We had a reader post an interesting hypothesis recently, that if you’re the type who spends more money because he appreciates the differences in high quality tools, you’re more likely to put that appreciation for quality into your woodworking projects.

Because it was in a thread titled “Grizzly 1023 vs. Delta Unisaw” I draw certain conclusions, though I’ll bypass those and try to pull out the more universal meaning of his comments

Here are his words exactly:

I usually find people’s choice in tools to be reflected in the quality of their work. People who appreciate quality produce quality. People looking for a bargain usually produce a bargain product.

There is a reason quality machinery costs what it does.

Now, he’s not saying that merely spending more money on tools will make you a better woodworker. He’s saying that an appreciation for quality tools often accompanies the production of quality work.

Further, that people who purchase lower quality tools haven’t developed the capacity to appreciate what it takes to make quality work. (I guess we’d have to set some standards for what exactly is quality work of course…

In your experience have you found this to be true? Do woodworkers who seem to have an appreciation for quality in their tools make cleaner, more tight fitting joints? Are their angles more square? Are their finishes finer?

Remember, I’m NOT asking “does spending more money make you a better woodworker…” Just whether there’s a relationship between that appreciation for quality tools and the attention to detail required to make quality work.

I think there is a grain of truth there… what do you think?

Here’s the post where we got that comment:
Grizzly 1023 vs. Delta Unisaw and Craftsman Hybrid
and, of course, I can’t help but link to Grizzly Tools - What is Your Opinion?

As usual, WoodNetters inspired me to start a learning odyssey. This time into the realm of shop lighting. A recent poll in WoodNet asked members about using light diffusers and reflectors in shop lighting and this got me researching shop lighting in general to see if I could find some consensus or at least some good arguments

Here’s the takeaways from my readings, followed by links to all the resources I found out there. I hope these help you keep you shop well lit!

The Fluorescent vs. Halogen Shop Lighting Debate:

Fluorescent vs. Halogen…I prefer fluorescent with a few low wattage incandescent to kill the flickering phenomena

Fluorescent vs. Halogen…I use almost all Halogen in my shop. It has two bulbs in each light fixture and it works well for all the lighting needs I have. It is very bright and leaves very little shadow effects due to their being two lights in each fixture.

Fluorescent vs. Halogen…Halogen lighting is brighter, granted. It also will cost more in power as well. If I recall right, about 2 1/2 times more for the same lumens. But it’s a nice bright light.

Fluorescent vs. Halogen… The new tubular halogen lights are great… far better than fluorescent shop lights.

What to Look for in Fluorescent Lights:

I personally prefer ‘color corrected’ fluorescent, with a 3500 to 4000 kelvin rating, especially in areas used for finishing. They cost a little more (big surprise) but are much closer to the lighting your work is likely to be seen under when finished. Also, unless your fluorescent fixtures have cage guards or are hung fairly high, the inexpensive clear sleeves (at HD again) are a great idea to prevent falling shattered glass in case of collision with long boards, etc.

Look into T-8 florescent lighting. It is brighter and consumes less electricity per lumen.

The above is right about the T8 lamps. They have the highest light output per watt that you can get. They also produce less heat, resulting in longer life. I would recommend lamps with a color temperature of 5000K or higher. These are closer to natural sunlight.

Inspiration for this post:
Shop lighting quick poll

Resources:
Wiring and lighting?
Shop lighting (indepth, technical discussion of lighting)
Shop Lighting (general article on workshop lighting)

Forum Lighting Threads:
Another lighting question-quick and easy.
Shop Lighting
Flouresent Shop Lighting, Watts per Square Foot

Do your woodworking projects turn out a little less (or more…) than square? It might be time for you to graduate from the table saw miter gauge that came with your machine.

A recent thread at the WoodNet forum, “Considering buying an aftermarket miter gauge,” set me off on a quest to see what other woodworkers thought about the miter gauges available today. I tallied votes and support for specific miter gauges to bring you the following list in order of popularity.

Incra won by a landslide, but most popular doesn’t mean that they’re the best for your purposes. When available I included links to detailed reviews of specific models of all the most popular miter gauges. You should read these reviews for the miter gauges you’re considering and THEN read through the forum threads to see if there are specific recommendations or restrictions for the model you’re considering.

Without further ado, here are the results!

Incra Brand Miter Gauges: 20 Votes Total
Incra 1000SE Miter Gauge: 11 votes

Incra V27 Miter Gauge: 5 votes

Incra 5000 Miter Gauge: 1 vote

Incra 3000 Miter Gauge: 1 vote

Incra Miter Gauge Reviews:
Incra V27 Miter Gauge (epinions)
Incra V27 Mitre Gauge (online tool reviews)
Incra Miter Express Review
Incra Miter5000 Sled & Miter3000 Review

Woodhaven Miter Gauge: 8 Votes Total

Osborne EB3 Miter Gauge: 6 Votes

Osborne Miter Gauge Reviews:
Osborne EB-3 Miter Gauge Review
Epinions review of the EB-3
Tom Hintz Osborne EB-3 Review
The Osborne EB-2 Miter Gauge

Kreg Precision Miter Gauge: 4 Votes

Kreg Miter Gauge Reviews:
Kreg Precision Miter Gauge by Bill Esposito
Kreg Precision Miter Gauge Review (online tool review)

The forum threads we used in this thread:
Considering buying an aftermarket miter gauge
Osborne Miter Gauge?
Best Miter Gauge?

More Table Saw Miter Gauge Resources:
Miter Set - increase the accuracy and range of your existing miter gauge.
High-end Miter Gauge Comparison
Squaring Your Miter Gauge the Right Way
Make Your Own Crosscut Sled
Aftermarket miter gauge? (from Rigid forum)

Take care of your tools and they will take care of you. Band saw tire maintenance is a must! A recent post in WoodNet offered some great advice on cleaning band saw tires. To round things out I dug around for more band saw tune up resources and pulled out the stuff just relating to the tires.

All resources below the body of the post.

GaryMc
I clean the (rubber) tires of caked-on sawdust by tilting a utility knife blade so it scrapes lightly as the wheel is turned by hand (with the blade removed).

Then wipe with a cloth dampened with [Simple Green, 409 or 3M General Purpose Adhesive Remover].

rfeeser
I scrape it with any hard edge, from the arris on a wood stick to a metal scraper. When I can get someone else to rotate the upper wheel it’s easier. An electric drill with a sanding drum does a good job of spinning the upper wheel. A delicate touch helps to ensure just the gunk is removed, not any of the tire material.

Some folks recommend a wheel brush.

Others suggest that you build your own wheel brush out of a tooth brush. Here is one method I found in BAND SAW TUNE –UP & RESAWING SECRETS:

“To install a continuous cleaning system use and old toothbrush. Cut the handle short and heat it to bend to the right shape at 90 degrees. Drill holes through the shortened handle to bolt the brush in place inside your saw on the bottom wheel of the saw.”

Resources:
How to Clean Bandsaw Tires
BAND SAW TUNE –UP & RESAWING SECRETS
Everything You Wanted to Know about the Bandsaw
Episode 13- Bandsaw Set-up/Tune-up
Bandsaw Tune Up From: Fine Woodworking
Bandsaw: Blade Drift & Resawing

Some people like boxing. I like a good power tool face off in the forums, where woodworkers start posting in ALL CAPS AT EACH OTHER in defense of their favorite brand. To me there’s a lot of good wisdom in these kinds of fist fights, er… conversations

A recent WoodNet forum post asked about the Grizzly 1023 vs. a Unisaw. More specifically the poster found a really good deal on a Delta Unisaw (considered by some to be the best of the best cabinet saws) and wondered if it it was actually 50% better than the Grizzly 1023.

Here’s a breakdown of answers to the question: Is a Delta Unisaw 50% Better than a Grizzly 1023?

NO: 10 votes

YES: 3 votes

Many people cited phenomenal customer support from Grizzly, while only lackluster support from Delta. Here’s a direct quote from an owner of a Delta X5:

“I own a Delta X5 Unisaw with 50″ Bies fence. I got a great deal on mine from Amazon otherwise I would probably have a Grizzly TS in my shop. Having used the 1023 quite a bit and owning the Delta X5 I would say that there is not a 50% price premium between the two.”

Here’s the original thread: I hate questions like this… Grizzly or Delta TS?

That Grizzly 1023 vs. Unisaw thread got me pumped so I looked around for some more and found a Grizzly 1023 vs. a Craftsman Pro (the Craftsman OR35504 hybrid). Here are the results of that debate:

Grizzly 1023SL: 7 votes

Craftsman Pro: 2 votes

Here’s the original thread: Craftsman Pro Vs Grizzly 1023 left tilt

More resources:
Does Anyone Hate Their Grizzly 1023 TS?
Grizzly 1023S Features
Grizzly 1023 (set up photos)
Grizzly Tools - What is Your Opinion?

Sometimes I have a hard time telling if woodworkers at WoodNet are joking around or not. Like when Snipe Hunter said he’s going to build a drum sander out of a treadmill:

“We (the lovely Mrs Snipe Hunter) have this real nice treadmill collecting dust with digital fpm readout. The motor is plenty strong enough. I have an old westinghouse garage door opener motor with a step down transmission. I’ll use it for the feed. The treadmill has a power height grade doohicky that I’ll use for the drum height adjustment. The bearings are big and sealed. I’ll need to find either another drum to wrap around the extra long tread or a shorter tread.”

I kinda think he’s serious…

His post opened my eyes to the world of homemade or shop made drum, belt and thickness sanders. I dug around and gathered up some build your own sander resources for you!

Here’s the WoodNet post from Snipe Hunter that got me started: I’m going to make a drum sander out of a… He hasn’t posted pictures of his treadmill sander yet so there’s no telling how well it worked

In A Simple Shop-Made Thickness Sander Doug Berch shares his simple ideas for a shop made sander. No plans here, but definitely great inspiration for anyone who’s in the “I wonder if I could do that” stage.

In Wide Thickness Sander Shop Made author Edwin Hackleman compares his shop built sander to the plans from ShopNotes he based it on. Again, I thought this was great inspiration for anyone who’s wondering if it’s possible.

Here are a few more resources I found:
Building Your Own Thickness Sander
Building A Home Made Belt Sander
Belt Sander vs a Drum (thickness) Sander

Anybody out there built their own?

Well, you can blame the guys at www.FamilyWoodworking.org for setting me off on this post. Member Doug Sinjem asked fellow woodworkers, “Looking to purchase some misc. router bits and was wondering what the majority of you guys were using. There are so many companies out there and several choices. I’m looking to purchase quality bits that will last.”

He got three pages of answers including an interesting lecture from Freud on “chip load” theory. (If that kind of stuff interests you definitely check out the thread… otherwise keep reading).

I found two other “best router bit” forum threads, one from SawmillCreek.org and one from RigidForum. I added these into the count as well to even things out. There do seem to be brand preferences skewed across the forums… check out the additions in the list below.

One quick note for those who are new to router woodworking - consider buying a large, low-quality 50+ router bit set for cheap. Figure out what you use frequently and then go buy nicer versions of these bits that cut the most wood in your shop.

This one for example… 80 bits, about $87 bucks with shipping. LOW quality, but you’ll find out quickly which bits you should invest more money in… Consider it an $87 investment in your router bit education.

Another consideration for the rank beginner who’d like to invest a bit more cash is the basic router bit set from Pat Warner. I’ve heard nothing but good stuff about him. What I like is the detailed illustrations he has for the bits he sells, which are made in California by PRC. Read through the page and see what his starter bit set can accomplish. If that meets your needs then put him on your list for consideration.

STARTER ROUTER BIT SET (from Pat Warner)

Without further ado, here are the most popular high-end router bits, followed by the most popular low-mid cost/quality range router bits. At the end you’ll find a number of resources that will help your quest for the best router bits for your shop.

High-End Router Bit Brand Favorites:
Whiteside Router Bits: 12 Votes

Freud Router Bits: 6 Votes

Eagle America Router Bits: 4 Votes

CMT Router Bits: 3 Votes

Amana Router Bits: 2 Votes

Lee Valley Router Bits: 2 Votes

Infinity Router Bits: 2 Votes

Woodtek Router Bits: 1 Vote

Mid-Low Range Router Bit Brand Favorites:
MLCS Router Bits: 5 Votes

Rockler Router Bits: 3 Votes

Woodcraft Router Bits: 3 Votes

Holbren Router Bits: 2 Votes

Woodline Router Bits: 1 Vote

Router Bit Brand Selection Resources:
Router bit brand selection (family woodworking forum)
Quality router bits (rigid forum)
Router Bit Sets (SawmillCreek)
Router Bit Comparison Chart from Fine Woodworking (pdf)

Router Bit Resources:
diamond duefold whetstone (recommended for sharpening router bits)
Straight Router Bits and Spiral Router Bits: Which are Better?
Router Bits 101
cleaning router bits
Ten Basic Router Bit Shapes

Do you own any tools that are MUST-HAVES? These are the tools that you can’t stop yourself from telling your friends and family about. These are the tools that you end up buying for your work crews because they make work that much easier.

A WoodNetter asked this question recently. In his words: “State your nomination and the reason why you consider the tool a no-contest, hands-down winner. To nominate a potential winner, you must have at least 2 years experience using the tool.”

The WoodNetters responded with some great suggestions, all of which I counted and present here to you. Note - I wrote about a similar thread in SawmillCreek recently: The 11 Top Woodworking Power Tools That Give 100% Satisfaction or Better

What are YOUR must-have tools? Post them in the comments to help other woodworkers and carpenters discover must-have tools!

1) Bosch PS20-2 Litheon 10.8-Volt Lithium-Ion Pocket Driver: 3 Votes

2) Starrett C33H-12-4R 12-Inch Combination Square: 3 Votes

3) 10″ Craftsman Radial Arm Saw: 2 Votes
(note - both guys who mentioned this saw as their #1 tool referred to older models no longer made… check your local craigslist)
C-Man RAS review
The Radial Arm Saw: Is This Tool Right for You?

4) Elu router 625: 2 Votes

5) low angle block plane: 2 Votes

6) DW621 router: 2 Votes

Safety Goggles

DeWalt DW715 12″ Compound Miter Saw

Veritas Saddle Square

(Veritas Saddle Square Review)

Bosch 1584AVSK Barrel Grip Jig Saw

Bosch 32614-2G 14v cordless drill

Irwin 6″ Bar Clamp

Makita 18 volt lithium ion drill

Incra Gauge

High quality infill smoother

Husquevarna 650 special

Source: Taking Nominations for Slam-Dunk, Power or Hand Tool Must-Haves

Great fence on a small table saw - does this exist? A woodworker went to the experts at WoodNet recently to find out. He said he’s looking for a portable table saw with a good fence… “Has anyone found one? I’m not expecting Biesemeyer quality here, but it shouldn’t be so damned hard to find one with a fence that locks tight front AND back and can actually be adjusted parallel to the miter slot or blade.”

The WoodNetters spoke up on fences. There were several who preferred either the Rigid or the DeWalt to the Bosch when it comes to the fence and accuracy. Here’s what they think:

Ridgid TS2400: 4 Votes

>>> comparison of the Ridgid TS2400 and the Bosch 4000 (Rigid wins in this man’s opinion…)

DeWalt DW744: 3 Votes

Bosch 4000: 2 Votes

(note - for easier fence adjustments one WoodNetter said “I have the Bosch too and found that if you wax the fence rails so it slides well you can tighten up the locking threshold and it will align true pretty consistently. Dry silicone lube works too, just keep it away from where the locking clamp engages.”)

Craftsman 21829: 1 Vote
Jet 708315 vs. Craftsman 21829 (SMC)

MuleCab Fence for Portable Table Saws

From the WoodNet forum thread: Looking for a portable table saw with a good fence

Also See: PM Tests Nine Portable Table Saws

For many woodworkers the router table is their second big project - second to the work bench. You can learn a great deal by making your own, plus it’s customized to your needs. 99.9% of woodworkers in forums will suggest you build your own.

This approach is great for more seasoned woodworkers who know what they need. Newbies or folks looking for a quick-fix will benefit from a pre-built table… if only to experience the limitations first hand that will inspire them to build their own.

I started out on this post because of a poster at SawmillCreek who wondered about the best router table under $250. I found a bunch of great resources for those shopping for router tables though, so those will follow the results of the SMC thread.

NOTE! The top two recommended router tables are actually over $250. Check out this search at Amazon for a wider selection of router tables, many under $250.

Bench Dog 40-031 ProMax: 3 Votes

RT-1000: 2 Votes

CMT 999.501.03 Industrio Router Table Cabinet: 1 Vote

Bosch Benchtop Router Table Model RA1181: 1 Vote

(Bosch RA1181 Benchtop Router Table Review)

Router Table Buying Resources:
Choosing and Using a Router Table (from Rockler…)
What Kind of Router Table Do You Need?
Router Table Quest
Rockler Benchtop Router Table Review
Bosch RA1171 Benchtop Router Table
Bench Top Router Table Reviews
Trend Starter Router Table Review
This Router Table is One Tough Bulldog
Router Table Reviews and Comparisons
Handy Router Accessories: Router Table Comparison

Build Your Own Router Table Resources:
ToolCrib.com’s Ultimate Guide to Free Router Table Plans
The Router Table (Pat Warner’s Discourse on Router Tables)