: how to avoid damage near the end of a job.(SiteLines: dispatches from the field)
September 1, 2003... I've learned to enjoy the time I spend protecting my finished work near the end of a job. Even though it doesn't feel that productive while I'm doing it, protecting floors, wrapping doors, and assembling boxes around mantels is the best...

Power rules: follow these safety rules to avoid jobsite electrocutions.(SiteLines: dispatches from the field)
September 1, 2003... You may not think much of taping up a dinged extension cord, but this common practice is not only dangerous, but it also could set you up for a hefty fine if an OSHA compliance officer sees it in use. Here are some serious reminders about...

Training day: we need skilled workers now more than ever. How will we get them?
September 1, 2003... Everybody's telling the same story: "I can get help. I just can't get good help." This alarm has been ringing nationwide in the construction industry for more than a decade. Tom Holdsworth hears it loud and clear. As director of...

Smooth as glass: high-volume, low-pressure paint sprayers take spray finishes to a new level.(High-Volume, Low-Pressure Paint Sprayers)
September 1, 2003... High-volume, low-pressure (HVLP) paint sprayers are light, mobile, and provide a finish far superior to even your nicest paintbrush. They also make the job go faster and are less tiring than painting by hand. As a cabinetmaker and on-site...

Light speed: speed and accuracy aside, the question about laser distance meters now is how to put them to work.(Laser Distance Meters)
September 1, 2003... I can't count the number of times I've needed the dimensions, square footage, or volume of a room quickly and wished there was a faster way. In new construction, getting measurements with a tape is time consuming. In remodels, taking these...

Raising the bar: new tools ease the pain of bending, cutting, and tying rebar.
September 1, 2003... Those tough guys who spend their days cutting, bending, and positioning rebar aren't called "rodbusters" for nothing. Using a hickey to make 90-degree bends, crouching over tying wire with a spring-return tying tool, and cutting bars with a...

Truck lock.(Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories)
September 1, 2003... Reading Body Works now offers the wireless Latch-Matic system on its Classic II and Aerotech II service bodies, which allows owners to simultaneously lock all of the service body's compartments from a key chain transmitter. The system can be...

Hole cutter.(Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories)
September 1, 2003... The Perfect Cutter integrates a template system with a router and a vacuum to cut clean, accurate holes for electrical outlets, lighting, and voice, data, and computer lines in 20 percent of the time as traditional methods, says the maker,...

Work boots.(Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories)
September 1, 2003... Part of the Timberland Pro line of work boots, Pit Boss 6-inch steel toe boots include the company's Pro 24/7 comfort system: a contoured foot bed and gel cushions, a shock diffusion plate, cupped heel and living arch for a better fit, and...

Recip saw.(Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories)
September 1, 2003... The 10-amp 6519-22 Sawzall recip saw is designed for durability, with a gear-protecting clutch that guards against impact. According to Milwaukee, the tool has the longest average mechanical life in its class. The tool features a variable-speed...

Portable table saw.(Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories)
September 1, 2003... New from Ryobi, the model BTS20 10-inch portable table saw sets up and breaks down with a flip of a lever. The 91-pound saw's extending table has a 27-inch rip capacity to the right of the blade for cutting 48-inch-wide plywood sheets. The saw...

Tool bags.(Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories)
September 1, 2003... Irwin Industrial Tools has introduced four soft-sided tool bags designed for pros. According to the company, the bags are durable and feature innovative pocket configurations. They are made with light-weight 600D polyester and include...

Dust extractor.(Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories)
September 1, 2003... New from Festool, the CT Mini dust extractor offers the strength of most full-size mobile dust extractors, but in a smaller, more compact unit designed for portability. The unit weighs 21 pounds and offers 1,200 watts of power, 2,800...

Work gloves.(Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories)
September 1, 2003... Utility Plus gloves from Gorgonz Performance Work Gear are available in cold- and warm-weather versions. The gloves feature reinforced double stitching, Toughtek fingertips that provide added dexterity and grip whether wet or dry, a breathable...

Counter connector.(Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories)
September 1, 2003... Designed to save countertop installers time and money, FastCap's ZipBolt replaces the traditional method of using a crescent wrench on a countertop bolt to secure countertop pieces. To use the ZipBolt, secure the ZipBolt driver into a cordless...

These guys are winners.(Toolhounds: we just love tools. Is that a problem?)
September 1, 2003... These guys are winners. Alex Gettler, Jacob Safley, Ryan Carhill, and Loren Bouchard (pictured left to right), from Jefferson-Scranton High School in Jefferson, Iowa, won the 2003 SkillsUSA National TeamWorks Championships in June in Kansas...