Popular Woodworking 2004-12 № 145, страница 29
Veritas Shoulder Plane It's time to get acquainted with the big brother of the first Veritas shoulder plane, which was introduced in 2003. This new version is wider (11/4"), heavier (33/4 pounds) and has two adjustable wooden knobs for different grips. I prefer wider shoulder planes more than narrower ones because the extra mass helps in a cross-grain cut. Plus the width allows you to accurately plane tenon cheeks - as well as shoulders. If you build furniture (as opposed to smaller-scale boxes), then this is the right tool for your workshop. Other nice features include four set-screws on the body that allow you to tweak the iron into perfect position. And the front knob can be moved to one of three positions (or removed). The tool we tested had zero defects. The sole was perfect. And the sides were ground perfectly square according to our thinnest feeler gauge. The plane is an excellent value at $169. — Christopher Schwarz For more information, circle #173 on Free Information Card. SPECIFICATIONS Veritas Large Shoulder Plane Street price: $169 Sole dimensions: 1V4" x 83/i6" Iron: A2 steel Body: Unbreakable ductile iron Adjuster: Norris-style Performance: ••••O Price range: $$$$ Lee Valley Tools: 800-871-8158 or leevalley.com Rough To Ready Video Learning to take a rough piece of lumber to a perfectly finished state is more than an academic exercise. The basic hand skills necessary for this task will make you a more accurate and meticulous woodworker, too. Plus you'll be able to do things that your power tools cannot, such as surfacing lumber that is too wide for your jointer or thickness planer. The best way to learn these skills is to have someone show you. And Rob Cosman's video "Rough to Ready" is a complete education. Cosman shows how to simply use a scrub, jointer and smoothing plane to true up a single mahogany board. The video is loaded with tricks (some that I've never seen before) on how to easily get the lumber flat, and how to use even the tools themselves as measuring devices. Video is the ideal medium for teaching these skills because you can easily show body motion, and the sound your tools make is critical feedback. Cosman is an excellent craftsman and teacher, and this video belongs in the library of every hand-tool enthusiast. — CS For more information, circle #174 on Free Information Card. SPECIFICATIONS 'Rough to Ready' Video Street price: $20 Format: DVD and VHS Length: 47 minutes Performance: ••••O Price range: $ Lie-Nielsen: 800-327-2520 or lie-nielsen.com TTI MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC BOUGHT BY TTI. WHO? Consolidation is the buzz word in the tool industry these days, with many well-known tool brands being gathered under larger corporate umbrellas. You might have heard that Milwaukee Electric was purchased by Techtronic Industries (TTI) for $626.6 million. This sale comes right on the heels of the sale of Delta and Porter-Cable to Black & Decker. You almost certainly know who Black & Decker is, but you may not know about TTI. TTI was founded in 1985 and is a manufacturer and supplier of home-improvement and floor-care products, employing more than 16,000 people worldwide (1,800 in North America). You've probably been using products from TTI for years without knowing it. The TTI brand portfolio includes Ryobi, Home-lite, Royal and Dirt Devil. TTI makes power tools for Ridgid and also works with Craftsman, Zircon, Toro, Bissel, Hoover, Fein, Senco, Bosch and Husky. In August, TTI reported a net profit of $38 million for the first six months of 2004, posting 41.8 percent growth compared to the previous year. As the face of the tool companies that provide your tools continues to change it may not be your primary worry of who owns who. But it's good to know you may be comparing two brands from the same owner or manufacturer. — DT ABOUT OUR TOOL RATINGS Performance is rated on a one-to-five scale. You won't see a low rating ("one or two") because we don't publicize inferior tools. "Five" indicates the leader in the category. Five dollar signs indicates highest price in the category. Three indicates an average price. If you have tool questions, call me at 513-5312690 ext. 1255, or e-mail me at david.thiel@fwpubs.com. Or visit our web site at popwood.com to sign up for our free e-mail newsletter. —David Thiel, senior editor popwood.com 101 |
