Popular Woodworking 2009-11 № 179, страница 19
Tool Test Crosscut Sled for Benchtop Table Saws A simple fact is that most table saws, straight from the manufacturer, have inadequate miter gauges. Woodworkers often make shop-made sleds of some kind, but if you're new to the craft or don't get a huge amount of time in the shop, building a sled is time-consuming and can be expensive. Rockler has a new portable crosscut sled that's designed for benchtop table saws with the miter slot between 53/l6" and 65/8" from the edge of the saw blade. The sled rides in the left-hand miter slot and is designed for easy use in common table saw crosscutting tasks. (But you can't make compound angle cuts because left-tilting blades, as are most benchtop saws, cut into the jig.) The sled adds a measure of precision to smaller table saws and is a scaled-down version of the company's original sled, complete with a Rockler hold-down clamp. The base of the sled is melamine-coated MDF that's 16" square and 3A" thick. With low-friction strips added to the bottom of the jig and fence, the sled breezes over your saw top. The sled runs in a standard 3A" miter slot (3/8" deep) and Rockler has added four setscrews to fine-tune the fit of the miter bar. Because the sled extends just past the blade, the first cut at your saw sizes the sled and that edge perfectly according to the company, and provides the same function as a zero-clearance insert -little to no splintered edges on your workpiece. (An optional drop-off platform is available for those who want for added safety and support.) The fence is the real value of the sled. An aluminum-extruded fence (with a sliding flip-down stop) is faced with a replaceable MDF sacrificial fence. The fence setup is adjustable in uations from zero to 50° on an easily read protractor scale. It's simple to position the settings using the hairline indicator; slide the fence into place then with a turn of a four-star knob (set a little too close to the fence Rockler ■ 800-279-4441 or rockler.com Street price ■ $120 For more information, go to pwfreeinfo.com. for your hand to grab easily), everything is locked. There is a micro-adjustable stop to quickly return to zero, but as on many sleds, the threaded, pointed-end stop used to dial-in the settings can sometimes vibrate out of position over time. — GH Drill To Depth Without Masking Tape Quite possibly the first trick discovered by fledgling woodworkers is the old tape-on-drill-bit trick (wrap a piece of masking tape around your drill bit at the appropriate sp ot to act as a depth indicator while you drill a hole). The problem with this oft-used trick is that as you use the setup for a prolonged time, the masking tape begins to creep up the bit's shaft and your hole becomes deeper and deeper without your knowledge. It's conceivable that your last hole may be considerably deeper than your first - possibly to the point of ruining the opposing face of your workpiece. Milwaukee recognized this problem and has developed a series of brad-point drill bits that eliminate the tape-on-drill-bit setup. These bits have laser-etched markings to indicate precise depth settings. I'll bet you'll say "D'oh!" when you see these drill bits for the first time. I know I sure did. These drill bits have other features that also make them stand out. First, as with all brad-point bits, the point is superb for accurate bit placement. Second, the spur edges are precision-ground to maintain a sharp cut ting edge and to produce a clean-cut hole with reduced splintering. And third, each bit is clearly marked for easy visual reference and the markings are spaced at VV1 intervals for exacting depth-stop information. In fact, as you hold the bits, the markings are simple to see, and when spinning in your hand-held drill or in a drill press, the etchings become much more visible. Milwaukee has introduced its new brad-point drill bits in seven of the most oft-needed sizes. The bits are available in diameters from 1/8" to V2", stepped in V16" increments. Each bit is packaged in Milwaukee red and the diameter (in both inches and millimeters) is clearly identified on the package front. The brad-point drill bits are approxi- Milwaukee ■ 800-729-3878 or milwaukeetool.com Street price ■ $2.50-$7 For more information, go to pwfreeinfo.com. mately $ 2.50 to $7 depending on the diameter, and are available wherever Milwaukee tools and accessories are sold. PW — GH 28 ■ Popular Woodworking November 2009 |
