Popular Mechanics articles from August 2005

Popular Mechanics archives from August 2005

Welcome home.(insurgency combat operations)(Editorial)
August 1, 2005... Sooner or later, war comes down to this: a man carrying a gun. Military analyst Bing West (who wrote our February cover story on unmanned aerial vehicles in Iraq) returns t0 POPULAR MECHANICS this month with a hard look at the lessons our...

The final frontier debate.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... For the June issue, we asked Ken Bowersox, a former NASA astronaut, and Alex Roland, a former NASA historian, to face off on the question: Is the space shuttle worth the risk? Our reader mail ran strongly in favor of space exploration, though...

Fix it or ditch it.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... Your repair guide ("Fix It or Ditch It?" June 2005) was very helpful, especially the advice to be sure it's really broken before you fix it. We once called a repairman to fix our dryer when it had no heat. He turned on the gas and it worked....

Battle of the giants.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... I enjoyed your article on HD-DVD versus Blu-ray ("New Face for DVD," June 2005). It struck me as ironic that you cite Sony as a leader in innovation. Sony was the same "leader" that supported Betamax. Wonder if that says something about...

What went wrong.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... The shipwreck of the Selendang Ayu (May 2005) could have been prevented easily by the installation of two 6000-hp engines instead of one engine. This practice should be mandatory for tankers, just as airplanes that fly across the ocean are...

DIY in full flight: propeller? Check. Flapping wings? Check. Old VW engine? Well, then, garage aviator, the skies await.(TIMEMACHINE)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... 1971 MAY TEENIE, TAKE TWO After 7000 readers requested plans for the $600 VW-powered "Jeanie Teenie" (this brave man is flying one built by his high-school students), we introduced the meatier 53- to 60-hp sequel, which required...

Faith-based computing.(TECHWATCH)(MareNostrum supercomputer statistics)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... This summer, Spain's newly completed MareNostrum pits its microchips against Japan's formidable Earth Simulator for the title of world's third-fastest supercomputer. But MareNostrum is indisputably the closest to God. Located in a 1920s Gothic...

Biggest thing on two wheels.(TECHWATCH: This Month)(Sturgis motorcycle rally )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The town of Sturgis, S.D. (pop. 6500) will host a half-million bikers Aug. 8 to 14 during the 65th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. One of the largest motorcycle rallies in the world, Sturgis is also noteworthy for the number of attendees who...

Longest shadow.(TECHWATCH: This Month)(60th anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... August marks the 60th anniversary of the first, and only, use of atomic bombs in war. "Little Boy," a uranium device, was dropped on Hiroshima on the 6th by the Enola Gay (now at the National Air and Space Museum]. Three days later, a B-29...

Most portable paperwork.(TECHWATCH: This Month)(electronic passports from Department of Homeland Security)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The State Department is scheduled to begin distributing electronic passports that use RFID technology. The new transmitting capability concerns privacy advocates, but the government is working to provide protection by shortening signal range.

Shortest streak.(TECHWATCH: This Month)(Perseid meteor showers sky chart)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... From the 9th to the 14th, nature puts on its best light show. The Perseid meteor shower occurs when Earth runs through the dusty debris left by comet Swift-Tuttle (below). This year, the Perseids should peak from the 11th through the 13th, and...

Most surface tension.(TECHWATCH: This Month)(Annual Bubble Festival )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Summer ends not with a bang, but a pop in Seattle at the 19th Annual Bubble Festival held from the 10th to the 14th at the Pacific Science Center. Thousands of visitors will watch a balloon artist at work, try making their own big bubbles and...

Exotic tastes.(Laotian rock rat discovered)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Foreign food is sometimes unfamiliar to travelers. The rodents found by biologist Robert Timmons in a food market in Laos were so exotic that they turned out to be completely new to scientists. The Laotian rock rat, or "kha-nyou" looks like a...

Quick draw.(bunchberry dogwood pollen throw behaviour)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Nothing is faster than the bunchberry dogwood, at least in the plant world. The flower catapults pollen into the air, where it can be carried away by the breeze. Biologists used high-speed video to determine that the flower throws itself open...

We, robots.(forecast and trends of robots)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Cornell University researchers have constructed a simple modular robot that can assemble exact copies of itself, demonstrating principles that could be applied to self-repairing robots in human-friendly environments such as deep space.

Googly eyes: the search engine's satellite maps have turned up some surprising images.(TECHWATCH)
August 1, 2005... When Google started pulling satellite pictures into its online map service, the idea was to make following directions easier. For David Sims, the images led to a place rarely mentioned on any atlas: a lonely airstrip, not far from the military...

Shaky predictions.(United States. Geological Survey website info)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Californians can now check the earthquake forecast on the Internet. A new Web site run by the U.S. Geological Survey provides a color-coded map showing the probability that a location will be hit by tremors in the next 24 hours, based on...

Seeing red.(contestants dressed in red seem to win)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Analyzing the results of boxing, tae kwon do and wrestling at last summer's Olympics, British anthropologists found that contestants dressed in red were consistently more likely to win their bouts. Similar results were observed in team sports....

Well-timed waking.(alarm clock which wakes up people in light sleep)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The sound of the alarm clock is never welcome, but you feel especially groggy when jolted from deep sleep. To avoid this, students from Brown University have developed SleepSmart, a clock that monitors your sleep cycles and wakes you only...

Mankind's farthest probe.(TECHWATCH)(Voyager 1 space probe observations)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... REMEMBER VOYAGER 1? Launched in 1977, the trusty probe explored the outer planets of our solar system, and now it has passed a new mile marker. In May, NASA scientists announced that Voyager 1 had broken through the termination shock to the...

Is it hot or not?(TECHWATCH)(Electrophysics uses industrial thermal camera)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... New Jersey-based Electrophysics brought its HotShot, a new 1.9-pound, $14,000 industrial thermal camera, to PM's offices for show and tell. This diagnostic camera looks for potential failure points in electrical and structural components, It...

Blood "cell".(TECHWATCH)(blood sugar analyser)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... A new breed of implantable fuel cells is being developed by scientists to run on human blood. A recent prototype at Japan's Tohoku University generated 0.2 milliwatts from a solution of glucose and vitamin K3, enough to power a device to...

Scam alert with Jon Erickson.(TECHWATCH)(cyber crimes and their management)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... THERE'S A NEW crime in cybertown. Similar to phishing (a bit of e-mail trickery wherein a con artist pretending to be your bank asks you to confirm account information), this new ruse is called "pharming." Perpetrators set up a fake Web site...

Cleanups that worked.(TECHWATCH: Success Stories)(waste management case studies)
August 1, 2005... There's a shortage of happy endings in the world of environmental remediation. No technology can turn back the clock and undo the health effects of severe contamination. But, as these cases show, sometimes a strong dose of technology, ingenuity...

Dear DARPA ... When the Pentagon called for an unmanned plane design, we got to work.(TECHWATCH: Defense Project)
August 1, 2005... Unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, have gotten cheaper and easier to make. According to the Defense Department, 32 countries--including Iran, Pakistan and China--are developing or manufacturing their own UAVs. The Defense Advanced Research...

Inside job.(UPGRADE: Wish List)(GT Bicycles Inc. mountain bikes)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Internal transmissions aren't a new idea in bikes--witness the old Raleigh three-speed--but GT Bicycles is making a mark by using a new Shimano eight-speed trans in a freeride mountain bike with long-travel shocks, front and rear. Unlike...

Cold comfort.(UPGRADE: Wish List)
August 1, 2005... On a hot summer day, what could be better than relaxing with friends? How's about blasting them with Hasbro's Super Soaker Arctic Shock? With a 35-ft. range (we tested it), a hefty 40-ounce tank and a freezable ice core, you can get plenty of...

Who's your caddy?(UPGRADE: Wish List)
August 1, 2005... It won't help you pick a club, but the E-Caddy cart will carry your bag for up to 36 holes on a single charge. Using two 250-watt motors, E-Caddy tracks its golfer via a radio transmitter that clips onto a belt--following obediently at a...

Open-door policy.(UPGRADE: Wish List)(Vertical Lambo Doors from Number One Parts Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... If a Lamborghini blows the doors off your '87 Chrysler K Car, don't get mad--think of it as an opportunity. Reinstall them with the Vertical Lambo Doors hinge kit from Number One Parts. The four-step DIY project involves no cutting, welding,...

Hi-fi from the sky.(UPGRADE: Wish List)
August 1, 2005... Satellite radio has come a long way in cars but it has proved an awkward fit at home. Tuning in requires extra components and a mess of cables. Yamaha's RX-V557 is one of the first home theater amplifier/receivers with an integrated XM Radio...

Gigabytes in the palm of your hand.(UPGRADE: Wish List)
August 1, 2005... MP3 players have been sporting mini hard drives for years while more versatile machines such as PDAs and cellphones have made do with minuscule amounts of memory. This imbalance is corrected by the PalmOne LifeDrive PDA, seen here ($499;...

Power pack.(UPGRADE: Wish List)
August 1, 2005... There are many bags on the market designed to carry your electronic gear, but few of them can actually recharge your gadgets while you're on the go. Juice Bags from Reware incorporate flexible, waterproof solar panels that promise to charge...

Robo-mop.(UPGRADE: Wish List)
August 1, 2005... Your floor seems to automatically get dirty, so why shouldn't it automatically become clean? The Scooba robot (coming out in early 2006) from iRobot simultaneously scrubs and dries hardwood and the floors. It uses a special solution developed...

Designated driver.(UPGRADE: Wish List)
August 1, 2005... Impact drivers are the musclemen of the screwdriving world, using gobs of torque to drive home gigantic lagscrews and to drill holes through steel framing. The 12-volt Hitachi WH12DMR squeezes this hard-hitting power into a compact frame. It...

Will it break?(UPGRADE: Wish List)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... We walked into a Cingular store and asked for the most popular free phone they have--and than we beat it senseless. Nokia 3120 WE DROPPED IT Our first everyday disaster was a 4-ft. drop onto concrete. Our Nokia 3120 took a solid...

Shred reckoning.(UPGRADE: Abusive Lab Test)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... THE RISE OF INTERNET SCAMS such as phishing and now pharming (see page 24) has given identity thieves the luxury of working from home, but a great deal of stolen information still comes from personal documents. The Federal Trade Commission...

Royal VF800.(UPGRADE: Abusive Lab Test)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... PRICE: $52 STATED SHEET CAPACITY: 8 pages FEATURES: Crosscut (1 3/8 x 1/8 in.); handles credit cards, staples and paper clips THE STRESS TEST Since we never believe what we're told, we ignored the Royal's suggested sheet capacity...

Fellowes Powershred P-55C.(UPGRADE: Abusive Lab Test)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... PRICE: $80 STATED SHEET CAPACITY: 8 pages FEATURES: Crosscut (2 x 5/32 in.); top swings open for access to bin; handles credit cards and staples THE STRESS TEST First, we fed the Powershred its own manual, which it swallowed...

GBC Shredmaster 960X.(UPGRADE: Abusive Lab Test)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... PRICE: $399 STATED SHEET CAPACITY: 10 pages FEATURES: Crosscut (1 3/8 x 5/32 in.); removable bin; handles credit cards, staples, paper dips, CDs and DVDs THE STRESS TEST The big boy of our test, the GBC has a 9-gal. bin, a CD slot...

Gaming consoles.(Next-Generation)
August 1, 2005... In 2001, Microsoft launched Xbox, taking on video game titans Sony and Nintendo, and a console battle began. Now that the three powers have unveiled their upcoming systems, it's war all over again. Which one will conquer the $Ii billion...

Charging to glory: few names in the automotive universe conjure as many intense emotions as the Dodge Charger.(NEWCARS)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Victories on the banking at Daytona. Celebrity in the woods of TV's Hazzard County. Notoriety in the Woodward Avenue night. The Dodge Charger has been through it all and now it is back. The latest iteration, unlike the original, has four doors...

Public escapades.(Spy REPORT)(cars)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Despite its full covering, we know from the familiar grille and headlights that this is the 2006 Cadillac Escalade. Changes include larger fender flares, new wheels and new mirrors. The hood is narrower and does not flow over the fenders. On...

Hiding in plain sight.(Spy REPORT)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Apparently no one at Chevrolet thought anybody would spot this Colorado pickup as different from the rest. We did. How? First, those tires are seriously oversize, befitting something with more engine and ability than a standard five-cylinder...

Back in the light.(NEWCARS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... The new Mitsubishi Eclipse does a reasonably good impersonation of a sports car. The ride is very firm; the Eclipse corners flat and accelerates briskly with the optional 3.8-liter 263-hp V6. But true sports cars have a direct line of...

Rea/-time video.(Spy REPORT)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The latest info from our spies indicates that this is, indeed, a testbed for the 2008 ultra Nissan, the Skyline GT-R. It will be the first time Nissan has sold this model in North America. We can thank the video garners: The car is a favorite...

Speed to threes.(Spy REPORT)(Mazda3 version under development)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Mazda's in-house, high-performance tuning arm, Mazdaspeed, is readying a version of the Mazda3. Since it shares its platform with Volvo's $40 and the European Ford Focus, it's likely that the Mazdaspeed3 will use some of the pieces already...

All in good sport.(NEWCARS)(Sport utility vehicles)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... While Range Rover Sport's bodywork is lower, its ride height is lower and its tires' profiles are lower, the price isn't. You'll need $55,750 for a Sport HSE with the 300-hp normally aspirated V8. It takes another 13 large for the supercharged...

A slight hum.(NEWCARS)(mid-sized sport utility vehicle)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... Hummer is downsizing. For 99 percent of us, driving the monstrously big H1 is like using a Sawzall to cut salami. And for those of us who have to park in the city, the smaller H2 isn't nearly small enough. Enter the all-new H3 based on the...

Are you the car guy?(And another thing ...)(automotive consultant views)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... I'm completely anonymous for the first hour of the summer barbecue. But just as I sink my teeth into the second slab of baby-backs... it happens. Someone tells everyone that I'm the "car guy." In that instant I'm transformed. I'm no longer...

Forester in the trees.(NEWCARS)(Sport utility vehicles remodelling)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... With a scoshe more power under its hood and a little more room beneath its chassis, Subaru's Forester is refreshed, refined and more off-road capable for 2006. By adapting the company's i-Active Valve Lift System from the Outback, naturally...

Thrifty ritz.(NEWCARS)(Audi A3 sports wagon)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... When you buy the entry model of a luxury brand, the last thing you want is for people to know you bought the el cheapo version. And few will spot the new Audi A3 as the bottom of that marque's line. The A3 sporty wagon looks and drives like...

Farming's new wave: thanks to high-tech cages and a better understanding of fish biology, aquaculture is moving offshore and into the open ocean.(SCIENCE)
August 1, 2005... Peering through the taut weave of polymer netting, a diver could easily believe the sea holds a limitless supply of fish. Inside the submerged cage, tens of thousands of sleek carnivores rub fins as they navigate their saltwater territory. Yet,...

But when driving, these sunglasses may save your life! To some, sunglasses are a fashion accessory ...(Health News--Eye Protection)
August 1, 2005... Driving can expose you to more dangerous glare than any sunny summer day at the beach can... do you know how to protect yourself?. An amazing breakthrough in optic technology by NASA called Eagle Eyes[R] can be your answer. The sun rises and...

Lessons from Iraq.(urban combat operations)
August 1, 2005... I'TS A BRUTAL SCHOOLING, BUT AMERICAN FORCES ARE LEARNING HOW TO COMBINE NEW TECHNOLOGY AND OLD-FASHIONED COMBAT SKILLS ROOT OUT A TENACIOUS INSURGENCY. FORMER MARINES OWEN WEST AND HIS FATHER BING WEST, WHO WAS A FRONT-LINE WITNESS TO IRAQ'S...

Street sweeping crews.(urban combat operations)
August 1, 2005... URBAN COMBAT IN IRAQ involves unprecedented coordination between air, armor and artillery. Here's a look at some of the typical interactions between Marine infantry units and their support teams. GROUP A Arms Patrol An infantry...

Freestyle vs. outback.(THE FIGHT FOR FAMILY WAGON SUPREMACY)
August 1, 2005... It's a pretty hard to beat a minivan for conveying a Large family through the vagaries of But, these vehicles are roomy, practical, versatile and fit in parking spaces and garages. ire's little to be done to disguise the fact that they are...

Ergonomics of housecleaning.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... You've heard of tennis elbow, but who would have thought you could actually injure yourself while scrubbing the tub? It happens all the time according to David Lipetz, director of rehabilitation for Westside Spine and Joint Rehabilitation in...

How it works: when these boats fly, high-tech rules the high seas.(VOLVO OPEN 70 Offshore Racer)
August 1, 2005... THE ROUND-THE-GLOBE VOLVO OCEAN RACE pits the world's most advanced sailboats against the world's worst weather--gale-force storms, mountainous seas and sweltering doldrums. The seven Volvo Open 70s (70-ft. racing sloops) preparing to start the...

Would you survive: the downed plane, the busted ATV, the wrong turn on the trail--each can land you in a do-or-die test of will and know-how. Here's the good news: You can make it.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... SCOTT THURNER was in the homestretch of flight from Nevada to Colorado last February when his Cessna 172 apparently iced up in rough weather before plunging into a snowy mountain. Thurner survived with minor injuries--but he was 15 rugged miles...

Back-road breakdown.(CASE STUDY)(interpersonal communication for survival)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Who: Hunter Terry Peterson, driving a pickup through Nevada's high desert. What happened: Bad weather turned Peterson back from his destination, a game-management parcel called Area 22. Crucial decision: Changing plans. On Peterson's...

Eight steps for coming back Alive.(START HERE)(survival techniques)
August 1, 2005... 1 | LEAVE A DETAILED PLAN with someone on the home front before any backcountry trip, even if it's a brief mountain bike ride. Spell out where you're going, what trailhead you'll use and what car you'll drive. Better yet, leave a copy of a...

Lifesaving gear.(WOULD YOU SURVIVE?)(survival techniques)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... A small number of essentials can provide the wherewithal to get yourself out of trouble if the need arises. Below are two versions of the survival kit, depending on who's carrying it--you or your truck. OFF-ROAD DRIVING Blanket or...

5 MacGyver tricks.(WOULD YOU SURVIVE?)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Thread: Dental floss has superb tensile strength. Use it to sew a blown shoulder strap on a backpack or lash a garbage sack to the skeleton of an improvised shelter to form the roof. Fire Starter: Connect fine-grade steel wool to the...

Canyon missteps.(CASE STUDY)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Who: Paul and Karen Stryker, 26-yearold newbie hikers in the Grand Canyon. during the blast-furnace days of June. What happened: Embarking on a tough overnight hike they estimated at 18 miles (the true distance was 29 miles), the couple...

High sierra blizzard.(CASE STUDY)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Who: Frank Horath, Paul Bargetto and their two sons camping high in the Sierra Nevada in mid-October. What happened: Sunny weather gave way to a surprise storm that buried the mountains beneath 4 ft. of snow. Crucial decision: Staying...

The will to live.(WOULD YOU SURVIVE)(psychological aspects for survival )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... In Deep Survival, author Laurence Gonzales examines cases of survival in the wild to determine why some people Live, while others die Q. How much does survival depend on luck and how much on personal factors? A. There's always an...

Survival facts.(WOULD YOU SURVIVE)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... 50,000: Estimated number of wilderness search and rescue (SAR) missions in the United States each year. 36 percent: portion of SAR operations launched to help people who have become lost. 40 percent: portion of SAR missions in national...

When bad things happen to good projects: the goat was so clear, the steps so logical. Then somehow, suddenly, something went wrong.
August 1, 2005... For even the handiest of PM readers, the road to DIY failure can be paved with good intentions. If you've ever turned a hacksaw blade into a projectile, corroded the brakes on a car, or caused a computer to self-destruct, read on. This...

Big shots.(making of Stealth special effects movie)
August 1, 2005... Cyber superheroes swinging over city streets, computer-crafted aliens waging a war of the worlds--digital special effects (FX) create cool and convincing movie magic. But not every jaw-dropping effect comes out of a computer. Traditional FX...

Cutting class: today's jigsaws are smart versatile tools. PM tests nine top models.(Jigsaw Test)
August 1, 2005... Most people buy a jigsaw to cut curves. But it can do much more. With its narrow blade, a jigsaw is the tool of choice for enclosed cuts like making the sink hole in a new countertop or preparing woodwork for an outlet or switch. It's also...

Black & Decker JS700K-$60.(HOME JOURNAL: Jigsaw Test)
August 1, 2005... AMPS: 5.5 EIGHT: 5.5 lb. ORBITAL SETTINGS: 1 STROKE LENGTH: 3/4 in. The B&D scroll saw had good visibility when cutting straight ahead, but the blade guard got in the way during some scroll cuts. The tool was the noisiest of the bunch, and...

HITACHI CJ120V-$29.(HOME JOURNAL: Jigsaw Test)
August 1, 2005... AMPS: 5.8 WEIGHT: 5.1 LB. ORBITAL SETTINGS: 3 STROKE LENGTH: 1 in. This is a lightweight and compact professional-grade saw. It comes with dust-collection fittings and has its speed dial near the trigger for one-handed operation. We were...

PORTER-CABLE 9543-$60.(HOME JOURNAL: Jigsaw Test)
August 1, 2005... AMPS: 6 WEIGHT: 6 lb. ORBITAL SETTINGS: 3 STROKE LENGTH: 1 in We liked the trigger-controlled variable speed and the tool performed well. However, the blade chuck was very difficult to use and the base-locking mechanism was clumsy. We also...

BOSCH 1590 EVSK-$169.(HOME JOURNAL: Jigsaw Test)
August 1, 2005... AMPS: 6.4 WEIGHT: 6 lb. ORBITAL SETTINGS: 3 STROKE LENGTH: 1 in The Bosch saw excelled in producing absolutely square cuts. To prevent blade deflection, the tool has a unique precision guide mechanism. A simple, effective lever system locks...

MAKITA 4340FCT-$159.(HOME JOURNAL: Jigsaw Test)
August 1, 2005... AMPS: 6.3 WEIGHT: 5.3 lb. ORBITAL SETTINGS: 3 STROKE LENGTH: 1 in This saw was the smoothest and quietest in our group. It's also compact and lightweight, making it the most effortless to use. It has a soft-start feature and a headlamp to...

RIDGID R3120-$140.(HOME JOURNAL: Jigsaw Test)
August 1, 2005... AMPS: 6 WEIGHT: 6.7 lb. ORBITAL SETTINGS: 4 STROKE LENGTH: 1 in The Ridgid comes with the best case of the group, and its cord has a strap for easy storage. Plus the plug glows when you find a hot circuit on the job site. Frills aside, the...

CRAFTSMAN 27719-$150.(HOME JOURNAL: Jigsaw Test)
August 1, 2005... AMPS: 5 WEIGHT: 5.5 lb. ORBITAL SETTINGS: 3 STROKE LENGTH: 1 in Blade changing on this model, although toolfree, was a five-step process that was anything but fast. Once cutting, though, the Craftsman performed solidly, producing square...

MILWAUKEE 6266-22-$140.(HOME JOURNAL: Jigsaw Test)
August 1, 2005... AMPS: 6.2 WEIGHT: 5.3 lb. ORBITAL SETTINGS: 3 STROKE LENGTH: 1 in If you're a righty, you'll like the speed dial location-you can reach it with your thumb while running the saw. Plus, this tool has great blade changing and the best toolfree...

SKIL 4680-04-$80.(HOME JOURNAL: Jigsaw Test)
August 1, 2005... AMPS: 5 WEIGHT: 5.7 lb. ORBITAL SETTINGS: 3 STROKE LENGTH: 13/16 in. This scroll saw had good blade visibility, but the headlamp was not all that effective. Blade removal was easy. Orbital action didn't improve cutting speed, and the...

Your table is ready: no backyard should be without a picnic table. Here's how to build one for yourself.
August 1, 2005... Nearly everyone enjoys eating outdoors. It's great to carry a blanket and basket into the countryside, but these days time-pressed families look more often to their backyards and decks--and to that quintessential piece of American outdoor...

Concrete out of joint.(HOMEOWNERS CLINIC Q&A)(isolation joints tinkering methods)
August 1, 2005... A gap has developed where the concrete walk leading to my front door meets the sidewalk. What can I use to fill the gap? A small piece of weathered fibrous material remains in it. Should it be removed before the gap is filled? BRIAN...

Join e-Rewards[R].(The goods: great products and promotional offers from PM advertisers)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2005... As a valued Popular Mechanics reader, you are invited to join e-Rewards[R], a By Invitation Only program that allows you to earn free BLOCKBUSTER[R] movie rentals, frequent flyer miles, and other quality rewards simply for reading relevant...

Gold Eagles[R] Co.'S 104+[R].(The goods: great products and promotional offers from PM advertisers)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2005... Performance Additives provide more power, acceleration and horsepower for today's engines. The high performance formulas dean fuel injectors and the complete fuel system in one use white improving throttle response and gas mileage. 104+...

Mobil 1 Extended Performance.(The goods: great products and promotional offers from PM advertisers)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2005... Mobil 1 Extended Performance is a new fully synthetic engine oil from ExxonMobil that provides drivers with Mobil's highest level of engine performance and protection. Mobil 1 Extended Performance with the Advanced SuperSyn System is designed...