 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
Kapex makes the Kut
Festool Kapex KS 120 EB Sliding Compound Mitersaw
As with the other tools in their line, Festool’s Kapex mitersaw sets the bar
not only in terms of innovation and precision, but also in price ($1,300).
The first thing you’ll notice is that the saw saves space. Compared to other
saws that
employ rails that slide behind the base, Kapex’s dual fixed-rails allow you to
butt the saw against a wall. Multiple cut-assisting features, such as the dial-able
bevel gauge, dual-line
adjustable lasers, crown molding stops, and removable protractor/angle bisector
make it almost
impossible to miss miters. Some of the things you won’t notice are equally important.
Attached to a vacuum, the Kapex catches 91% of sawdust. This may not be a saw that you’d want to toss in the back of your pickup, but woodworkers who measure |
 |
|
 |
angles in seconds and think knife lines are meant for splitting will appreciate
the value despite the price. This saw won’t disappoint.
#561287 $1,300
Tester: Jim Nuckolls |
|
| Seal off green wood checks and cracks |
|
 |
Anchorseal
Green Wood Sealer
I prefer green wood for turning and carving because
working green is easier on my tools and me. The only
disadvantage is the cracks that appear when the wood
dries out too quickly. Anchorseal is a wax emulsion that controls cracking and
checking up to 80% (about the difference between a bowl
and a chunk of firewood). To use, I apply it to exposed end
grain as soon as soon as I shut off the saw. Besides being
easy to use, the sealer won’t alter the color of the wood or affect
the final finish. So whether |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
you’re carving, turning,
or storing freshcut lumber, Anchorseal
is cheap insurance from unwanted checks
and cracks.
#148772 quart, $10.99 #148773 gallon, $20.99
Tester: Kent Harpool |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
“Gadget” makes
sharpening drill
bits easier, cheaper
Prazi DrillGadget
I use twist drill bits for
all sorts of jobs. As luck would have it, the bit I need
is usually the dullest. Enter the Prazi DrillGadget, an
inexpensive device that sharpens twist bits fast.
 To put it to work, determine whether
your bit is
118° or 135° (the gadget helps do this), place the bit
in the holder, and align the edge on one side. Make a
pass against the abrasive. Then rotate the bit and do
the same to the opposite side. Test the bit and repeat
until you’re satisfied.
The gadget
will not fix a broken or chipped bit, and it may not
sharpen a really, really dull bit without some effort. But
for slightly-dulled bits, it works surprisingly well.
#148939 $11.99
Tester: Kent Harpool |
 |
|
 |
Syringes put just enough glue in
just the right spot
WoodRiver Disposable Glue Syringes
Most glue bottles aren’t good for detail work. I
found these syringes when making some furniture repairs, then
immediately started using them for all sorts other jobs where
glue bottles are overkill.
The syringe is easy to fill and even easier to
dispense. By
keeping the glue to a thin bead exactly where it’s needed,
squeeze-out (and later clean-up) is practically eliminated. The
syringes are easy to clean and reuse but, for the times when I forget, inexpen- |
 |
|
sive enough to
toss.
#148674 bag of 5, $5.99
Tester: Kent Harpool |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Go cryogenic: more turning, less sharpening time
Pinnacle Cryogenic Turning Tools
Pinnacle’s
Cryogenic
Turning Tools have been like “time in bottle” for me, giving me more time at
the lathe and less wasted time at the grinder.
Manufactured in Sheffield, England, exclusively for Woodcraft, these cryogenic
turning tools offer many of the characteristics of powdered metal tools but are
less expensive. The cryogenic treatment process deep-freezes the steel down to
-300°F to modify the micro-structure. Last
but not least, cryo-treated tools stay sharp two to |
 |
|
 |
three
times longer than standard high-speed steel, earning them a permanent spot in
my shop.
#149020 3-Piece Cryo Spindle
Set,
$154.97 |
|
 |
#149021 3-Piece Cryo Bowl Set,
$159.97
#149022 5-Piece Cryo Combo Set, $254.95
Tester: Tim Rinehart |
|
 |
|