Popular Woodworking 2006-10 № 157, страница 15
A Bigger Birdcage Awl Birdcage awls are outstanding and accurate tools for installing hardware. In essence, they are a boring tool: Place the tip where you want your screw and twist the tool back and forth. When you're done, you have a perfect tapered hole for your screw. Even with a cordless drill/driver on my workbench I'll choose the awl when pinpoint accuracy matters, as it almost always does when installing hardware. The tool has become an endangered species of late, and so I was delighted to learn that Chester Toolworks has begun making an elegant and hard-working version. The square-shaped shaft on this birdcage awl is thicker (3/16" square) than most examples I've encountered, but the hole it makes is perfect for most cabinet hardware. The handle is shaped to nestle in your palm and the small bead by the tool's ferrule also helps you apply the right downward pressure. These tools are handmade by Dave Anderson and can be handled in a variety of woods, including snakewood and ebony (shown). Bosch Pocket Driver Offers Pint-sized Power I don't care how many cordless drills you own, if you like tools, you're going to need one more. The Pocket Driver elicits the same response from everyone who sees it: "It's cute!" And that it is, but the really nice part is that it performs as well. Powered by a 10.8-volt lithium ion battery (two included), this drill performs like a good 12-volt model, and it weighs only 4.4 pounds, fitting comfortably in the palm of your hand. Bosch boasts the drill will drive 100 3" screws. Honestly, I stopped at 75 15/8" deck screws (comfortably sunk below surface depth in treated pine) because that's more than enough proven power out of a drill that I wouldn't even use for that task. This drill is designed to be handy, whether dropped in a work belt, shop apron or any number of drawers around the house. Its size lets you work in tight or awkward spaces (think about installing drawer slides) while still providing lots of power. I did find one thing to pick on. The LED light is a nice addition, but because of its SPECIFICATIONS Chester Toolworks Birdcage Awl Street price: $41 -$48, depending on wood Shaft: 2V4"-long, 01 steel, Rc 62-63 Handle: 3"-long, 15/16" in diameter Performance: ••••O Price range: $$$ Chester Toolworks: chestertoolworks.com Anderson also makes a line of scratch awls, marking knives and bowsaws, all of which are finished to the same high degree. — Christopher Schwarz For more information, circle #170 on Free Information Card. SPECIFICATIONS Bosch PS20-2 Pocket Driver Street price: $127 Stated torque: 80 inch/lbs Charger: 30 minute, smart charger Performance: ••••O Price range: $$$$ Bosch: 877-267-2499 or boschtools.com location the clutch ring keeps the light from shining on the actual impact point for all applications. Who cares ? Buy one! — DT For more information, circle #171 on Free Information Card. STEEL CITY TOOLS If you're shopping for major woodworking machinery, you may want to check out the new guys on the block. While the company name is new, the company's owners and employees can trace their experience back to many years with Delta and Powermatic. Steel City (headquartered in Pittsburgh, but with offices in Tennessee, Canada and China) unveiled a full line of woodworking machinery from cabinet saws to mini-lathes recently and is showing them at the International Woodworking Machinery & Furniture Supply Fair show in Atlanta in August. While we've only kicked the tires, the line looks solid and built for performance, not frills. View the complete line at steelcitytoolworks.com. — DT TITE-MARK MINI The best marking gauge on the planet just got smaller. Glen-Drake Toolworks has added a smaller version of the Tite-Mark gauge to its line. This version has the same functions as the regular Tite-Mark but has a smaller shaft (5/16" in diameter) and head (IV2" in diameter). And it has a slightly smaller price ($60). It's an excellent gauge for dovetailing drawers and small boxes. And if you have small hands, you may find it to be the only gauge you need. Contact Glen-Drake at glen-drake.com. — CS 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 513531-2690 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 popularwoodworking.com i 23 |
