Popular Woodworking 2006-04 № 154, страница 29
Micro Plunge Precision Like many woodworkers, I tend to be a closet machinist. It's fun to see how close to perfection I can get, and I'm a sucker for anything that reads or adjusts to a thousandth of an inch. For those who share this affliction, Micro Fence has just introduced a new plunge base for laminate trimmers that is the ultimate in tweakability. And when it's combined with the Micro Fence system you can do extremely accurate work with a minimum of fuss. I tested the base with the new Bosch Colt, and it is available to fit several other laminate trimmers. I found myself trying it in more and more applications simply because it was so much fun to use. I used it for relieving the background of a carving, letting in hinges, and I even made 1l"-wide by 1"-deep mortises. The base is incredibly well-made, and simple and intuitive to use. The LED light and effective dust collection were icing on the cake. My only complaint is that the shaft lock for the router can't be reached when mounted. But this is within .0001" of perfection. — RL For more information, circle #180 on Free Information Card. SPECIFICATIONS Micro Fence Portable 3-Axis Mill Street price: $399.99 Vertical travel: 23/4", 3-position stop Adjustment: to .001" Features: LED light and vacuum hookup Performance: ••••• Price range: $$$$$ Micro Fence: 800-480-6427 or www.microfence.com Impact Power Now In a Screwdriver A handy occasional-use screwdriver should be inexpensive, reasonably powerful, retain a charge (or charge quickly) and be compact. Craftsman has answered some of our requirements by offering a cordless screwdriver with impact capabilities, offering torque and control never before available in a tool this size. Despite the fact that this driver is rated as a 4.8-volt tool, it is capable of driving a V4" x 1V2"-long lag screw into 13/4"-thick poplar. Number 10 screws also proved no problem, and the included 3/16" drill bit also dug in without hesitation. The screwdriver isn't fast, but it also doesn't require any excessive force to drive a screw. The drilling feature works without the impact mechanism kicking in, but with just a little extra pressure, you're in impact mode. While the performance of the screwdriver is good and the dual-position handle offers ergonomic options, the driver is still oversized for my tastes. And, unfortunately, the drill still Jjf SPECIFICATIONS Craftsman Impact Power Driver Street price: $50 Speed: 1,800 rpm Stated torque: 175 in./lbs. Charge time: 3 - 6 hours Performance: •••OO Price range: $$ Craftsman: 800-549-4505 or craftsman.com includes a no-frills three-to-six hour charger, meaning you'll have to plan ahead. This is a good start but we're confident a better impact screwdriver is possible. — David Thiel For more information, circle #181 on Free Information Card. STARRETT 505A-7 PROSITE PROTRACTOR We reviewed the 12" version of the Starrett ProSite Protractor in December of 2004 and were generally impressed with the quality and abilities of the tool. It proved accurate, well-made and featured an easily read and understood scale. We did, however, have two gripes with that model. We found the 12" length a little large for some of the operations we would consider using it for (machinery setup in particular) and the markings on the scale were only in whole numbers, even though half-degree markings are important in many woodworking applications (such as crown miter settings on a miter saw). Starrett now offers a smaller version measuring around 7" in length; each leg measures only V4" x 5/s" in cross section. The original ProSite Protractor weighed in at 20 ounces, while the 7" model is a handy 7.2 ounces. Though we're pleased with the smaller size of this model, the scale still offers accurate markings only for whole numbers, leaving some precision to speculation. While the weight and size have been significantly reduced, the price has only changed by about $5. Expect to pay around $35 for the 7" version. For more information contact Starrett at 978-249-3551 or starrett.com. — DT TOOL RATINGS Performance is rated on a one-to-five scale. You likely 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 513-531 -2690 ext. 1255, or e-mail me at david.thiel@fwpubs.com. Or visit our web site at popularwoodworking.com to sign up for our free e-mail newsletter. —David Thiel, senior editor popularwoodworking.com i 27 |
