Archive for September, 2009

Q – “I have been having a serious problem with my drill bits constantly blowing out the back of the wood that I am drilling into. Given the position I am drilling at, I can’t put a piece of wood underneath to protect from blow out. I am wondering if there is a particular bit that will give me a smoother hole or is this something I am going to have to deal with? – Paul, PA”

Choosing the right drill bit can make all the difference in your project.

A – Hi Paul. For most wood projects that require drilling, preventing blow out is a big concern. Sometimes when drilling holes, blow out can be so bad it ruins the job entirely; no one wants that. Tools-Plus.com recommends trying out a step bit. These bits are specifically designed to offer multiple size drilling holes so a wide range of holes can come from one bit. The step bit also is used for clean drilling and deburring, which in your case may just be the solution. Good luck with your project!

Looking for a new woodworking podcast to listen to? We recommend Wood Talk Online, hosted at MattsBasementWorkshop.com.  Matt is Matt Vanderlist, who podcasts from – where else? – his basement workshop.  Matt has been at it since 2006, but he’s been a hobbyist woodworker for practically his whole life, and he’s a great resource for other woodworkers because of his real-life experience.

Check out his site for videos, podcasts and more.

Q – “I recently had my kitchen remodeled, but I decided I want to build a serving cart using the leftover laminate from the job that the contractor gave to me. I know I have to cut down the laminate to size, but I am wondering what type of blade I need to use on my table saw? Can I use the same blade to cut laminate as I cut shingles when I do roofing jobs? – Nick, MN”

A – Hey Nick. Unfortunately, you are going to need a blade specifically made for laminate cutting, or else you will rip right through the laminate. Most laminate jobs need to have an extremely clean cut, especially since any imperfection in the edge will be noticeable once it is installed. For the best results when cutting laminate, an 80 tooth Triple-Chip Grind (TCG) blade is recommended. With this type of blade, if cut correctly, you can be sure that your laminate will come out smooth every time. Good luck!

DeWalt D24000 Heavy-Duty 10" Wet Tile Saw

Tools of the Trade Magazine ranked 10″ Tile Saws in their Summer 2009 Issue. Out of seven of the top 10″ Tile Saws the DeWalt D24000 was chosen as the best. Features that help the DeWalt D24000 stand out from the competition are performance, rail design, water management and its ease of portability.

With its powerful 1.5 HP motor this unit has the performance and power to cut even the hardest of materials that you need such as porcelain and stone.

The Cantilevering Rail/Cart system allows for 24″ ripping capacity – 18″ tile on diagonal. By integrating the Stainless steel rail system into the tile saw frame DeWalt has insured accurate cuts.

DeWalt D24000 Heavy-Duty 10" Wet Tile Saw

Tools of the Trade Magazine was very impressed with the water management on the DeWalt D24000 Heavy-Duty 10″ Wet Tile Saw saying “One of the tool’s best features is the dual water nozzle that lets you direct the flow of water exactly where you need it.” Also they pointed out the exclusive tray system which moves with the cart eliminating unnecessary dripping or spills.

At only 69 pounds this saw is easy for one man to move around and setup. Tools of the Trade points out that “The saw motor-and-rail assembly sits inside the pan, so it’s easy to assemble. Convenient tray and cart-extension storage within the pan and the lightest weight make this the easiest saw to transport.”

So if you are looking for the best tile saw for your money the DeWalt D24000 has you covered thanks to its performance, features, and portability.

Click here to be taken to the full article.

Q: “I’m a do-it-yourselfer and I’m looking to completely remodel my kitchen. What’s the best way to dispose of the trash and old appliances? Is there anything special I need to know? Thanks. – Tim, CT”

A: Remodeling your kitchen is a huge project, especially on the DIY scale. When you decide to remodel the room completely, there are a few things you need to keep in mind in terms of disposing of your trash, appliances, and other materials. You want to be sure that you’re not harming the environment while you complete your job. Plus, chances are that your normal trash pickup can’t handle the waste.

The most common method of trash disposal on a project is renting a dumpster. This can be a great way to take care of all of your disposal needs – as long as you work with a rental company that can legally and effectively take care of all of your trash. If you plan on tossing appliances, talk to the dumpster rental company before hand to find out their policy.

If you think you need something a bit more fast and efficient, you can also hire a trash hauling company who can come clean up on a need-be basis. This can be expensive, but it’s great when you live in a narrow lot, apartment, or close together neighborhood.

Finally, if you’re tossing appliances, consider recycling them properly first. Contact a local appliance repair shop to discuss the proper disposal methods in your area. Usually, the shop can set you up with a pick-up or with a recycling center that can handle your appliance.

The Drummond-Revere Home “Restovation” blog is the brainchild of Jerad Foster, a “third generation home builder” and furniture designer in the Kansas City area.

The home takes its name from its architect – Don Drummond.  No, not the trombone player, although he’s pretty cool, too.  Drummond was one of the pioneers of modern home architecture in the American midwest.

Not just a regular remodel, the Drummond-Revere home is also a historical renovation, which adds its own layers of complexity and complication to the already unpredictable business of doing a renovation.

In addition to updates on the house, Jerad also shares tidbits from his personal life (like his search for a classic Eames lounger) and his business.

Jerad’s blog is an engaging read and showcases a really awesome modern home.  It’s definitely worth a look.

“Remodel an Entire House. Stay Sane. Remember To Have A Life.”

If you’ve ever done an extensive home renovation, you know that’s a tough checklist to maintain.  That’s the balancing act that Liz, the blog mastermind behind A Constructed Life, manages to pull off (mostly) gracefully in the pages of her website.  And she also has a pregnancy (recently supplanted by baby girl Addy) to add into the mix as well.

Liz and her husband Joey have been remodeling each room of their house and writing about the results.  From an extensive kitchen reno to the construction of a porch attached to their second-story master bedroom, they break each part of it down in detail.  With all of the home renovation shows out there scrambling to show you rooms or houses completely transformed over just a few days, it’s refreshing to see the shape and timeline of a real home remodel, down to the vital decision to call in a contractor when you realize you can’t do it 100% right on your own (one of the most difficult renovating skills to master).  Full of great before and after photos, A Constructed Life is definitely a site to check out if you’re planning any remodeling in your future.

Oftentimes when working on a project, we are required to move around a lot. However, because we can only go as far as our power cords take us, sometimes working on a project can become difficult and more often than not, frustrating. Not only do power cords hinder our mobility, but they can also be seen as a safety hazard. How many times have you gotten tangled or tripped over a power cord?

To sum it all up, power cords are not our friend. Tired of tripping and being kept on a leash? Then it’s time to go cordless.

Many years ago cordless power tools were rarely seen on the market. In fact, if they were being sold, they were premium priced. Power cords may have been giving us difficulty in reaching our projects, but the premium prices were making it difficult to purchase the cordless tools.

However, that was the past and this is the future. Cordless power tools have come a long way. From drills to jigsaws to band saws, you can now for a reasonable price get practically any tool without a cord. Frustrations with short cords or tangled extension cords can be forgotten with the many different cordless power tools found at Tools-Plus.com.

Stop stressing already. Go cordless!

What / Where is the Counter Weight on my Porter-Cable Polisher?

The Counter Weight is the small half circle ingot of metal that can be found attached to the shaft of your polisher when you remove the polishing or backing pad.

What is the Counter Weight for?

When your Porter-Cable 7424XP or 7424 Random Orbit Polisher is on the motion of the pad applies force to the tool that would make it wobble. The Counter Weight balances out this wobble ensuring smoother operation of your tool and better results.

Why would I need more than one Counter Weight?

The differences in weight between pads that you can use with the Porter-Cable 7424XP & 7424 Random Orbit Polishers make it so that to keep optimum balance various counter weights are needed for the various pad sizes.

What Counter Weights are there for my Porter-Cable Polisher?

There are two Counter Weights for the 7424XP and 7424 Polishers.

The 5″ Pad Counter Weight, part #874011 comes with your polisher and is made to be used with pads that weigh between 95 and 105 grams.

The 6″ Pad Counter Weight, part #699933 is made to be used with pads that weigh between 125 and 135 grams.

Why does my polisher which comes with a 6″ pad have a weight made for 5″ pads?

The Porter Cable 54745 6″ Polishing Pad which comes with your polisher is light enough that even though it is a 6″ pad the 5″ Pad Counter Weight is enough to balance it out.

How do I change Counter Weights?

First remove the pad you have on your Polisher. Then using either a flat head screwdriver or a T15 Torx key or bit remove both of the screws holding the Counter Weight in place (make sure to not loose the screws). The Counter Weight should now come off of your polisher and then you will screw the new weight in to place.

Can I use a 699933 6″ Pad Counter Weight with the Porter Cable 54745 6″ Polishing Pad?

If you have the 6″ Pad Counter Weight on your polisher it will work with the Porter-Cable 54745 6″ Polishing Pad.

Whenever you invest in a heavy piece of equipment or even a small hand tool, it is recommended for safety and quality purposes that you perform routine maintenance before and after every use. Not only will this keep your equipment clean and in working condition, but it will also keep you safe. Here are a few maintenance tips that you should use to ensure your equipment is up to par:

1 – Check for dull, broken or bent blades on your different saws. Starting a job with a less than perfect blade may not produce the results you intended for, which can botch a whole job and cost you lots more time and money in the long run. Blades that are not in the right condition can also lead to injury if they break while using your saw or if you force a dull blade. Make sure you are routinely changing/sharpening blades to stay safe.

2 – Clean any dust away from all of your machines. It is inevitable working in a wood shop that you will have wood dust on all of your equipment. When using your machines, make sure all wood dust is cleared off the piece of equipment that you are working with. This prevents any kick back of dust when you power up the machine, which can potentially damage your eyes. This will also make sure that your equipment does not get clogged up with dust, which can cause it to malfunction. A dust collector is recommended on all of your heavy equipment to keep the dust out of the air and your machines.

3 – Oil your tools as much as possible. Check to see if all moving parts are working correctly and in good order. Once you are done cleaning out all the dust and debris, put a few drops of oil in all the gears and moving parts. Some equipment has specific parts that need consistent lubrication to keep it running well.

4 – Examine power cords and check batteries to make sure nothing is leaking or damaged before using.

By performing these simple tips you will be kept safer and your equipment will last longer. Trust us – we’re the tool experts.