Rockwell RK5102K SoniCrafter Deluxe 72-Piece Kit
Do you find yourself called on by friends and neighbors to “fix” and build things? They just want a little help, that’s all. Then, before you know what hit you, a “little help” turns into a great big “I need to bring over my entire workshop to do this” sort of job. Well, help is on the way! The Rockwell RK5102K SoniCrafter Deluxe 72-Piece Kit is like having a workshop in a pouch!
Yes, that’s right, everything at your fingertips, all contained in a pouch that you can pack up easily and take with you. The Rockwell RK5102K SoniCrafter Deluxe 72-Piece Kit is a great little tool set for the contractor or home craftsman alike.
Included in this set is the variable speed Sonicrafter tool, 2 cutting blades, 1 grit blade (made of carbide), 1 broad spectrum scraping blade, a triangular rasp (also carbide), 2 polishing pads, a finger sanding pad (with 30 finger sanding sheets), a triangular sanding pad (also with 30 sanding sheets), 1 hex key and the dust extraction adaptor. All of this stows away in a carry bag, making this Rockwell RK5102K SoniCrafter Deluxe 72-Piece Kit a portable workshop.
This tool has super high-frequency oscillation, making it smooth, safe and kickback free during operation. Precision is a must for fine craftsmanship, and the Rockwell RK5102K SoniCrafter Deluxe 72-Piece Kit will not disappoint you when making cuts and putting a fine finish on anything, be it floor or furniture.
Lightweight, with a comfortable ergonomic grip, this tool doesn’t need much downward pressure to sand something into a good edge. It will cut through masonry, thin metal, wood, carpet, plastic and even vinyl siding. One tool to do all that? Nice!
177 reviews on Amazon ranked the SoniCrafter Deluxe at 3.9 stars. Most everyone who reviewed this tool found it to be as good as or better than similar tools of this type. Some said that the user manual wasn’t written very well, that you needed to have some knowledge of tools of this type before buying it, or you wouldn’t know how to operate it. I think most people in the market for a multipurpose tool such as this one all ready know their way around a shop or they wouldn’t be in the market for it.
Most reviewers found the Rockwell RK5102K SoniCrafter Deluxe 72-Piece Kit to be not just an excellent value, but useful for many jobs, plumbing included. So scrape, polish and sand away to your hearts content – this tool will do all that and so much more. Father’s day is coming soon; this would be a great gift for the dad who does it all!
Bench Dog 40-001 ProTop Contractor Benchtop Router Table
If you are a do-it-yourself sort of person who is serious about any wood project you undertake, then the Bench Dog 40-001 ProTop Contractor Benchtop Router Table is just the router table you are looking for.
Adored by craftsman, be they workshop warrior or professional, the Bench Dog 40-001 ProTop Contractor Benchtop Router Table meets and exceeds your every routing table need.
This is how it’s put together: A plywood birch cabinet with solid panel construction encloses the table completely, and offers great storage space for your router and bits. The rubber feet keep the table from slipping or moving, allowing your to put as much pressure as you need on your project without fear that your table will just up and roll away. An added bonus of these rubber feet is the vast reduction in the vibration level – this means you won’t be jarring your body all over while you work.
The top of the Bench Dog ProTop Router Table is a generous 24 x 16 inches, with a non-marring laminate top. Installed on this top is Bench Dog’s award winning 22 inch Pro fence. This fence is so amazing it will make you scratch your head and say “now why didn’t I invest in this table sooner?” Along the front edge of the router table is an aluminum track that will adjust to fit most any miter gauge.
Everything you need to assemble the table is included in the box – the table top, the cabinet, a pre-drilled router insert plate, the award winning fence, a bit guard, dust port and the mounting screws. The shipping weight is slightly more that 43 pounds, so you won’t need a crane to lift it. No back strain is just a bonus!
With 111 customer reviews on Amazon, the Bench Dog ProTop Router Table grabs a 4.6 star rating, and the worst problems I see described, such as a problem with the table top being improperly drilled at the factory, have been quickly addressed by Bench Dog, who promptly reshipped the part that was damaged. There was also a complaint that the table was 2-3 inches to low, but the reviewer didn’t state their height, so it is possible this person is just taller than the average bear.
Let’s just say all things being equal that the Bench Dog 40-001 ProTop Contractor Benchtop Router Table is a great value and money well spent for anyone who is serious about their woodworking shop, be they contractor or perfectionist weekend warrior. Go check them out today and see if this isn’t the router table of your dreams – this Bench Dog router table is an award winning piece of equipment you simply must own!
Work Sharp WS3000 Wood Tool Sharpener
Trying to get a fine edge on something is nearly impossible with a dull tool and the Work Sharp WS3000 Wood Tool Sharpener is just the thing to keep all your woodworking tools nice and sharp!
Easy to use, the Work Sharp WS3000 Wood Tool Sharpener will sharpen almost any tool you have in your shop, be it chisel or lathe tool, carving or plane blades, the Work Sharp Wood Tool Sharpener can handle it all.
Creating a sharp beveled edge is no problem as the Work Sharp Wood Tool Sharpener adjusts to many angles. 20, 25, 30 and 35 degree angles are preset on the Work Sharp, allowing you to get a fine hone on just about any chisel or tool without the need of an extra jig.
As it is an air-cooled dry sharpening system, the Work Sharp Wood Tool Sharpener gives you a consistently sharp edge. Use it with the Edge-Vision wheel or with one of the two tempered glass wheels that come as standard accessories with the Work Sharp.
A handy tool rest gives you an assist when you are tackling those tough to handle larger tools. Although it is not included, a wide blade attachment is available to be purchased for use with the Work Sharp Wood Tool Sharpener.
Here’s what you get when you order the Work Sharp Wood Tool Sharpener: The actual wood tool sharpener, two glass wheels, and one slotted Edge-Vision wheel. It comes with a crepe stick (used for cleaning abrasives), and 16 abrasives: 11 solid abrasives and 5 slotted abrasives with grits ranging from P80 to 3600 Micro-Mesh. Also included is an instructional DVD.
As I said before, it does not come with the wide blade attachment, and while some of you will find it necessary to make that separate purchase, others will not ever miss the larger blade attachment.
The Work Sharp Wood Tool Sharpener has a customer satisfaction rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon.com, with 64 customers offering their opinion. That’s a fairly high rating for a tool of this type, as it is a pretty specialized tool.
Purchasing the Work Sharp Wood Tool Sharpener is a sound investment, and if you sit down and add up all the money you spend sending your tools out to be sharpened, along with what it costs you for down time while you wait for the sharpening to be completed, and factoring in what it will cost you in gasoline to drive somewhere, drop off your tools and then drive back to pick them up when the sharpening is completed, you will find that the Work Sharp Wood Tool Sharpener will pay for itself very quickly.
The Work Sharp Wood Tool Sharpener – an easy solution to a costly and time consuming problem.
Bosch 1294VSK 2.3 Amp Corner Detail Sander Kit
A serious tool for woodworkers who are serious about their craft, the Bosch 1294VSK 2.3 Amp Corner Detail Sander Kit is the thing you need to get a fine finish on the corners of your wood project.
This detail tool is very sturdy and can take what you dish out. Featuring Bosch’s revolutionary micro-dust filter canister, the Bosch Corner Detail Sander Kit will keep your lungs healthy and happy by keeping the sawdust sucked up and away from you as you work.
The motion of this tool is not an arc or a pivot, but an actual random orbit, which allows for precision finishing with no unsightly swirls to mar your project. A low-vibration design coupled with an ergonomic handle grip keeps the Bosch Corner Sander running nice and smooth, and makes it easy to handle for the time it takes to complete the finishing detail.
Using six different speeds which you select on the well-placed dial, the Bosch Corner Detail Sander gets the job done on any material you might be using, and with 120 degree turning, the sanding pads get an even wear, so you are not wasting pads.
Included in the box with the Bosch Corner Detail Sander is a polishing pad, 20 sanding sheets, both flat and oval extensions, an extension plate and the plastic storage case, so you are ready to get to work right out of the box. A one year warranty is also included with this tool.
Be sure and order extra sandpaper pads right away if you are planning to use this for a very large job, as it seems as if not many places carry them. This is to be expected with any specialized tool.
It would be well to consider that you cannot ruin the Bosch Corner Detail Sander flat out for many hours without it heating up to a temperature that could cause a problem. The best thing to do is to remember that any engine on any machine will overheat if it is pushed to the limit for an extended period of time, and plan your workday so that your sander has time to cool down every so often.
Amazon reviewers are always ready to weigh in with their opinions and with 42 customer reviews the Bosch Corner Detail Sander rates a 4 on a scale of 5 stars. Not too shabby for a tool many people would pass by due to the special nature of its use.
So if you are looking to refinish cabinets, create a lovely piece of furniture, or even just to sand down a corner of the floor that got a little ugly, the Bosch Corner Detail Sander Kit is a purchase you will be glad you made.
Rikon 10-325 14-Inch Deluxe Band Saw
If you are building a truly user-friendly woodshop, then a high quality band saw is a must have. The Rikon 10-325 14-inch Deluxe Band Saw is all that and a bag of chips.
Manufactured from the finest raw materials, the Rikon 10-325 14-inch Deluxe Band Saw features a heavy duty cast iron work table, a 1.5 horse motor with two powerful speeds, and a heavy duty rip fence with a re-saw bar.
Your wood projects will take on new life when you get this baby set up and running. One new owner ran his own “quality test”, turning a solid block of wood into a cylinder and was amazed at just how well the Rikon 10-325 14-inch Deluxe Band Saw did the job!
The work table is a generous 16 x 21.5 inch surface, the re-saw has a 13 inch capacity, and the Rikon Deluxe Band Saw incorporated a four inch dust port to suck away all the dust kicked up when you are in a “groove” working away on your project. A dust port this size will keep things from clogging and jamming and messing up your “groove.”
An award winning piece of machinery, the Rikon 10-325 14-inch Deluxe Band Saw is specially designed to give you numerous options when cutting all types of wood or any other non-ferrous material. Quick release blade tension ensures ease when changing from one saw blade to the next.
The Rikon 10-325 14-inch Deluxe Band Saw placed inset windows in a convenient and easily seen spot to assist you with keep the blade in proper adjustment, centered correctly with the proper tension. That better helps you to keep your “groove” going, whi
pping through your project at lightening speed!
People who own the Rikon 10-325 14-inch Deluxe Band Saw give it rave reviews, and say that although it is heavy and requires two people to safely lift it, and a full day to assemble it properly, the Rikon Deluxe is the band saw of their dreams.
Why settle for a cheaper saw? The undisputed quality of the Rikon 10-325 14-inch Deluxe Band Saw tells you despite its price tag, it is money well spent. After all, if you are really into wood working, you don’t want sub-standard equipment to work with – do you?
Rikon Deluxe Band Saw – you’ve seen the rest, now get the best.
Ted’s Woodworking Plans Top Ten Gift Ideas
All throughout the year woodworkers are busy in their shops crafting new pieces, many of which are given as gifts. Ted’s Woodworking Plans is not only full of great items like furniture and cabinetry, but found amongst the many great woodworking plans available are many things to build to give your loved ones on almost any occasion.
We took a stroll through the many and varied pages of Ted’s Woodworking Plans, and came up with a list of ten items we think people would be happy to receive as gifts. Let’s have a look, shall we?
- Japanese puzzle box - For those of you who have never seen a puzzle box, this is a nifty little box the Japanese created to hide valuables. After all, it’s always better to hide things in plain sight, right? Anyone trying to open a puzzle box has to know it’s secret – which panels slide, is there a spring mechanism? If you don’t know the secret the box will not open to reveal its contents. A Japanese puzzle box would make an amazing and original gift.
- Baby cradle – A baby cradle is a thoughtful gift for anyone you know who is expecting a new baby. This is a lovely cradle which will last for generations. Note – Ted’s Woodworking Plans also has instructions for building doll cradles and baby doll beds.
- Step stool - Step stools are a necessary part of furniture, at least they are if you want to reach those high shelves. Plastic is ugly, and Ted’s Woodworking Plans offer a variety of sizes and styles to make a handsome, sturdy stool.
- Mission Style fern stand – Mission Style furniture is always quite popular due to its simplicity in design. Fits in small spaces and looks great!
- Weather Station – Okay, I’ll admit it – I am over 50 and watch the weather like a hawk for any changes. It’s hard to find indoor weather stations like these in todays digital generation. The old-fashioned look is timeless.
- Japanese bamboo fountain – Easy to construct, this simple bamboo fountain could be made on a smaller scale for inside the home.
- Garden bench – Ted’s Woodworking Plans has several garden bench designs to choose from. Your design is limited only by your imagination!
- Pergolas – “What is a pergola?” I’m so glad you asked! I had no idea myself until I was browsing through Ted’s Woodworking Plans and found out it’s a combination of an arbor and a deck. Well, that’s what it looks like to me anyway. A comfy little hideaway in the backyard!
- Porch swing – No porch? Hang it in your pergola! I don’t think I ever met anyone who doesn’t enjoy a porch swing!
- Purple Martin House – Farmers understand the advantages of having Purple Martins flying about, eating up insects as they go. These birds depend on humans for their habitats, and their houses or “condos” are very pricey in the stores. Ted’s Woodworking Plans has a simply constructed one that is almost guaranteed to have them flying over your yard.
Ted’s Woodworking Plans Top Ten Gift Ideas - what are you waiting for, download them today, you have no time to lose!
Milwaukee 6021-21 Random Orbit Palm Sander with dust collection bag
So you are finally ready to sand the beautiful hardwood floors you are refinishing or the snazzy new deck you added onto your house, and you want to know who makes the best sander? The Milwaukee 6021-21 Random Orbit Palm Sander with dust collection bag is a sweet little workhorse that will be an asset to your workshop. Milwaukee is a name you have grown to trust, and you will not be disappointed with this palm sander one little bit.
Weighing in at slightly more than three pounds, the Milwaukee 6021-21 Random Orbit Palm Sander is ergonomically designed to be comfortable in your hand until you get the job done. When you are working hard , you don’t want to get all cramped up in your hand, and this Milwaukee Palm Sander feels so comfy in your hand you won’t even notice that you missed lunch! The collection bag comes off, and you can plug the hose to your shopvac right in; twist the dust bag and pull it right off, then plug in the hose from the shopvac – so simple, and you can just keep right on working never having to worry about emptying the dust bag!
The Milwaukee 6021-21 Random Orbit Palm Sander with dust collection bag
Overheated motors mean huge trouble, but there are no worries about the motor vent spewing hot air all over you or being blocked by your hands, as the Milwaukee 6021-21 Random Orbit Palm Sander with dust collection bag is designed with use in mind. So the motor doesn’t overheat and neither do you! I highly recommend this Milwaukee sander as a necessity to your toolbox.
Grizzly G0452 6″ Jointer Review
The Grizzly G0452 6″ Jointer is an amazing piece of machinery! With a built-in dust chute, and a fence size of 5”H x 35”L, this jointer makes up to 14,400 cuts per minute. Equipped with so many adjustments as well as being easily moved around your shop, the Grizzly G0452 6″ Jointer gives you plenty of bang for your buck. Let’s take a look, shall we?
Weighing in at 270 lbs., the overall dimensions of the Grizzly G0452 6″ Jointer are as follows: the Grizzly Jointer is 46″L x 27-1/2″W x 49″H, and the table height from floor is 32 1/2″. Actual table size is 6” x 46”. The fence size is 5″H x 35″L, and made of durable cast iron, employing positive stops at 45 and 90 degrees.
The Grizzly G0452 6″ Jointer comes equipped with a 1 horsepower 100 volt single-phase motor, with a cutterhead that spins at 4800 RPM’s. Whoa! That’s fast! Cutterhead diameter is 2.5”, with depth of cut being 1/8”. This Grizzly has three knives and rabbeting capacity is 1/2”.
There is a quick adjustment lever located right on the in-feed table, and the rack and pinion adjustments are e
asily accomplished. The fine control hand wheel is, well, easy to control.
Ease of movement is a great thing if you are limited on workspace. With the Grizzly G0452 6″ Jointer’s mobile base, you just push the lever down, roll the jointer where you want it to be, and kick the lever back into place to lock it tight. When you are finished using it, just repeat the process, and viola! Right back where you keep it!
If you are working in a smaller, enclosed space, the built-in 4” dust collection hood will be a valuable asset. I don’t know about you, but I really can’t stand a workspace all saw dusty, nor do I like the stuff to land all over my other tools. This also saves huge amounts of cleanup time.
This Grizzly G0452 6″ Jointer is safety minded, and has an easy access switch with a removable safety key. AND it comes with a bonus set of safety chucks, just to make sure it isn’t going to roll away from you. It’s always better to be safe than sorry!
All things being equal, the Grizzly G0452 6″ Jointer a great jointer with the adjustment you want and the safety you need. I give this jointer 5 blades!
Black & Decker JS660 Jig Saw with Smart Select Dial
Black & Decker JS660 Jig Saw with Smart Select Dial
When it comes to hand held power tools, perhaps no one is quite as widely recognized as Black and Decker. Drills, circular saws, you name it, they’ve probably manufactured it. But this Black & Decker JS660 Jig Saw with Smart Select Dial is a great jigsaw at a lower price, still maintaining the quality you have come to expect from Black & Decker.
Weighing 5.8 pounds, the Black & Decker JS660 Jig Saw with Smart Select Dial has a 5 amp motor and seven variable speed settings. This jigsaw comes furnished with one blade, and is powerful enough to slice through Baltic Birch like butter. The Black & Decker JS660 Jig Saw with Smart Select Dial will cut through wood, metal or plastic. Straight lines or curvy ones make no difference, this jigsaw can handle whatever it is you have to dish out.
Don’t know which setting to pick for the job you are doing? With Smart Select technology that is no problem! The Black & Decker JS660 Jig Saw with Smart Select Dial has the technology on board to make the right choice for you. So you make fewer mistakes, and waste less time, money and wood.
There is on board storage for up to three extra blades and blade changes are fast, as no tools are required. The Black & Decker JS660 Jig Saw with Smart Select Dial uses both T and U shank blades, and blade speed is 800-3000 strokes per minute.
The Black & Decker JS660 Jig Saw with Smart Select Dial comes with a standard two year limited warranty, so you don’t have to worry about shelling out money for a new saw anytime soon.
Old School Woodworkers Tips and Tricks
Here’s a handful of valuable little “Old School Tips and Tricks” for you to remember in your shop…
- Rubbing a little kerosene on the blade of your handsaw will keep it from “sticking” in the wood as you work.
- Stick your screws into a bar of soap before sinking them, they will go in without much effort. To keep them from coming out, put a drop of clear fingernail polish in the hole, then tighten the screw.
- Use an old hair comb on your paintbrush to “comb” out all the loose bristles.
- To remove wood shavings from your rasp or file, cover the length with masking tape, press and pull. Viola! Clean rasp!
- Putting a piece of charcoal, some chalk or mothballs in your toolbox will keep your tools from rusting.
- Use a mixture of ashes and mayonnaise to remove water stains from furniture.
- Save the last bit of paint in a baby food jar – it won’t get hard, and you never know when you will need it for a touch-up.
- A drop of iodine on a splinter will make it easier to see. Then put a piece of duct tape across it and pull – the splinter should come off with the tape.
By the way, the splinter trick only works on those pesky little burrs that you can’t see well or get a good grip on. If you have a 1/2 inch long piece of toothpick stabbed into your finger, you might need to try the old “dig and jerk” method!
Milwaukee 360° Rotating Handle Orbital Super Sawzall Reciprocating Saw
Just for fun I thought we’d have a look at a tool which is not considered “essential” to the wood crafting shop (Is there such a thing as a non-essential tool? Really?). A Sawzall reciprocating saw is sort of like a jigsaw on steroids – larger, way more powerful, and it is a two-fisted tool (both hands must be used in its operation). The Milwaukee 360° Rotating Handle Orbital Super Sawzall Reciprocating saw is the new Sawzall on the block, and I think I just have to get one!
Sawzall reciprocating saws are fun to look at. Who wouldn’t want to use a tool that has a handle like a panel saw, with a trigger you can pull which makes something spin around 360 degrees, and it cuts stuff too?!?
The handle is capable of rotating 360 degrees, going back to the starting position is unnecessary, and the handle will lock at 45 degree increments. This Milwaukee 360° Rotating Handle Orbital Super Sawzall Reciprocating saw features a 13 amp Milwaukee built motor, counter balanced gear protection system (which means less vibration), Quik-Lok blade clamp and cord, and a variable speed trigger that cuts up to 3000 strokes per minute.
I know, you are saying to yourself “why would I ever buy this for my wood shop? Isn’t a Sawzall reciprocating saw meant to tear things apart?” Well, yes, they are. While most folks use them for demolition, and while many plumbers use them to cut pipe, reciprocating saws have a very short stroke, which means they will fit into tight places. 
However, you should never use a Sawzall anywhere on a piece that the cuts will be seen, such as the front of a piece. This saw is just unable to make fine, straight cuts. But if the purpose is to make cuts where they will be invisible, then go ahead and choose this power tool.
All in all, the Milwaukee 360° Rotating Handle Orbital Super Sawzall reciprocating saw is a fine power tool, and while you probably won’t use it often in your wood shop, it sure would be handy (and dare I say fun?) to have around. The Milwaukee 360° Rotating Handle Orbital Super Sawzall Reciprocating saw is a quality tool made by a reputable company, and is so reasonably priced, you almost want to invent a reason buy one!
Bosch PR20EVSK Colt Variable Speed Router Review
An essential power tool in any woodworking shop is a router. The Bosch PR20EVSK Colt Variable Speed Router with Edge Guide is a little router with a big motor. At 1.0 horsepower, the Bosch PR20EVSK Colt router has the highest rating for a small router. With a 5.6 amp motor under the hood, this router will spin at speeds up to 35,000 RPM’s – whoa! That’s a lot of juice!
Weighing only three pounds, the Bosch Colt router is lightweight and easy to hold on to. Measuring 15 inches in length, 13 inches wide and 8 inches high, The Bosch PR20EVSK Colt Variable Speed Router with Edge Guide features a soft rubber grip, and finger support pockets, making one-handed operation a breeze.
You will have unlimited choices for bits, as the Bosch PR20EVSK Colt router accepts standard 1/4” bits. One wrench changes the bit – on, off, done. See? Quick and easy. I like that! To adjust the depth, align the triangle and “unlocked” symbol, lower the motor and line up the triangle with the locked position. Now clamp – easy as cutting a pie! Finer adjustments are made by turning the little wheel on the back of the router base.
Bosch includes a chart in the instruction manual telling you what each setting may be used for as well as the dial position speed. I would make a copy, have it laminated, and stick it up in my woodshop for reference. But that’s just me, I like things like that where I can see them.
Widely used by people in the woodworking trade, Bosch colt routers come highly recommended by craftsmen. It gets in tight places your regular router won’t reach, and its small size makes it very portable. When the bit is under load the constant response circuitry maintains its speed, enhancing its performance.
Cutting through your power cord just as you get to a fine detail on that gorgeous piece of furniture would be a disaster. So Bosch made this router with an angled electrical cord. The angle of the cord leaving the router keeps it safely out of the way while you are working.
There are so many uses for this little router, it would take weeks to list them. Anywhere you can use a handheld router, this little horse would likely pull the load. Decorative edges are a snap , decorative inlays appear magically, round over your edges-anywhere you need it, the Bosch PR20EVSK Colt router can get the job done.