The D&S Scary Sharp system originates from a post on the usenet group rec.woodworking, although the method itself probably predates WWII: with a piece of plate glass and progressively finer grits of sandpaper, you can hone your tool to an edge a professional sharpener would envy — without messy oil or water.  And if you don’t have the materials on hand, Rockler sells a kit with everything you need to get started for just $30.

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Here’s another fun scroll saw attachment you may not have tried: scroll saw files.  These “filing blades” dramatically reduce the frustration and time it takes to produce a complex pattern by automating detail sanding and shaping.  And because of their silicon carbide coating, you can use them in a variety of materials.

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Titebond’s fluorescent wood glue looks like normal glue, but glows under a “black light,” making it easy to spot glue you missed during sanding — before you get ready to stain that heirloom project.  There’s nothing worse than dragging your work back to the shop, removing the glue, and re-sanding everything.

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When I visited my local Rockler shop this weekend, I noticed Festool products randomly littered through the store.  Then I saw a very large half-assembled Festool display case.  So I asked the sales guy about it, and he confirmed that on September 11th, Rockler will start selling Festool Power Tools in their retail stores.

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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.

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Last weekend I was digging through my makeshift wood rack looking for a piece of molding when an avalanche of wood hit me squarely on the noggin.  Several rooms away, my daughter learned a few new swear words.  I think before I pile all my wood back up (to fall on me again), I’m going to install something like Triton’s lumber rack system — six shelves that hold up to 110 pounds each in an easy-to-see (and hard to drop on myself) format.

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Remember Porter-Cable’s Model 121 portable spindle sander?  Now Rockler offers an insert which allows you to mount it to the Rockler router table, turning it into both a portable and stationary tool — without taking up any additional shop space.

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Drilling dozens of accurately-placed holes for a shelving project?  Try a shelving jig, like this one from Rockler.  It’ll keep you from spending your whole day measuring and drilling, and you’re far more likely to end up with level shelves afterwards to boot.

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Sometimes you can get away with slicing off a thin piece of sandpaper and folding it up to fit into narrow spaces when detail sanding, but what you really need is abrasive cord.  It’s already round — which means no folding — and it’s much stronger than thin strips of sandpaper.  It’s cheap, too.

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Do you like Cedar? No, I mean really like cedar?  If so, then Rockler has a deal for you: 2100 sq-ft of smelly aromatic cedar for around $4,000.  They’re quick to point out that it’s an internet only deal, and it’s first come first serve.

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Rockler put their marketing guys together in a room, and they came up with the Scratch & Save coupon offer which we found on site today.  If you overlook the cheap-o, fast food scratch-off vibe, it looks like they’re offering some serious values — up to 50 percent off on actual products.  That’s better than free small fries that you won’t eat anyway, yeah?

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I found this taper jig over in the Rockler clearance section for just $15.  It can cut tapers at 3″ per foot (or a 15-degree slope).  The sliding scale makes accurate cuts at the desired angle pretty easy, and the jig is 23″ in length.  Rockler says it’ll work on either side of the fence.

Precision Taper Jig [Rockler]
Street Pricing [Google Product Search]

Rockler is having a two-for-one sale on these 50″ Jet parallel clamps. Their regular price for one is $48, but you can get two clamps for $50. They feature non-marring resin jaws for 1,000 lbs. of clamping force and slide and glide triggers for easy adjustment. Quantities are limited to 4 per customer.

50″ Jet Parallel Clamps [Rockler]
Street Pricing [Froogle]

Scraper writes: “If any of you are trying to decide between a finish nailer and a brad nailer, Rockler has a deal for you: if you buy the Porter-Cable finish nailer, you get the brad nailer for free.”

Rockler also has a Porter Cable compressor and nailer kit on sale for $130 as well as a bunch of other items ranging from clamps to porch glider plans.  Check out the site for details.

The sale expires April 8, 2007.

Outdoor Product Sale [Rockler]

Michael B. writes: “I picked up this set over a year ago and use them all the time. The spring loaded center punch is great for making sure you drill on center.  It makes a nice little divot that the drill bit or screw nestles right into.  The scribe is harder than anything else in my shop so it does a great job of marking where a pencil can’t.”

I have cheaper versions of each and use them regularly — mine are hand-me-downs – though I suspect that for $14 there’s no reason not to have a nice set like the one from Rockler.  A little Froogling shows the punch sold under some other names, but all pretty much more expensive — Sears sells it as the “Skill Tech,” for example, for $12 alone.

For what it’s worth, there’s really not much reason to ever drill without punching first.  Once you start, you’ll never go back to chasing the bit around trying to land it on the mark.

Center Punch and Carbide Scribe [Rockler]

Listen up all you Little House on the Prairie freaks:  Log furniture is your thing – your secret passion.  You don’t have to admit it.  We won’t tell anyone.  But we’ve got the tool for you: dual blade tenon cutters.  They can make your rustic-farm-lovin’ life easier.  So kick your feet up and listen for a sec.

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While you can lubricate a metal band saw with oil — or even use a flowing cooling fluid to keep it cool – that kind of moisture would collect sawdust and damage wood in woodworking applications,  Olson offers a “cool” alternative: small blocks made of graphite-impregnated phenolic laminate.  They lubricate the blade, but don’t leave it oily.

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