A flexible curve lets you copy just about any curve, but this flexible curve also gives you a precise measurement of the curve. This might come in handy in knowing exactly how long the stock needs to be before you bend it, for example.
So you think you can make your own wooden train tracks for cheaper than buying them. Well, unless you plan to make a few sets you’re probably wrong. Still, that’s no reason not to do it yourself. You can create custom track pieces or build a track that fills a whole room — your toddler would be the envy of every kid on the block.
To make wooden track out of the recommended white birch, maple, or European beech you need three different bits. One bit makes the female connector with a single pass, another makes the male connector in two passes, and the third makes the tracks themselves. The single-track bit works well for both straight and curved tracks, but if you want to spit out straight tracks in one pass, you want the dual-track bit.
A miter lock router bit cuts matching tongues and grooves into a workpiece to create a strong angled joint. Not only does this bit increase the glueable surface area of a joint, but it also automatically aligns the opposite pieces, reducing the need for special clamps. You can use the common 45° bit to create parallel or perpendicular joints, for such projects as drawers, boxes, and frames.
Sweet finishing touches like decorative-routed trim turn a nice project into a show stopper — if you have the right bit. But most large sets seem like they’re assembled from random left-over bits that didn’t sell well last year. This 45-piece router bit set from MLCS, though, offers a great selection — enough to get you through almost any finish-work project.
Why spend the money to buy a separate laminate trimming router and spiral cutout saw when you can purchase one tool that will do both? Marvel — an MLCS brand — makes a motor-driven cutting tool with interchangeable bases and collets that allow you to route, cut, grind, and even engrave.
Why should musicians get all the cool gear? You, too, can feel like a rock star as you control your scroll saw, dremel, or other power tool with the your foot using the Billy Pedal foot switch by MLCS woodworking. It comes in two styles: continuous running and “deadman.”
Brass setup bars make it easy to accurately set the distance between the cutter and fence on your router table without damaging your carbide bit. For example, if you want to set the distance to 5/16″, simply place the 3/16″ and 1/8″ bars together between the fence and the cutter.
Bit sets like this mitered door frame router bit set are a great reason why MLCS is always a good place to stop in and drool. These look perfect for making panel doors, and you could always make your own pro-looking decorative picture or door frame in one pass with a single bit from the set.
Ever struggle to find something that was round laying about the shop so you could draw yourself a pattern for a hole — but whatever you find isn’t quite the right size? Try this offset ring pattern kit from MLCS.
The kit consists of a bunch of accurately-sized rings to serve as moving “shims” to adjust the size of your existing round “template” (read: paint can, etc.). All you do is stick your pencil in the center and roll the disc around the template — creating a perfectly resized new circle.
Clamping and gluing projects with more than four sides is a lot like trying to nail Jello to the wall. It moves. It slides. It comes apart. And that’s just while you’re trying to get the clamps on – to say nothing of whether or not they hold in the correct position. When you’re in for that kind of gluing/clamping roller coaster ride of fun you might reach for a Merle clamp.
It’s a type of band clamp (or “web clamp” depending on which school of thought you subscribe to). The band can be expanded to a 69” x 69” and can squeeze down to 2-5/8″ x 2-5/8″ providing secure and even gripping power across all the joints.
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What's In Your Kitchen Tool Drawer?
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
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
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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
