Popular Woodworking 2000-12 № 119, страница 58
Endurance Test Nice Features: Cuts clean; comfortable grip.The blade can be steered in the cut. Recommended Modifications: Make a fine toothed version of the larger saws. Vaughan 815-648-2446 Vaughan Bear Saws When we got a couple of Bear saws from Vaughan to test about two years ago, I thought they would be just run-of-the-mill tools and wear out in a couple months. I was pleasantly surprised to find the blades to be quite stout — about twice the thickness of comparable entry-level saws. The downside to this extra thickness is that the kerf is a little wide for a Japanese-style saw, which makes it a little hard to start a cut. Once you start, though, the saw cuts true and clean. The wide kerf allows the saw to "turn" during your cut to get back to a marked line. Amazingly, the replaceable blades have actually stayed sharp to this day. Other nice features include a cushy rubber grip, which is a nice feature for sweaty hands. Also, you usually have to drill a hole in a traditional Japanese saw to hang it. Vaughan has done this for you on the Bear. My one gripe is that there isn't a fine-toothed blade available for the Ryoba or larger Dozuki saws. With a Ryoba (double edged), a Dozuki (single edged) saw in your toolbox, you should be able to handle any hand-cutting task. —Jim Stuard Veritas Wheel Marking Gauge If you cut mortises by hand, you need a stout chisel, a comfortable mallet and this handy little tool, the Veritas Wheel Marking Gauge. Like most woodworkers, I learned to lay out my mortises and tenons with a wooden marking gauge that had a fixed pin. I also learned to constantly fight the chattering pin and its tendency to follow the wood's grain. The Wheel Marking Gauge is different because it slices the grain instead of tearing at it. As a result, your lines are always parallel to your edge, and the marks are always sharp. The tool does take a little getting used to. You quickly find that pulling the tool in one direction will cause the screw that holds the circular blade to loosen (it's a simple thing to retighten it). And I wish that the post had measurements to help get you in the ballpark when setting up the tool. But for less than $20, I think you'll find this tool to be remarkably well-made and constantly in your hand as you lay out your joints. —Christopher Schwarz Nice Features: Cuts perfect layout lines for joints. It's a well-made tool that's easy to use. Recommended Modifications: We wish the post were marked in inches. Lee Valley Tools 800-871-8158. Item # 05N33.01, $18.95. Nice Features: Amazing turning ability, low-tension performance and clean cut. Recommended Modifications: A little lower price would by nice. PS Wood 800-939-4414, www.pswood.com Timber Wolf Bandsaw Blades When we saw these blades demonstrated over three years ago we knew we had to test them, and they knocked our socks off. To this day we continue to choose Gschwind Timber Wolf blades for our band saws. The silicon carbon steel provides a clean, straight cut that allows amazing flexibility for tight radius and scroll work. Even under low tension the blades cut true and with excellent quality. The blades hold an edge for longer life and don't heat up after extensive use, extending the life of the blade and avoiding wood and hand burns. Prices are around double the cost of a traditional band saw blade ($25 per blade), but the performance provided keeps us going back for more. Timber Wolf blades are distributed by PS Wood Machines and are available at many woodworking supply locations. Check the company's web site to find a distributor near you, or shop direct from PS Wood. —David Thiel ABOUT OUR ENDURANCE TESTS It's nice to know how a new tool performs, but most woodworkers also want to know how long the tool will last. Each issue we tell you about a tool that has stood up to regular use in our shop for at least one year.We tell you how the tool has fared, any recommendations we have and if the tool has passed the PopularWoodworking Endurance Test. —David Thiel, senior editor 78 Popular Woodworking December 1000 |
