Archive for the 'Metalworking' Category
Tuesday, March 31st, 2009
A little while back Bosch announced the rollout of their new “Edge” metal recip demo blades. Bosch’s marketing department created a lot of fanfare around the release and did a good job trying to make ‘em exciting, which is difficult — because it’s a recip blade, not the sexy front runner in a hard-hitting leaflet campaign. Here’s what it boils down to: Bosch says that, thanks to its new tooth design and many other features, the Edge cuts faster and lasts longer.
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Posted in Accessories, Bosch, Demolition, Metalworking, Saws | 6 Comments »
Friday, March 27th, 2009
Recently I was shopping for a drill press, and I probably could’ve gotten away with a benchtop model if it was just for woodworking, but I also do metal fabrication so I wanted a stationary model that stands on the floor. I wound up going with this Ridgid drill press.
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Posted in Home Depot, Metalworking, Power Tools, RIDGID, Shop Tools, Woodworking | 15 Comments »
Monday, March 9th, 2009
For a Toolmonger looking to do some metalworking with limited space or budget the M1045 three-in-one metalworking tool from Shop Fox might be just the ticket. This 12″ capacity machine can bend, shear, and roll metal up to 22ga.
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Posted in Amazon, Metalworking, Shop Fox | 7 Comments »
Friday, February 20th, 2009
Woodworkers have brass setup bars for precision setup — machinists have gauge blocks. You stack a series of gauge blocks to match the desired measurement, for accurately checking and setting measurements and calibrating instruments.
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Posted in Amazon, Jack's Tool Shed, Measuring, Metalworking | 5 Comments »
Thursday, February 19th, 2009
With the Spectrum 625 X-treme, Miller is rapidly approaching what would’ve been considered science fiction about twelve years ago. We can forgive the overused “X-treme” moniker because this 40-amp plasma cutter is literally smaller than a shoebox.
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Posted in Metalworking, Miller Electric, Power Tools, Shop Tools | 5 Comments »
Friday, February 13th, 2009
Not sure if you’ve sharpened your tools or drill bits to the perfect angle? This universal grinding gauge from Silverline Tools will help you check.
Made from heavy-duty 14ga stainless steel, the grinding gauge can check 55°, 60°, 90°, and 120° internal and 60°, 90°, and 120° external angles. Silverline manufactures their tools for the UK so the etched graduations read in metric.
Five bucks will buy you this gauge at Jack’s Tool Shed.
Universal Grinding Gauge [Silverline Tools]
Universal Grinding Gauge [Jack's Tool Shed]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]
Posted in Metalworking, Welding | 2 Comments »
Friday, February 6th, 2009
You could fit what I know about forge work on a matchbook cover and have space left over. I do know a little about being a tightwad though, and I take my hat off to reader diluded000 for his excellent custom forge built from cheap materials he could find around the shop.
The fan-hood top and HF workbench bottom are strokes of genius, my friend, seriously. With this project diluded000 said, “Screw that!” to convention, and he got on with his interests without waiting till he had tons of cash — and we bet he had a blast making cool steel gear in his shop.
Toolmonger Photo Pool [Flickr]
Posted in Flickr Pool, Metalworking | 5 Comments »
Thursday, February 5th, 2009
You picked the wrong bit and now you’re stuck with a hole that’s too big — or are you? Depending on the application you might be able to salvage the piece with these reducing punches from Micro-Mark.
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Posted in Metalworking, Micro-Mark | 7 Comments »
Thursday, January 1st, 2009
Whether you’re grinding, drilling, or milling, sometimes a simple V-block isn’t enough to hold your workpiece steady. That’s where a V-block and clamp set would really come in handy — they’re usually sold in pairs like this Series 278 set from Starrett.
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Posted in Amazon, Metalworking, Micro-Mark, Starrett | 1 Comment »
Monday, December 15th, 2008
We dig this photo that reader hmboo posted to the Toolmonger photo pool for several reasons — first, because it shows tool guys doing actual metalwork. But if you look around you’ll see a bunch of sweet tools hanging around in the shot.
I think my favorite is the massive beat-to-hell stump the anvil is sitting on — that bad boy has seen some action and more than its share of beat-downs. Props to the museum in Wolfenbüttel, Germany for the daily mini-courses they put on. Things like this inspire a lot of folks get into metalwork.
Toolmonger Photo Pool [Flickr]
Posted in Flickr Pool, Metalworking | 4 Comments »
Friday, December 12th, 2008
How do you get that gunk out of your milling table’s T-slots? It’s almost impossible to clean the shavings out of these oily recesses — unless you’ve got this scraper designed just for the purpose. Its T-shaped head matches the shape of the table slots to scrape the metal debris away.
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Posted in Metalworking | 5 Comments »
Tuesday, November 11th, 2008
We’re not exactly sure what advantage the split-head design on Jet’s Double Header C-clamp gives, but it definitely looks different than most C-clamps. Instead of two clamping points, the Double Header gives you three points, presumably to spread around the tool’s 1,500 pounds of clamping force.
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Posted in Amazon, JET, Metalworking, Woodworking | 6 Comments »
Thursday, November 6th, 2008
Metabo has released the new Stone Master WE14-125VS 5 grinder. It looks just like every other grinder and does about the same thing as every other grinder, so even with a big, sexy name like WE14-125VS 5, it’s got to be a tough sell — especially since it runs about $200. We see why they put “Stone Master” in front of it.
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Posted in Metabo, Metalworking, Power Tools | 4 Comments »
Wednesday, October 29th, 2008
Knurling can be used for grip, for decoration, or to repair worn parts that don’t fit together tightly anymore — but how exactly do you transfer the knurl pattern onto a piece of metal without an expensive lathe setup? For small jobs and repair work, you buy a hand knurler like the K1-207 Knurlmaster from Eagle Rock.
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Posted in Metalworking | 5 Comments »
Monday, October 20th, 2008
Thanks, Nick, for this great metalworking shot. There’s something elemental and intensely cool about working steel. Maybe it’s the power of hammering something into existence, or the fact that others are scared to try it — whatever it is, it appeals to tool guys young and old.
We really can’t judge what they’re making from the block on the end of that pole — but perhaps when it’s done, Nick will post up a few shots of what this session of sweat and elbow grease produced.
Toolmonger Photo Pool [Flickr]
Posted in Flickr Pool, Metalworking | 1 Comment »
Thursday, September 11th, 2008
We’re amazed by how much education has changed in the last hundred years. Folks laugh now, but the “old-school” way was actually taught in school –- funny that. We gathered up a few images of student shop life that caught our attention from back in the day.
1. Harding Middle School in Philly circa 1925. I don’t think I would’ve made it doing woodwork in a suit and bowtie. Take a gander at the complete lack of power tools.
Click the page links for other scenes from shops of yesterday.
Posted in Metalworking, Shop Tools, Woodworking | 10 Comments »
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008
Skygeek.com is selling a 25-pack of 3/16″ Kwik-Loc cleco clamps for $10 — a pretty good deal if you need a bunch of clecos. For those who don’t know, a cleco is a handy little internal clamp that’ll hold together two sheets of metal via a drilled hole. Whether you’re riveting or welding, you can align and hold two pieces of sheet metal in position with several of these clamps, then remove them with special cleco pliers. You can also get other sizes for about the same price.
25-Pack of 3/16″ Kwik-Loc Clecos [Skygeek]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
Posted in Dealmonger, Metalworking | 1 Comment »
