In our series on woodworking measuring and marking tools, we covered many ways of measuring. This time, we want to focus on how to use precision measuring tools like calipers and feeler gauges to get our accuracy down to 0.001” or greater. When I took cabinetmaking in college, we built a wooden toolbox. We dropped […]
Let’s go ahead and get this out of the way. The term Speed Square was invented by the first manufacturer of them, Swanson Tool Company (link). Though they dislike it when people use the term generically, it’s too late. The name stuck, rather like Kleenex or Sawzall. Technically they are called rafter squares or some […]
Find the measuring & marking tools you want, for the price you need When you have an idea in your head, drawn on plans/blueprints, or you are just winging it, you need to transfer that to your materials. You can get a lot done with just a tape measure, pencil, and square. To want to […]
Can the world’s first cordless 1/2″ router really compete with corded models? Cordless trim routers have taken over much of the router market in the past few years. For many of us, we still need routers with the power to handle large 1/2″ bits. There was bound to be a race to see who could […]
Ridgid Upgrades their 18V, 18 Gauge Brad Nailer When I fired up my air compressor to test my old 18 gauge brad nailer against the new Ridgid 18V brad nailer, I had hoped it was the last time I ever had to hear the noise of the compressor again. My dog was hoping the same […]
The Fastcap Miter Saw Dust Hood is one of the products that—as soon as you see it—you realize, “I need that!” My studio is in the living room of my house. Therefore, I’m constantly battling to contain sawdust. No other tool I own creates more sawdust than my miter saw. The Fastcap Miter Saw Sawdust […]
Back when in high school, I took two classes that changed my life. The first was an art class, and that lead me to a career in the art field. The second was a drafting class. Little did I know the drafting class would be just as important. Many drafting classes later, I credit that […]
Beyond using a dust collector or shop vac, you can control the dust in the air by building a DIY shop air filter. These work very much like the ones found in your AC furnace. I built my own air filter using a large 14” squirrel cage furnace fan I got used from a house […]
I live alone, so this means I do what I want in my house without having to get spousal approval. When I bought my house, I wanted my living room to be my woodworking studio. My studio/living room is the size of a one-car garage- 10.5’ x 23.5’ with 10’ ceilings throughout my house. Dust […]
We get asked about woodworking measuring & marking tips and tricks all the time. If there is any single tool that anyone who works with their hands uses on a day-to-day basis, it is the venerable tape measure. At Pro Tool Reviews we believe in giving new apprentices, carpenters, woodworkers, or metalworkers the skills they […]
