Unless you have a fully-enclosed router table, your chip and dust collection probably leaves something to be desired. Instead of fully enclosing the entire table, Rockler’s Dust Bucket just encloses the router to get the same level of dust collection. When used in conjunction with a fence collection port, the Dust Bucket will allow you to collect virtually all the dust from your table.

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While supplies last, Rockler has the large Bessey VarioClippix Spring Clamps on sale for $3.33 each (limit six per customer), a 67% reduction from their “regular” price. These high-impact plastic clamps have a 2″ throat depth, a 4″ maximum jaw opening, soft pivoting pads for work surface protection, and large ergonomic handles. If you fall into the you-can-never-have-enough-clamps camp, you may want to grab a few of these.

VarioClippix Spring Clamps [Rockler]
Street Pricing [Google Products]

Rockler has a small autoloader screwdriver (see TM 2006 and 2007) for $10 as an online-only special. The unit comes with 6 bits (Phillips #0, #00, #000; slotted 3/32″, 1/8″, 5/32″; all bits are 5/32″ × 1″) that are accessed by pulling back on the handle, twisting to select the desired bit, and then pushing the handle forward. A large autoloader with 6 bits (Phillips #1, #2, #3; slotted 1/8″, 3/16″, 1/4″; all bits are 1/4″ × 1″), is also on sale for $15 (online-only). Free shipping with promo code V9789. This online sale ends this Wednesday, September 30.

Small Autoloader Screwdriver [Rockler]
Large Autoloader Screwdriver [Rockler]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]
Street Pricing [Google Products]

I’ve had a Radi-Plane (similar, if not identical to, the picture on the left) for many years*, and found it very handy for easing edges. I recently added — following a “suggestion” from the home project coordinator, a.k.a. my lovely wife — a couple of extra shelves to a cabinet above the oven. I used MDF for the shelves and my Radi-Plane did a great job rounding the edges (and was easier and quicker than digging out the router).

While checking options, I found Benjamen’s post on the Veritas Cornering Tool Set (shown on the right above; $33 for 2 tools with 4 different radii and a sharpening kit), and was wondering how these compare to the Radi-Plane (or the apparent equivalents, Woodstock’s W1100 Slickplane [What’s This?], available for $13, and the Rockler radius plane, available for $22). Has anyone had experience with both? Any other good suggestions for quickly and consistently easing edges?

*15? 20? I found a Radi-Plane reference in the Aug. 1990 issue of American Woodworker [Google Books]. My versions are branded “RADI-PLANE, L.A. Mathers Co., Stockton, Calif.”

Street Pricing [Google Products]
Radius Plane [Rockler]

Need to move that heavy-duty workbench or other piece of shop equipment occasionally, but want to make sure it stays where you put it? The unique brake on Total-Lock Casters from Caster City locks both the wheel and the swivel bearing at the same time. The Model 4A casters have a standard 2 3/8″ × 3 5/8″ mounting plate, can support up to 400 pounds per caster, and have precision sealed ball bearings. The units pictured above are 4″ maroon polyurethane on gray polyolefin wheels with a 400-pound capacity, and cost $31 each. Other Total-Lock casters are available in 4″, 5″, and 6″ wheel diameters, with capacities from 250 to 400 pounds per caster and tread material including soft rubber, poly on nylon, polyurethane, polyolefin, and phenolic.

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Make your paint and other finishes last longer with a two-second blast of Bloxygen before you seal the container. The heavier-than-air, pure argon sinks to the surface of the liquid and displaces oxygen, which can cause the finish to cure in the can. As a result you’ll have less skinning, thickening, and spoiling.

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Who needs a tape measure? Just slap down a few rolls’ worth of Red Tape adhesive measuring tape on every surface in your shop and you won’t have to search for where you put the damn tape measure anymore.

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Want perfect miters in applications where precision really matters, like making picture frames? This miter trimmer uses high-carbon steel blades that are razor sharp to shave fractions of an inch from miters, leaving a cut that some might call glass-smooth.

Since you can’t actually use the trimmer to make miters, you first need to make a rough miter cut with a miter box. Then with the miter trimmer you can shave the piece for the perfect fit. The trimmer is made from cast iron, so it weighs 35 lbs. It has angle presets at 90° and 45°.

We’re not sure who actually makes this trimmer. Rockler, Dieter Schmid, Grizzly, Highland Woodworking, and other companies sell what looks to be the identical tool for anywhere from $150 to $200.

Miter Trimmer [Grizzly]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]

A standard hose clamp doesn’t work very well for clamping a spiral hose such as that found in dust collection systems. It has to clamp over one of the coils which can make a less-than-airtight connection. To solve this problem you can use a bridge hose clamp which has an offset connector that crosses over the coil without crushing it.

Made for right-hand spiraling hoses, the Rockler version of this clamp goes as far as replacing the usually frustrating screw head with a thumb screw and extends the shaft to give your fingers more clearance while turning the screw.

A five pack of the Rockler style 2-1/2″ clamps will run you $8 and a five-pack of 4″ clamps will run you $10. Other retailers sell similar products for both right- and left-hand spiraling hoses, but it seems only Rockler sells bridge hose clamps with the thumbscrew.

Bridge Hose Clamps [Rockler]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]

Do you have trouble trying to wrap molding around bullnose corners?  Bench Dog has a new product that can help. Designed to work with 3/4″ radius rounded corners, this trim gauge slips over the bullnose and indicates where each joint needs to land to get a professional-looking three-piece corner.

You can also nail Bench Dog’s bullnose trim guide in place and use it to hold the tip of the tape measure — which could come in handy if you’re trying to compile a cut list by yourself. Made from hard plastic, the gauge comes with complete instructions for use and costs $12 before shipping.

Bench Dog [Corporate Site]
Bullnose Trim Gauge [Rockler]

Apparently, like a router mat stuck on both sides of a hockey puck, the 3″ diameter by 1″ thick Rockler Bench Cookies will raise up workpieces, gripping both the work and the bench at the same time. The theory is, after you put four of these on your workbench and set your workpiece on top, everything is stable and you can work without needing clamps.

They come in a 4-pack for $12, and will be available in stores August 1st (available online now).

Rockler Bench Cookies [Manufacturer's Site]
Street Pricing [Google Products]

Instead of raised teeth, the Shinto Saw Rasp uses high-quality saw blades. This open-web saw tooth design eliminates clogging, and its up-to-the-edge teeth allow you to get into corners where your normal rasp won’t go.

Shinto Saw Rasps are offered in two different styles: the first looks like a normal rasp with the saw rasp head, and the plane style has a two-handed offset handle and a replaceable blade. Both styles have a coarse side with 11 teeth per inch for rapid material removal and a fine side with 25 teeth per inch for finishing.

The rasps can be used on wood, plastics, fiberglass, and soft metals. Prices for the straight-handled saw rasp start at $20, and prices for the plane style handle saw rasp start at $25. A replacement blade for the plane style rasp saw runs about $20.

Shinto Saw Rasp [Japan Woodworker]
Shinto Saw Rasp [Rockler]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]

Homemade chests or cabinetry can be some of the most rewarding projects a woodworker can produce. But if your potential client is a youngun’ with fingers just begging to be smashed, you have to consider their safety when designing your project. For all those items out there with closing doors or lids, Rockler has developed these stay-open hinges.

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Ball casters like these ones from ACME Caster Company are supposed to work well on cement floors — mount ‘em to your project and they’ll roll easily in any direction — but we’re skeptical about using these in the shop because dirt, dust, and metal filings just can’t be good for ‘em. If you don’t need casters, you could also mount these upside down as ball transfer units for custom out-feed work supports.

Small balls transfer the load from large ball to the seat to provide even load distribution and minimal surface contact. ACME Caster Company manufactures all the components from carbon steel. They harden the balls and seat for long wear life, and they treat exposed surfaces so they’ll resist corrosion. They finish the seat in black and the large ball in chrome.

Rockler sells these ball casters in three weight ratings, 100 lbs, 150lbs, and 250lbs, in either stem or plate-mount. The most expensive set of four casters is the 250lbs stem-mount casters, which’ll run you $36 — prices for the other casters go down from there.

Ball Casters [Acme Caster Company]
Ball Casters [Rockler]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]

Lasers just keep getting cheaper — Rockler cut the price of the Infiniter RS-1 Laser Cutting Guide in half.  That’s right, it’s on sale for just $13, cheaper than the Harbor Freight version is currently listed!

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Incra’s miter sliders provide rigid and stable T-slot runners for your router table, table saw, or band saw jigs.  Incra designed them for use with their Build-It System panels, but they can also give your custom jigs precise-fitting runners with minimum play.

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Stick one of these MagNotes from Rockler on any magnetic surface in your shop and instantly create a place to jot down notes.  You write on the 4″ by 3″ MagNotes with #2 pencil and erase the note with a standard eraser when you’re done.

Rockler doesn’t list a manufacturer — it looks like they just customized something from the inventory of a company that specializes in corporate schwag.

A four-pack of MagNotes will run you $4.

MagNotes [Rockler]