Popular Woodworking 2003-12 № 138, страница 90
Norton 3X Sandpaper Norton's 3X Sandpaper is so-named because Norton says it sands three times faster and lasts three times longer than other sandpapers. We can't say if it's three times better, but the 3X paper definitely is a gigantic improvement. The fiber-reinforced backing feels more like cloth than paper. It is resistant to cracking and tearing, which makes the paper last longer and allows you to form it to get into mouldings. Of course, longer paper life isn't important without longer cutting ability. The P-graded abrasive grain (avail able in nine grits from #60 to #400) retains its edge a lot longer than conventional abrasives, and the stearate coating keeps the paper from clogging, improving the use-time per sheet. Costing about $15 for 20 sheets, it's competitively priced. We've switched to 3X in the Popular Woodworking shop. We've also heard from the folks at Norton that 5" hook-and-loop discs for random-orbit sanders (using the same 3X technology) are just around the corner, so we'll be watching for that. — DT Contact Norton Abrasives at 800-551-4415 or nortonabrasives.com Penn State Industries Clamp-n-Spread Clamps Every woodworker knows you can never have enough clamps, but being able to afford them all can be a challenge. These clamps help with that. They're a popular one-handed design, and the price makes us very excited. One-handed clamps aren't for panel glue-ups or case construction, but when you need to clamp a jig to your bench or temporarily hold some pieces in place, a one-handed clamp is a joy. Simply squeeze the handle and the lower jaw moves rapidly toward the other jaw for a speedy grip on your work. These clamps also function as spreaders by relocating the fixed head. Pressing a simple button releases the clamping jaw. So what do you give up if you buy these clamps? Very little it seems. We found them a bit harder to release than premium clamps, but it's something you quickly get used to. With the 12" clamps at $9.95 and the 24" versions at $13.95, these are half the price of the competition. Everyone should have at least four on their bench. — DT Contact Penn State Industries at 800-377-7297 or pennstateind.com Veritas Scraping Plane Scraping planes, such as the vintage Stanley No. 112, are notoriously difficult to adjust. When you get them working, they're fantastic - but it's always a monumental struggle. This new Veritas plane ($129) is the most versatile and easy-to-use scraping plane we've encountered thanks to one small brass knob. Why no one thought about adding this knob before is beyond us. The knob is a simple thumbscrew behind the plane's blade that allows you to bend the blade slightly - just like the thumbscrew does on a No. 80 cabinet scraper. This slight bow gives you control over how the blade is set. It also positions the blade to take a "scooping" cut out of your work. The shaving is thickest in its middle and trails out to nothing at its edges. This allows you to scrape large surfaces without leaving "plane tracks," which is where the edges of the cutter dig into the work. Scraping a surface is markedly superior to sanding it. The wood is sheared instead of abraded and there is no dust packed into the pores. The wood just looks better in the end. Normally I don't recommend these full-size scraping planes for beginners. But this Veritas version is so simple to set up and use (and it's quite comfortable, too) that virtually any woodworker can make wispy shavings in short order. — CS Contact Lee Valley Tools at 800-871-8158 or leevalley.com popwood.com 109 |
