| ShortCuts© |
January 6, 2012 |
Column 742
This week's column: #776 |
Previous Columns |
| April 26, 2013 #775 |
| April 5, 2013 #774 |
| March 28,2013 #773 |
| March 9, 2013 #772 |
| February 22, 2013 #771 |
| February 8, 2013 #770 |
| January 25, 2013 #769 |
| January 11, 2013 #768 |
| December 21, 2012 #767 |
| December 7, 2012 #766 |
| November 23, 2012 #765 |
| November 9, 2012 #764 |
| October 26, 2012 #762 |
| October 12, 2012 #761 |
| September 28, 2012 #760 |
| September 13, 2012 #759 |
| August 31, 2012 #758 |
| August 10, 2012 #757 |
| July 20, 2012 #756 |
| July 6, 2012 #755 |
| June 22, 2012 #754 |
| June 8, 2012 #753 |
| May 25, 2012 #752 |
| May 11, 2012 #751 |
| April 28, 2012 #750 |
| April 14, 2012 #749 |
| March 30, 2012 #748 |
| March 16, 2012 #747 |
| March 2, 2012 #746 |
| February 17, 2012 #745 |
| February 3, 2012 #744 |
| January 20, 2012 #743 |
| January 6, 2012 #742 |
| December 23, 2011 #741 |
| December 9, 2011 #740 |
| November 25, 2011 #739 |
| November 11, 2011 #738 |
| October 28, 2011 #737 |
| October 14, 2011 #736 |
| September 30, 2011 #735 |
| September 16, 2011 #734 |
| August 12, 2011 #733 |
| July 29, 2011 #732 |
| July 15, 2011 #731 |
| July 1, 2011 #730 |
| June 17, 2011 #729 |
| June 3, 2011 #728 |
| May 20, 2011 #727 |
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 THE YEAR IN REVIEW
2011 saw some new and innovative tools to make our woodworking a little easier and more accurate. Below are the 57 tools and accessories that we tested last year. If you want to see the full test results simply go to ShortCuts and scroll down to the appropriate column number.
BESSEY |
K Body REVO JR |
731
|
Jul-15
|
|
BESSEY |
Erdi Multi-use Snips |
728
|
Jun-03
|
|
BLACK & Decker |
Outdoor Cordless Tools |
725
|
Apr-23
|
|
BOSCH |
DNM60L Digital Level |
739
|
Nov-25
|
|
BOSCH |
ROS65VC Random Orbit Sander |
738
|
Nov-11
|
|
BOSCH |
GTS731 Jobsite Tablesaw |
737
|
Oct-28
|
|
BOSCH |
GTA500 Tablesaw Stand |
737
|
Oct-28
|
|
BOSCH |
L-Boxx 1,2,3&4 |
730
|
Jul-01
|
|
BOSCH |
Power Boss Jobsite Stereo |
727
|
May-20
|
|
BOSCH |
GMS120 Wall Scanner |
726
|
May-06
|
|
BOSTITCH |
RN461 Coil Roofing Nailer |
722
|
Mar-11
|
|
BOSTITCH |
Cap2000 Compressor & Brad Nailer Kit |
721
|
Feb-25
|
|
COAST |
HP7 LED Flaslight |
738
|
Nov-11
|
|
COAST |
HL7 LED Headlamp |
738
|
Nov-11
|
|
DELTA |
13" Thickness Planer |
718
|
Jan-14
|
|
DEWALT |
Saw Blades & Access |
735
|
Sep-30
|
|
DEWALT |
20v Max Li-ion Cordless Tools |
733
|
Aug-12
|
|
DEWALT |
Compound Miter Stands |
729
|
Jun-17
|
|
DEWALT |
24000S Wet Saw &Stand |
724
|
Apr-09
|
|
DEWALT |
DWC860 Portable Wet Saw |
723
|
Mar-25
|
|
DEWALT |
DWP611 Fixed/Plunge Router Kit |
720
|
Feb-11
|
|
DREMEL |
Trio Saw |
719
|
Jan-28
|
|
EARLEX |
HV5000 HVLP Paint Sprayer |
719
|
Jan-28
|
|
GOSS |
Job-Pro Gas Powered Pressure Washer |
726
|
May-06
|
|
GOSS |
1900 PSI Pressure Washer |
725
|
Apr-23
|
|
IRWIN |
Fixed Blade Drywall Knife |
734
|
Sep-16
|
|
IRWIN |
Snap-off Drywall Blades |
734
|
Sep-16
|
|
IRWIN |
Universal Hand Saw |
718
|
Jan-14
|
|
KERRY-ALL |
Keep Dry Truck Pouches |
736
|
Oct-14
|
|
LENOX |
Self Feed Carbide Drill Bits |
738
|
Nov-11
|
|
LENOX |
Speed Slot Hole Saw |
733
|
Aug-12
|
|
LENOX |
Tight Spaces Tubing Cutters |
728
|
Jun-03
|
|
LENOX |
T2 Bi-Metal Demo Recip Saw Blades |
721
|
Feb-25
|
|
LUMBER LOK |
Lumber support |
718
|
Jan-14
|
|
LUMBER LOK |
Plate Vise for pipes |
718
|
Jan-14
|
|
MILWAUKEE |
2411-20 12V Li-ion Hammer Drill |
718
|
Jan-14
|
|
One-Way |
Wolverine Grinding Jig |
719
|
Jan-28
|
|
PORTER-CABLE |
PC250MT Multi-Tool |
738
|
Nov-11
|
|
PORTER-CABLE |
PC60TAG 4 1/2" Angle Grinder |
734
|
Sep-16
|
|
PORTER-CABLE |
PC60THPK Hand Planer |
732
|
Jul-29
|
|
PORTER-CABLE |
560 Pocket Hole Jig |
720
|
Feb-11
|
|
PORTER-CABLE |
Cordless Clamp Saw |
719
|
Jan-28
|
|
PORTER-CABLE |
Pinner PIN138 |
719
|
Jan-28
|
|
RIDGID |
18v Cordless 18ga Nailer |
723
|
Mar-25
|
|
SCHLAGE |
Keypad Keyless Entry Lock |
721
|
Feb-25
|
|
SKIL |
3.6v Power Cutter |
731
|
Jul-15
|
|
SKIL |
Multi-Tasker |
730
|
Jul-01
|
|
SKIL |
11200 2 1/4hp Router Kit |
724
|
Apr-09
|
|
STANLEY |
16-793 Sweetheart Socket Chisels |
739
|
Nov-25
|
|
STANLEY |
Sweetheart Bench Planes |
739
|
Nov-25
|
|
STANLEY |
Fat Max Extreme MIG15 Hammer |
721
|
Feb-25
|
|
SWANSON |
7" Speed Bevel |
729
|
Jun-17
|
|
SWANSON |
Savage Lightning Torpedo Level |
729
|
Jun-17
|
|
WEISER |
Smart Code Keyless Entry Lock |
721
|
Feb-25
|
|
|
|
|
|
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THE FIREPLACE REMODELING Continued….
When we left you in 2011 Gwen and I thought that we would be able to do the job ourselves but very quickly learned that it was beyond our skill level (no pun intended). We had been given some inaccurate advice from one of the big box stores regarding the laying of new tiles on top of old as in the hearth treatment.
Leave it to a Professional
We were able to find a professional that came highly recommended and he assessed the work to be done. It seems that what we had done up to this point was perfect with one exception. The horizontal area of the hearth required a skim coat of cement as a primer before we could lay new tiles on it. A price and time line was agreed upon and Rob started the work. This also meant that we would get refunds for the equipment which would equal about half of Rod’s quote.
Now We Start
 Just to backtrack a little, when I installed the cement board I used a larger concrete drill bit as a countersink to keep the screw heads just below the surface and this worked well.
 The center of the hearth was found and that is the very important starting point for a professional tiling job. The cement was applied with a ½” x ⅜” notched trowel as recommended by the manufacturer of the cement. The 12x12 tiles were dry cut with a tile cutter and due to a slight sag in the floor, each had to be measured individually. The end tiles had to have an edge ground to a 45° angle to make a perfect fit.
The horizontal portion of the hearth could have been tiled in a number of ways! We decided to split the distance from the front to the back in half. This meant cutting every tile but the finished look would be better balanced. The aluminum edge trim was mudded in place and the cement was spread for the front half of the tiles. They were cut and laid with some difficult cuts on the end tiles due to the angle of the hearth ends.
 Let it Set
This took about six hours to complete including the cement mixing to the right consistency, a little like peanut butter. It was now time to let the tiles set overnight.
 Now it’s the next day and time to install the cultured or artificial stone and after some high school math, it was determined that the first course would be a half-height row. The full tile consists of four rows of stone that measures six inches in height and by starting with a half row it would take us perfectly up to the top of the firebox. Rob used a small angle grinder with a diamond blade and, it’s a real dusty job. The outside deck was the place for doing this work.
The nice thing about the cultured stone is that there is no grouting involved. The pieces fit tightly together in most cases but some finagling was involved and some pieces that needed major surgery.
We are done for today and all that is left to do is the grouting and of course the building of a new mantle. We’ll have all of that in our next issue, stay tuned.
 Product Recalls
The CPSC and Health Canada have advised that the following products have been recalled.
 1. Target Recalls LED Flashlight Sets Due to Fire and Burn Hazards, http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12080.html
2. Name of Product: Navien Instantaneous or Tankless Water Heaters.
To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including a picture of the recalled product, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12074.html
OUR SOMETIMES REGULAR BOOK REVIEW
We have two books for you this week. The first is an illustrated book for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts in the US. The Pinewood Derby is loads of fun and is an annual event for the Scouts.
Our second entry is an appropriate piece for this time of year when the birds are hungry and possibly seeking shelter. It’s a fun book with great ideas.
 Getting Started in Pinewood Derby
Troy Thorne
Fox Chapel Publishing
96 Pages
In May of 1953 Cub Scout Master Don Murphy came up with the idea of a Pinewood derby and this has become an annual event. Specific rules have been laid out and Pinewood Derby races are held throughout the US.
Troy Thorne wrote this step-by-step workbook as a guide to building your first race car and the book has been illustrated by Jason Deller. There are a dozen classic design patterns to work with and the book is rife with racing tips to help your car take the checkered flag. Great fun!
Wild & Wacky Birdhouses and Feeders
Paul Meisel
Fox Chapel Publishing
152 Pages
Winter is the time to stay in the warmth of your woodshop and is also the time that wild birds need your help. Paul Meisel has developed 18 crazy designs and plans to add both a little humor to your backyard and nourishment to the wild birds and even the squirrels.
I particularly liked the upside down suet feeder, a great idea as a selective feeder. The window view birdhouse allows you to sneak a peek at the goings on inside a birdhouse. Check out the Beaver and Tree Frog birdhouses, real fun stuff. The Football Helmet Feeder, the Bluebird and the Cardinal Feeders are bound to attract as well. Easy to follow instructions and templates are included.
The Eye Level ILevel
In our last issue of ShortCuts we hinted at the use of the new tool from Skil called the iLevel Cross-Line Level. Well let me tell you, this little 2 ½” cube came in real handy in the remodeling of our fireplace. The iLevel is a Laser Level that has some unique and innovative features. The Skil iLevel has a neat sliding front door that when opened releases the gimbals lock and lets the laser float free to maintain a bright projected cross level line. Closing the door turns off the laser and locks the gimbals. The iLevel is powered by two AA Batteries (included) and the Cube has a threaded socket that fits most tripods. But, the iLevel comes with its own universal clamp that will support the laser from a chair back, ladder or almost anything you can think of. In addition, the Skil iLevel projects up to 60° horizontally and vertically up to 15 feet. There is a red LED Light that tells the user when it is out of level or plumb. Skil gets our  rating for this one.
Dremel Just Keeps Doing It
From a high speed Motor Tool 100+ years ago through many new innovations; Dremel is not just keeping up. They are in many cases leading the pack. Dremel’s latest tool is the Saw Max and it arrived in my shop not a moment too soon. The new Dremel Saw Max will cut just about anything including ceramic tiles and artificial stone.
Kit Form
Like all Dremel tools, the Saw Max comes in a kit as Model SM20-02 and includes the SM20 tool, a 2x4 cutting guide, a dust port adapter, a multi-purpose carbide wheel, a metal cut-off wheel, a tile diamond wheel and a flush cut diamond wheel. Everything you need is included in the kit.
The Saw Max runs at 17,000 RPM’s and has a very simple but very accurate depth adjustment to make cuts up to ¾” in depth. I particularly liked the notched guide that allows you to follow a line for straight cuts. The dust port adapter allows for almost dust free cutting of tiles and concrete.
We used the Saw Max for many of our fireplace cuts and it proved to be a worthwhile tool for the job. I also liked the flush cut blade for getting into tight spots. This is certainly the tool to use for metal cutting as well. I’ll be giving this Dremel addition a real workout in the weeks and months ahead.
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