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Another day at the show
comments (3) January 23rd, 2009 in Blogs
Kevin Ireton, editor-at-large
23 users recommend
The only thing I'm inspired to do this morning is to pack my suitcase (I fly home tonight), so I'm going to skip the amusing intro today. And I'm especially not going to tell you about the irate reader who harangued my boss for 20 minutes about the magazine becoming way too liberal, only caring about green building and small houses. I was standing right behind publisher Tim Schreiner at the time, my hand over my name tag, pretending to listen to Michael Chandler. But I swear that if the argument had come to blows, I would have jumped in.
The folks at Ridgid have introduced a couple of new tools that look interesting to me. One is a small circular saw designed to cut fiber-cement siding that has a built-in dust collection system. They added a second fan at the back of the motor, geared up to a high speed, that pulls in 90% of the dust. You don't need a separate vacuum, just a drywall bucket. It costs $199.
Ridgid also has a new cordless 15-ga. finish nailer that everyone in the booth was excited about. Of course, that may be because the tool showed up on the third day of the show (that's cutting it pretty close). It uses a flywheel to generate force and runs on a lithium-ion battery. I asked why it was better than the competition's, and got the response "It's 2 lb. lighter than DeWalt's." I didn't get a chance to try it, but I will. We'll have one sent to the office and report on it in the magazine.
Swanson Tool, the folks who brought us the Speed Square, just introduced the Wood Magnet, which is a funny name since the thing is really a level and doesn't have a magnet in it. But it's kinda cool, and I can imagine it coming in handy. It's similar to their post level, but is designed to clip over 2x framing lumber, leaving your hands free. Cost: $10.99.
In the afternoon, I gave my camera to associate editor Chris Ermides and told him to go find good stuff. He was gone so long that I'm sure he was in a casino gambling, but he did come back eventually, excited, or at least intrigued, by a couple of products. One was a flexible flashing for curved windows and doors called Astro Flashing. The other was insulated forms for concrete slabs. They provide insulation and forms in a single step and then, of course, stay in place.
Even though I'm headed home later, I'll still be at the show today, and I've definitely seen some more things you should hear about. I'll try to post a few things over the weekend.
posted in: Blogs, business, energy efficiency, circular saw
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How to Paint Fiber-Cement Siding
Painter Jim Lacey shares some tips for caulking and painting fiber-cement siding. read more
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About this blog
As the editor of Fine Homebuilding, I spend my weekdays trying to produce a magazine that will satisfy 300,000 of the most demanding builders, both professional and amateur. As the owner of a 200-year old Cape in Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills, I spend weekends working on my house.
Each activity invariably informs, and complicates, the other. In this blog, I’ll offer observations from both worlds -- publishing and building -- with the hope of providing some useful or at least entertaining insights.
Comments (3)
If you apply a liberal coat of stain you pour it on, but if you apply a conservative amount you might wipe it on with a damp rag. If you apply liberal techniques and attitudes towards your business finances your business will fail. This is what I am talking about. NOT about a democrat or republican, although what the guys at the trade show are complaining about is the fact that the magazine is beginning to take “sides” and they don’t like it. This magazine is about building houses and nothing else, politics will get in the way. I stated in my first comment that I am separating green from liberal.
Posted: 2:43 pm on February 20th
Posted: 10:45 pm on January 29th
Posted: 9:48 am on January 27th
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