Popular Woodworking 2007-08 № 163, страница 20

Tool Test

Sight and Sound Protecti

I've never been able to wear sound protection and safety glasses at the same time in the woodshop. The problem is, if you're wearing glasses and then add earmuffs, you get pinched at your temples from the pressure on the arm of the glasses. And, the hearing protection isn't effective because the arm of the glasses breaks the seal between the ear-muffs and your ear.

FullPro Protective Gear has combined the two most critical pieces of personal protection in the shop into one product - SoundVision Eye Protection. We tested the Eye Protection Kit with Earmuffs that's complete with Peltor H9 earmuffs, two pairs of self-adhesive hook-and-loop patches and SoundVision lenses with flexible hook-and-loop straps.

I know; I hear you. "That's crazy." I thought so too, until we had them in the shop.

They couldn't be easier to use. The patches stick to the outside of the earmuffs and the hook-and-loop glasses straps hold firm to them. There are no arms to pinch or break the

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seal of the earmuffs around the ear and, as a result, no loss of hearing protection. They're easy to adjust and comfortable to wear.

And they work. The Peltor H9 earmuffs (different rated earmuffs are available) have a noise-reduction rating of 25 decibels. That covers the majority of the tools in the woodshop. The adjustability is infinite. They will fit you correctly.

The safety glasses are labeled Z87+ which meets or exceeds the standards set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for high-mass impact, high-velocity impact, drop-ball impact and penetration tests. Also, there are three choices of lens options - clear (for indoor use), smoked (for bright environments) and amber (for high-contrast requirements. You can get the lenses to fit your needs for $20 each.

I'm a believer. Whenever I'm milling lumber or working with machinery in the shop, I protect both my eyes and ears with SoundVision Eye Protection. — GH

SoundVision Eye Protection

FullPro ■ 888-873-8557 or

fullpro.com Street price ■ $38

For more information, circle #150 on Free information Card.

Machine Sharpening - Maybe It's Not Scary

Many of us are not hand-tool aficionados but we still need sharp tools. Nonetheless, we delay sharpening and continue to work with dull tools. That increases the chances of injuries. Or, we turn to machines to get the tools in working order.

The sharpening task became easier when Professional Tool Manufacturing, the company best known for the Drill Doctor, introduced the Work Sharp. Work Sharp is a dry sharpening system - no watery mess - that allows you to shape and hone woodworking tools using a single machine. It simplifies the process and provides repeatable results.

How does it work? It begins with a double-sided tempered glass wheel - two such wheels are included with the tool - to which adhesive-backed sandpaper is attached. Any 6" abrasive discs will work or they can be purchased through Work Sharp.

Work Sharp suggests you work through four steps, depending on the condition of your cutting edge as you begin. Use P120 grit for basic grinding and shaping of tools in bad condition, move to P400 grit for the sharpening step, on to P1,000 grit to hone the edge then finish with micro mesh 3,600 to polish. And if you're "old school," a leather honing

wheel is available to develop a highly polished edge ($30).

A chisel slides into the abrasive-covered wheel (spinning at 580 rpm) from below and is positioned on a sharpening port (adjustable to four angles - 20°, 25°, 30° and 35°) that captures the chisel and holds it square to the disc. Sharpening requires you to slide the tool repeatedly into and away from the wheel.

The heat-sink design cools the tool as it sharpens. While using P1,000 grit, I experienced a slightly higher temperature - 4° on our infrared thermometer during a typi cal operation. You can also flatten the chisel back on top of the disc.

For sharpening tools other than flat, Work Sharp has a slotted wheel (and matching abrasives available only through the company) that allows you to see through the wheel as you sharpen from below.

The Work Sharp addresses my needs, delivers sharpness to my tools and is better than similar tools I've used. It's found a home in my shop. PW — GH

28 ■ Popular Woodworking August 2007