80 - Heirloom Tool Cabinet, страница 39
f- comes iii either a "fine" or "coarse" grade. For most woodworking tasks, I've found that the fine blades worked the best at removing material quickly and leaving a smooth surface. Slicing, Not Tearing. The way a Mkroplanc blade cuts is unique. In the right photo, you can see that tine surface of the blade is covered with teeth much like a cheese grater. The teeth are cut into the blade with a photo-etching technique that guarantees sharpness and a uniform size. These teeth act like small, low-angle planes that slice the wood fibers cleanly, leaving a surprisingly smooth surface. Besides reducing sanding time, a big advantage of this design is that the teeth aren't as likely to clog up with chips and stop cutting. A side benefit of the snap-in tool handle is shown in the photo at right. The plastic handle has a small thumb grip built into the end. Although it may not seem Like much, the thumb grip gives you a lot more control over the tool. Long-Lasting Blades. The snap-in design makes it easy to purchase an inexpensive replacement blade when one gets damaged or dull. But the low-angle slicing action of the blades means there isn't as much stress on each cutting tooth, so the blades will last a pretty long time before you need to think about replacing them. Just how fast the blades get dull will depend on the material you're working with. Shaping plastic and aibber will dull the blades faster than only cutting wood. Care of Microplanes. The best way to care for a Microplane is to keep the blades from bumping into other tools. Dents and dings in the Thumb grip blades will shorten die life of the cutters and can lead to the blade tearing. But because the tools are made from stainless steel, they won't rust like traditional rasps. After trying out these simple tools, you're sure to find some good ways to put them to use. Microplanes aren't limited to rasplike tools. You can see a couple other applications in the box below. And on the next page, you'll find some techniques and tips for getting the best, smoothest results when working with Microplanes. Turn to page 51 to find out where to get these handy tools. A Sharp Teeth. Tiny teeth are "etched" into the stainless steel blade. The non-clogging teeth slice the wood fibers cleanly. ▲ Multiple Profiles. The handle can accept flat, round, or angled blades in either"coarse" or "fine. Beyond Rasps: Fast-Cutting Tools Tlie same cutting action used in Microplanes rasps has been applied to a couple of other innovative tools. The first is a finer-cutting replacement blade for the popular Surfowt tools shown in the photo below. The other unique application is shown in the photos at right. Here, a Microplane rotary shaper is powered by a drill press for a smooth shaping action that cuts wood faster than a drum gander. ■< Tool Upgrade. You can replace the regular Surform blade with a faster cutting Microplarto blade. ► Power Shaper. A Microplano drill press rotary shaper cuts ft faster than a drum sander and won't clog or burn the workpiece. |
