Popular Woodworking 2008-06 № 169, страница 54

and affection for my tools. The care you give tools will gush readily into the things you build with them. None ofthe tools in the kit we recommend should be disposable; if you take good care of them, they will last.

First, take a look at the list of tools in the box on the previous page. You probably have at least a few of these tools already, even if you're an apartment dweller. The remainder can all be bought at any home center with a

minimal investment. But before you rush out and spend your beer money, take a moment to read about my tool-buying philosophy.

You want to be careful when buying tools because these tools should last most of your lifetime. You won't replace these tools with fancy machinery when your skills advance, so you don't want to buy the cheapest tools on display in the tool crib.

So what's wrong with that $39 jigsaw? Everything. Chances are the motor is underpowered, the bearings (if it even has bearings) are flimsy and the electronics are poorly insulated . Push the tool a little hard and it will - no

That said, you also want to avoid the tools that are loaded with lots of gizmos and features (with the price tag to match). In general, tools with lasers, bubble levels, wrist straps, micro-adjustable doo-dads and digital readouts aren't necessary foraccurate work. In fact, they might actually make life harder for you.

So I recommend you do two things. First, before you go shopping, visit toolseeker.com and browse around so you can see what brands and models are out there. Toolseeker.com also will help you figure out what to expect as far as price. Second, when you go shopping, seek out the brand-name tools, but choose a brand's stripped-down version ofthe tool.

Here's an example: Let's say you want to buy a random-orbit sander, and you like the Porter-Cable brand. The company offers the

343 model for $69 and the 344 for $79. The more expensive model has variable speed. And while variable speed might sound helpful, it's not useful in asander, really. Skip it and spend the $10 on wood, glue or finish.

This philosophy extends to blades, bits and sandpaper. Buy brand names. Nothing is more expensive than cheap sandpaper, bargain blades or no-name drill bits. But don't buy the fancy professional accessories with plastic cases and flashy graphics. Flashy graphics are supposed to impress the guys on the job site. At home you'll impress only the family dog.

Once you get your tools home, treat them like shards of the true cross. Never ever let your tools rust. Rust spreads like a cancer in ferrous materials (iron and steel) and can make your measuringand cutting tools difficult to use. There are a lot of products out there to prevent and remove rust, but the best thing going cannot be found on the shelf: a small can of vigilance.

When you are done with a tool, wipe down the metal surfaces - especially the cutting surface - with a rag that has been soaked with WD-40. Always keep the rag nearby (mine is seven years old) and renew it with a squirt of WD-40 when it gets dry. Wiping your tool down does two things: First, it removes dust from the tool. Dust can carry salt. Salt attracts water. The combination of salt and moisture will start breaking down your iron and steel tools.

Second, the WD-40 helps prevent rust by forming a thin protective barrier, albeit one that must be constantly renewed to be effective. Other people will disparage WD-40 (I once did). Ignore them.

Buying Materials

Another key component to the "I Can Do That" philosophy is that all the materials come from a home center. You don't have to buy your

Adapt for accuracy. Most home-center tools are designed for home construction. But you can make them accurate for furniture-making. Our free online manual shows you how. Here, sticky-back sandpaper will prevent your work from sliding around on your miter saw.

Two drills. A brand-name corded drill is a lot less expensive than a fancy cordless one. We think you'll eventually want both types, but you'll be surprised how much you can do with the old-fashioned corded one.

A jigsaw cuts it all. You can make clean rips, crosscuts and curves with a jigsaw. It's a safe and easy tool to master, and you'll always need one, even when you are a master cabinetmaker.

12 ■ Popular Woodworking June 2008