Popular Woodworking 2004-12 № 145, страница 57
AURIOU Rasps Tools for Working Wood 800-426-4613 or toolsforworkingwood.com It's not really fair to label the Auriou rasps as a "new" tool. After all, these rasps have been handmade in France one at a time since 1856. But they are new to the United States for 2004. Simply put, these rasps will change your thinking about both what a rasp is capable of and how well it can do the task. Auriou (pronounced "Are-you") rasps cut sweetly thanks to the hand-stitched teeth of the tool, which are arranged randomly on the steel stock. The tools are available in a wide variety of "grains" (which is a measure ofhow coarse or fine the tool is), from rasps that will shape stone all the way up to the finest cut you can imagine from a rasp. Most woodworkers stick with rasps on the finer side, from 10 grain to 15 grain. Another enormous plus of the tools is the sharp "Swiss pattern" point at the tip. Most rasps sold in this country have a blunt point. The pointy Aurious allow you to shape wood in places you never thought possible. And with a set of Auriou rifflers, your reach is increased even more. You know what we're going to say next: Quality has a price. These are the most expensive rasps on the market today. The 9"-long cabinetmaker's rasp with a rated 10 grain is $81.95 - a bit less than twice the price of a Nicholson #50 rasp. But rest assured this is the last rasp you are likely to buy. Well, that is until you start lusting after the dozens of other Aurious now available. — Christopher Schwarz BOSCH 4410 10" Miter Saw The Bosch 4410 came into our shop as part of a category review this year, and right out of the box we were impressed with what the saw had to offer, not least of which was the micro adjustment knob that tweaks the cutting angle available at any of the preset miter stops - a unique and useful feature. Other features include a four-position handle with an ambidextrous safety switch, up-front bevel and miter locks, and extension tables to either side of the main table that are integral, nicely designed, easy to operate and include a built-in stop that works on the left or right side of the saw. The miter capacity on this saw is an impressive 52° to the left and 60° to the right, and it's also a dual-bevel machine, allowing the head to tilt to either side. The mechanism controlling the depth of cut is simple to adjust and offers a quick bypass for faster adjustments. The powerful 15-amp motor, combined with the supplied 72-tooth ATB blade, provided quality cuts. Another nice feature is the saw's large footprint, which offers stability not found in many other sliding compound saws. Priced at the top of the category at $530, it is a pricey saw, but a good one that offers the unique micro adjust. — David Thiel Bosch 877-267-2499 or boschtools.com BOSCH 1590EVS & 1591EVS Jigsaws Bosch 877-267-2499 or boschtools.com Bosch has always held a leading position in the j igsaw market, and when the 1590EVS top-handle jigsaw hit the market very late last year (too late to make the 2003 list), it re-established Bosch as the leader in that category. This year Bosch added the 1591EVS barrel-grip jigsaw to its line with the same features, just a different way to grab it - one that the Popular Woodworking editors prefer in our shop. The feature high points are the same for both saws and include a 6.4-amp motor (the most powerful motor available in the category), variable speed (500-2,800 strokes per minute), four-position orbital blade action and a built-in blower. Add to that a completely tool-less blade changing system that actually ejects the blade to keep your fingers away from hot, sharp metal. Plus, Bosch has added a precision control guide that adds extra support at the sides of the blade to hold it even more accurately to eliminate deflection. Both models are very nice jigsaws, but as I mentioned, we like a barrel grip. It's our opinion that this design offers a lower center of gravity, making the saw easier to control in both straight and curved cuts. The top-handle 1590EVS is priced around $170 and the barrel-grip 1591EVS will run you $190. — DT 62 100 Popular Woodworking December 2004 |
