Tool Review

Rockler Cord and Hose Holder

July 10, 2013 By Staff & filed under Buying Advice, Product Review.

I love having dust collection connected to my portable power tools, but I hate tangling with the cords and hoses. Rockler’s new Cord and Hose Holder, $29.99, helps solve this problem. The Cord and Hose Holder is adjustable in height and rises to a maximum height of 40” above the bench. It’ll clamp to benches…

Grizzly 8″ Jointer Model 490X Review: One Year Later

October 24, 2012 By Paul Mayer & filed under Buying Advice, Product Review.

Tool reviews are great as they help us make purchasing decisions, but what is normally missing is a retrospective view. Sure, it looked great in the initial evaluation, but how did it hold up in production, and how well did it meet the owner’s initial expectations over time? In that light, I wanted to provide…

Grizzly 8″ Jointer Model 490X Review: Part 1

August 9, 2011 By Paul Mayer & filed under Buying Advice, Product Review.

PART 1: GRIZZLY JOINTER SELECTION, RECEIVING, AND INITIAL SETUP I bought my 6″ jointer in June of 1997, and outgrew it by January of 1998. I have been researching and planning for my upgrade to an 8″ model ever since. I like to put myself through something of a “cooling off” period when I get…

Makita LS1040 10″ Compound Miter Saw

September 30, 2010 By Paul Mayer & filed under Buying Advice, Product Review.

I wasn’t asking for much as I hunted for a new miter saw. I simply wanted a unit that was rock solid with no slop in any moving part, super lightweight for portability, easy to adjust, precise locking locations for common cuts, high powered, and under $200. I was willing to forego the depth capacity…

Delta 12-1/2″ Midi-Lathe Model #46-460

January 19, 2010 By David Munkittrick & filed under Buying Advice, Product Review.

Compact lathes were an instant success when they first hit the market. Their low cost and portability opened the doors to prospective turners who lacked the funds or space required for full size lathes. Unlike most of us as we mature over the years, compact lathes have grown in power, capacity and refinement without putting…

Veritas 14-tpi Dovetail Saw

October 20, 2009 By Bruce Kieffer & filed under Buying Advice, Product Review.

I must be honest; I don’t hand cut dovetails, but I do use a dovetail saw to make fine, straight, and very accurate cuts on other types of woodworking joints. For those cuts, nothing but a quality dovetail saw will suffice. And as long as I’m being honest, I’ll admit one more thing; this saw…

SuperMax 37-Inch Drum Sander

October 2, 2009 By David Munkittrick & filed under Buying Advice, Product Review.

George’s review of the Performax 22-44 was so popular we thought it might interest our readers to hear about the advantages a larger machine offers. This is a review of the SuperMax 37; a machine that shares a lot of great features with the Performax 22-44, including variable speed feed rate, a non-slip conveyor belt,…