We’ve covered miter sliders before, but here’s a different take on the problem from Micro Jig. Rather than use set screws or “adjusting disks” to fit into a miter slot without slop, their ZeroPlay guide bar uses two stacked half-bars that expand and contract along the entire length of the bar so it’ll work in any 3/4″ wide by 3/8″ deep miter slot — even Shopsmith and General miter slots.
Bessey’s Maxis VarioPivot clamping system extends the versatility of your bar clamps by attaching them to your bench, somewhat like the previously covered VersaClamp. It works best with Bessey’s K-Body Clamps, but they claim the system works with other bar or pipe clamps too.
The two C-clamp-like ends attach to your bench top and capture any length of bar clamp between them. The clamps fit into rotating holders which can lock the bar clamp at any angle between 0 to 270°. The holders rest in an L-shaped track, which allows you to position the bar clamp along the side of the bench or over the work surface.
The Maxis VarioPivot Clamping system comes with the two c-clamp ends and runs about $50. You’ll need to provide your own bar clamp.
Bessey Tools [Corporate Site]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]
You might have seen Spring Tools’ pull-and-strike center punches or nail sets, but interestingly they also make pull-and-strike wood chisels. Like their other tools, varying the distance you pull back the spring varies the amount of striking force delivered to the tool — up to 3500PSI.
Here in the USA, Spring Tools manufacturers the wood chisels from high-grade tool steel and hardens them to keep their edge. They sell four different chisels including a 5/16″ square face chisel, a 1/4″ sweep gauge chisel, a 90° 3/16″ V-parting chisel, and a 5/16″ sweep gouge. They guarantee all four of the chisels for life.
Individually each chisel runs $11, or you can drop $40 for the 4-piece set with a plastic storage case. The prices are listed before shipping costs.
Wood Chisels [Spring Tools]
Wood Chisel Set [Hartville Tool]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]
Since jamming a crisply mitered end of a board into a stop might damage it, Kreg designed their “Perfect Miter” stop attachment to properly support and protect a mitered end that’s placed against it.
Simple hardware like the right-sized knobs can be difficult to find when you need them, and you can pay a whole lot more that you’d think proper once you do. Snap-Lock knobs are a cheap and versatile solution. They allow you to assemble your own custom knobs using the nut or bolt of your choice so you don’t have to keep a dozen different sizes on hand.
Slip this sizing tool over your parting or beading tool, set the desired diameter, and lock the sizing tool in place with the two thumbscrews to create accurate and consistent diameters on round stock up to 3-1/2″.
Do you find there’s never enough tie-downs or they’re never where you need them when you’re securing a load in your truck bed? With Liner Locks Cargo Clamps any ridge on your bed-liner can be a tie-down point.
Although Wixey claims their new remote digital readout is ideal for router lifts, we can think of about a dozen other uses for it, such as mounting one to the table saw to measure blade height — Wixey already has a product for the fence — or getting a couple for the X-Y table.
Sharpening hand tools takes either skill and practice or expensive equipment. And unless you’re going to recreate the bevel free-hand, setting up the guide also takes time. M.Power designed their Precision Sharpening System (PSS1) to provide an easy and inexpensive way to quickly put the edge back on your tools.
Instead of running the tool across a diamond abrasive stone, M.Power’s PSS1 holds the tool stationary and you move the diamond stone across the cutting edge. You can sharpen chisels and plane irons from 1/8″ to 2-1/2″ wide.
Crown’s multi-angle try square does more than just right angles — it lets you layout or check 90°, 60°, 45°, and 30° angles with the same tool.
Crown Tools, based in Sheffield, England, designed this K-shaped square based on traditional tools still used in Europe. They make the handle from plantation-grown rosewood and the blade, facing plate, and pins from polished brass.
You can find Crown’s multi-angle try square on clearance right now at Hartville Tool for $36.
Multi-Angle Square [Crown Hand Tools]
Multi-Angle Square [Hartville Tool]
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Tool Talk #53: Old Hardware Stores & Pocket Knives
Tool Talk #52: Listener Calls & Reader Projects
Tool Talk #51: DIY Wedding Rings & Heirloom Shopsmiths
Tool Talk #50: Router Safety & Pointless Tools
Tool Talk #49: Bookcases & Ending Laziness
Tool Talk #48: Christmas & (Paint) Strippers
Tool Talk #46: Kitchen Drawers And GAS
One Beer Projects: Repairing Wood Surfaces
One Beer Projects: Fixing Simple Problems With Your Dryer
One Beer Projects: Winterizing/Storing Your Bike
One Beer Projects: De-Badging Your Truck
One Beer Projects: Staining Your Fence
One Beer Projects: Doing Your Own Brakes
One Beer Projects: Balancing Your A/C For The Summer
One Beer Projects: Installing A Dimmer Switch
Hands-On: Milwaukee M12 Power Port
Hands-On: Caterpillars Fix Wiggly Outlets For Good
Head 2 Head Hands-On: Bosch SPS10 vs LI3000 SmartDriver
Hands-On: Striker Magnetic LED Light
Hands-On: Dremel Duo Kit -- Dremel Driver
Hands-On: Elmer's ProBond Wood Filler
Hands-On: Duo-Fast DF350S Framing Nailer
Hands-On: Watco Danish Oil - Cherry Finish
Budget Shop Truck Build, Part 5: Engine Teardown
Budget Shop Truck Build, Part 4: A New Transmission
Budget Shop Truck Build, Part 3: Building An Engine Stand
Budget Shop Truck Build, Part 2: Pulling The Engine
Budget Shop Truck Build, Part 1: The Truck
How-To: Cut Angles With A Circular Saw
Project Garage: Yukon Engine Swap (Part 5) -- Complete!
Project Garage: Yukon Engine Swap (Part 4) -- Installation!
Project Garage: Yukon Engine Swap (Part 3) -- Fabricating Engine Brackets
Project Garage: Yukon Engine Swap (Part 2) -- GM Performance Parts
