Product Review

The Leigh VRS1200 Vac and Router Support Will Save You from Big Messes

January 15, 2021 By George Vondriska & filed under Blog, Product Review.

If you’ve got a Porter Cable dovetail jig and are tired of the incredible mess left behind every time you cut dovetails, you’re in luck. Leigh’s VRS1200, $99.99, catches chips at the source (that is, your dovetail jig) and grabs them before they end up all over you and your floor. The Vacuum and Router…

Wood Carving Disc for your Angle Grinder

July 24, 2020 By Paul Mayer & filed under Blog, Product Review.

Add a power wood carving disc to your angle grinder, and you can open up a whole new world of woodworking project possibilities. But if you’re new to this game, the dizzying array of product choices might leave you more puzzled than excited. Let me take some of the mystery out of the process and help you choose your first power carving disc.

Father’s Day Gift Ideas

May 15, 2018 By George Vondriska & filed under Blog, Buying Advice, Product Review, Skill Building.

Looking for the perfect gift for the woodworker in your life? With Father’s Day right around the corner, this is timely. But whatever the event, your favorite woodworker is certain to love these gift ideas.

Product Review: Portamate PM-1800 – Panel Carrier

February 28, 2018 By Bruce Kieffer & filed under Buying Advice, Product Review, Skill Building.

This is an ingenious and invaluable back-saving tool for a one-person shop. It works better and easier than I imagined. Being able to maneuver sheet goods around my shop, and then flip them from vertical to horizontal, and do that all myself with very little effort is HUGE. There are other heavy-duty plywood carts available for large shop use, but those are big and expensive. This one is compact, folds flat for easy out of the way storage, and it's a real steal at around $100!

Laguna 1412 Bandsaw: A Cut Above

October 9, 2017 By Paul Mayer & filed under Buying Advice, Product Review.

I’m not the most patient soul, but after a long search for a band saw upgrade I finally found the one that I wanted; the Laguna 1412 Band Saw. The problem lied in the fact that it was still in prototype phase when I learned about it, and would not ship for another year. Could…

Product Review: ISOtunes Pro

April 25, 2017 By George Vondriska & filed under Buying Advice, Product Review, Skill Building, Woodworking Safety.

If you’re going to be around tools, you’ve GOT TO use hearing protection. If you don’t want to have to choose between music, phone calls, and hearing protection, you should have a look at ISOtunes Pro. Learn more about them with this product review. I have my share (or more) of electronic devices, and I…

Product Review: Dowel Wizard

March 22, 2017 By George Vondriska & filed under Buying Advice, Product Review, Skill Building.

Looking for a way to easily incorporate dowel joinery in your woodworking projects? The Dowel Wizard may be an answer for you. It’s self-centering, and easy to align. Check out our review of this new product. Dowels are a time-tested means of joining parts. They’re easy to come by, and very strong. The down side?…

Tool Review: DeWalt DWS780 12” Dual Bevel Compound Miter Saw

October 12, 2016 By David Radtke & filed under Blog, Buying Advice, Product Review, Skill Building.

If you’re considering adding a new miter saw to your shop, don’t make a move until you’ve read this great product review of the DeWalt DWS780. Does it make the cut? Read on to find out. I’ve owned several miter saws in my woodworking career. In fact, when I started out in carpentry, we were…

Dust Right® Universal Small Port Hose Kit: Product Review

January 13, 2016 By David Munkittrick & filed under Buying Advice, Product Review, Skill Building.

When I started working wood 35 years ago the power tools never came with dust ports. Those were the days of paper masks, clouds of dust and wading through shavings on the floor. Today, all sanding, shaping or cutting tools have built in dust ports. That’s a good thing. The bad thing is lack of…

Laguna Revo 18|36 Lathe: Product Review

December 10, 2015 By Paul Mayer & filed under Buying Advice, Product Review, Skill Building.

Laguna recently introduced a new lathe to its product line: the Revo 18|36. This tool features a 2HP motor, variable speed control, and lots of neat features for both bowl and spindle work. Paul Mayer has put this lathe through its paces with many hours spent on a variety of turning projects, and shares his…