I had a bunch of custom Oak work to do this week, a bow window sill and some shelves with curved corners. I dont have a belt sander but the HO did he let me use his.
Unbelievable! That tool is awesome. I cant believe how well that thing works.
I gotta have one.
Anyone else stumble through life with a tool they didnt know they needed?
Replies
I only recently discovered locking plyers, I had no idea there was such a thing and for years used a regular set of plyers to remove screws with stripped heads. The locking plyers make that a simple task.
You think vise grips are cool for removing stripped 'items,'
Check out screw extractors!
Drill a hole in your screw head, ping one of these in there and it bites when you back out the two together.
http://www.irwin.com/irwin/consumer/jhtml/browse.jhtml?catId=IrwinCat100497"Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing..."
If it was not for vise grips i would not be able to roll down my windows in my truck
You've got nothing on Red Green:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfnwEgWDwx0"Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing..."
Multimaster
Festool saw system
belt sander here too. so easy to take off wood.
hmmmm, your post perplexs me
Yeah, I couldnt believe how effective it was in rounding over corners and flattening the occasional seam.
If u think that the belt sander is cool try a well equipt router
so easy to take off wood.
There are hand methods that work as well and can be more gratifying.
If you think a belt sander is cool, you should try a good random orbital sander. You'll think you died and went to abrasion heaven. Try out PCs new mini-belt sander, it's euphoric.
PC 7335 I got it about 15 or so years ago. Still cranks out the work, I have 2 other OS but the 7335 is the big daddy. It's got the power.I remember when I got my first Sawzall. WOW!Lately it would have to be my PLS2E and my Fein MM. Double wow!
<"You'll think you died and went to abrasion heaven">
Just trying to picture that.
Forrest If there's a rock and roll heaven, ya' know they got a hell of a band . . .saw
Yeah, I really lack in the sanding area. I only have a 4x4 palm sander.
Anyone else stumble through life with a tool they didnt know they needed?
Only until I reached puberty. Then I discovered what it was good for.
Solar & Super-Insulated Healthy Homes
copy THAT!
Ahhhh Riversong. I knew you would come over to the humor side sooner or later, you're too damned smart not to.
Good one...
your left hand or right? 8+)
Glad to see you were able to come out of your bedroom long enough to reply.:>)
Make sure Piffin sees that.Good one Riversong.
I have found that moving blankets make pretty nice drop clothes. They can be picked up at places like northern tool for like $5. 5'x5' approximately.They also double for dog crate covers.They are nice and padded.
My latest epiphany:
That would've been the only thing better on this job. I'll get the belt first.
Good call...the belt sander is a great tool to have......I suggest noise canceling headphones to go with that purchase--the perfect combination.
The table would be good for big boards. Most of my projects are small.
The best tools I have recently bought.
Those sanders look similar to mine. They sure are handy.
Two come to mind: Impact driver and SDS drill. In each case, as soon as I got one, it was an epiphany.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
23ga pinner..I liked the first one so much, I got a second one for longer pins.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
Really dont use my impact, but I agree with the SDS.
"Really dont use my impact, but I agree with the SDS."
Then how do you sink the Tapcons after you drill the hole with the SDS? The ID is the only way to fly, man. ;-)
Havent tried it for tapcons. I bought it for deck bolts and the like and I kept busting bits off in the chuck.
I'll have to bring it along next time.
A good jigsaw. For years I used an old B and D one, and recently bought a real one (Bosch 1590). That thing cuts though 3/4 plywood with cuts perfect. No more angled cuts!
For hanging drywall lid, there is nothing better than a lift. You can hang alone, and $25-$30 a day is the cheapest helper you'll ever have.
collins coping foot ...just did a bedroom with all new custom trim...put on the foot for the first time, and viola...magic.
"The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a governmental program" -Ronald Reagan
If you think a belt sander is something, try one of these. . .
View Image
http://joes-stuff1960.blogspot.com/
Imust admit that is king of all sannders
For those of you that have belt sanders and don't use em much - get yourself the mini porter cable sander and you'll be amazed how easy and cool it is to scribe again.Handy little sucker.I'll second the 23ga pinner as well. Don't know how all the trim guys here can get by without one - it's one of the handiest tools I own.JT
Makita 6916 impact driver.
Jon Blakemore
RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
I'm gonna have to go with impact driver.
I use it for anything I can.
“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.†—Albert Einstein
MSA,
When I made the decision that I was going to make a career out of carpentry, I began researching tools of the trades. Alot of FHB reading, sending in those number cards to get more info on tools and materials, ogling in other contractors vans, and asking lots of questions. Now it's to the point that I have a hard time finding a tool I NEED....and I do remodeling so I gotta have tools of all trades.
In the past few years I've been figuring out how useful lasers can be...especially for the guy who works alone (me). Recently I did some work alongside some commercial electricians and watched them hanging lights using a laser plumb bob. I've installed enough remodel cans to know right away that I needed a laser plumb bob. Under $40 later, I love it and find alot of uses for it. I also got a couple if laser squares from HD for $9 each(on sale from $99). They sure speed up laying out walls, tile, cabinets. Gotta have two though.
gk
I have a laser plumb and a rotary.
We just hung a kitchen last week. When the granite guy came in he was very impressed with how level our lower cabinets were set.
Less than an eighth out across an ell and 10 feet.
"Less than an eighth out across an ell and 10 feet"Truely not to offend, but 1/8" in 10 feet seems like a lot to me. In an "L" situation like a pennensula, I don't use lasers just levels and can most always get 1/16" difference depending on the cabinet grade. In fact I've gotten several compliments from granite installers. But then, I used to build and install cabinets and Corian tops so I just kinda got used to the tolerance and the installation method....just never had lasers back then.gk
Stupid question time...Without a laser, how the heck would you be able to determine exactly how level or out of level you were on an L shaped 10' wide countertop?Not going to help much moving a 4' level back and forth, maybe a 8' level would help, but I'm thinking that with most levels, determining you were only out 1/16th at 10' would fall well within the error factor of reading the vials and might just be conjecture at best.Even with a water level, be hard to determine 1/16 diff.So how had you (before lasers) detrmined your 1/16th inch accuracy.You may give me an answer that makes me go "DOOOHH!", but it escapes me at the moment.Jt
JT,This may get a bit too descriptive, but here goes...First check the floor with the longest level setup you have. Set shims under the level and use the same exact shim setup to set the first (corner) cabinet dead perfect using a 2' level. Check all four edges and all four diagonals. Then run off of that setting the adjacent cabinets using a 4' level. Each cabinet added must be checked in all eight directions using the 2' level. Note that the accuracy of a level isn't just determined by the lines on the vial, rather it is determined by the gap between the lines and the edges of the bubble. As you progress, you change to a 6' level. Finally we would use an 8' aluminum box beam straight edge on edge and a 4' level on top of that to slide along the tops of the cabinets in random directions. The straight edge should slide flawlessly across the tops in any direction and the bubble should not stray. It should also be noted that it is important to build equally out from that first corner cabinet and constantly check diagonally across the ell. The three major mistakes that I have seen others do is first to start at the high point which may be at the end of an ell leg or in the middle of one of the ell legs. Second mistake is to just get the first cabinet "good enough" thinking they will adjust later. Worse yet is he who just screws lengths of cabinets together then shims as needed. I only did that in the shop on a surface we built to be dead flat. It always amazes me when I try to teach a fellow carpenter what I had been taught only to find them resorting back to their own ways. I admit that my way is tedious, but it is also very accurate. Also, I only use Stabila levels. There may be other quality levels out there but Stabila is the brand that I was taught with and the only brand I trust. It should also be noted that the grade of the cabinet is definitive of the quality of the leveling. I have seen low quality cabinets that have differences in the tops nearing 1/8". In such case you can either level based on corner to corner readings or, if that proves impossible, belt sand the top edges equal. Worse yet, if the floor is waaay out then the bottoms may need to be scribed and cut to the match the floor. I have only had to do that twice and it sucks but it does make shims obsolete and is a sweet look. I have used these techniques many, many times, on common banks, pennensulas, and huge complex islands and have never had problems.Sorry, that probably should have been it's own thread.gk
Sorry, that probably should have been it's own thread.
Not necessary but hitting the return key once in a while is!
I think what we have here is a case of the craftsman vs the machine You obviously have learned your way of making it work.
I have no doubt you can install cabinets dead level.
I also know that it can be done easier, faster, and at least
as accurately with a water or laser level. I think the previous poster misspoke when he said 1/8" Most if not all laser levels are accurate to 1/4' over fifty The better are 1/8" over fifty. And please if I take the time to set up a water level It is level period. The catch is your experience will solve the problems
the toys won't.
>Most if not all laser levels are accurate to 1/4' over fifty
The better are 1/8" over fifty.<
You are shopping at the wrong stores - my laser is not terribly expensive (under $300.) and provides 1/8" in 100' - if you calibrate it - manufacturer provides detailed instructions.
Daylight visible single dot laser, self leveling within 5 degrees, rotates via remote control. Very handy one man operation.
Water levels work great and never go out of calibration, but you can't beat a laser for speed or convenience - especially in a one man operation.
Jim Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
Well my point was you can't really compare to the accuracy of a
laser level, so I guess we're in agreement.
My partner has what sounds exactly what you described- very nice
we use it all the time.
The 1/8" over fifty comes from a quick look I did at Blowes. So
I figure my statement was true and erred on the safe side. To be honest I found the laser plumb bob just as vital. Talk about
saving time, and more accurate( well not compared to a real plumb bob).
No offense taken, but I did say less than an 1/8.
Porter Cable 314 trim saw, picked it up a month or so ago. It makes short work of modifying already installed cabinets for double ovens. Compact, light and powerful, it has proven more useful than I thought. Porter Cable 371 belt sander- great for scribing. You can use it with one hand. Vix bits- been using them for a long time but appreciate them more than ever as the old eyeballs ain't what they used to be. DeWalt- they have a magnetic driver with a flex joint in it. Works great for reversing doors on narrow cabinets, a poorman's substitute for a right angle drill.
Edited 3/20/2008 9:50 am ET by jc21
I think that getting an SDS rotary hammer was a major thing to me. Before that I did anything I could to avoid drilling holes in concrete. I had no idea it was so easy until I got a Bosch Bulldog SDS. And oddly enough - I bought it used from someone here on BT.
Q. How do you know when you're really ugly?
A. Dogs hump your leg with their eyes closed.
I think it's going to be a ti framing hammer, but I don't have one yet.
Who's got that ti bone they don't use they want to dump off to me!?
"Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing..."
Most recent epiphany "Forearm Forklifts" aka mover's straps. About $25, they make moving numerous items safer and easier.
well--- i recently bought a dump trailer.
damn that thing is fun----push a button the thing tilts up in the air and all the rubbish falls out the back as if by magic.
and every time i use it---it just made me an easy $200 or so
may have to sell more roofs to justify buying the dump truck I now wanna get,LOL.
best tool I own besides my check book.
stephen
Dump trucks aren't terribly expensive in and of themshelves. We purchase old grain trucks with a dump bed. Something in fair condition, usually older then me ;) but running will cost around 5k around here.
The will be more expensive to maintain then a trailer though.
CAGIV,
just went to the dump this morning with my little dump trailer.
27 square dropped out the back in nothing flat. Paid about 5K for it
insures for peanuts, does not require another worker to drive it.
stores easily in minimal space
and--super important because I am the worlds worst mechanic-has no engine-cheap to maintain If I downsize again a year from now-- i will probably still keep the trailer-because even as a solo act it would still be extremely usefull to me. however- if i owned a dump truck---I would be a REAL man!!!!
( who wouldn't want one??? It took me 20 years to justify the dump trailer--- i will be retired before I work up to a dump truck----but hey- i have sold 3 roofs in the last 4 days---so who knows???)
stephen
Stephen
Our dump trucks are POS's and I've often thought about replacing it with a dump trailer, however I can't find a dump trailer the size of our dump-truck bed and if I did I would need a truck with a goose-neck hitch to pull it, then someone to drive it etc. The only time I really think of down-sizing is the when the truck breaks down. Usually once every couple - three months and usually for about 200 bucks.
The dump truck makes sense for me because I have a rolling ~30 yard dumpster I can take to a number of different jobs a day if needed, usually not. It's cheaper then roll offs on jobs would be. Any given point we have at least 3 jobs going 6 when we're really rolling.
Ideally I'd have the truck AND a small dump trailer ;)
I'm also in farm country, it's not hard to find reasonable mechanics for the truck and the trucks are usually plentiful. Unfortunetly the one we have is ready to be put out to pasture and I can't seem to find a decent one to replace it for what I think is a fair price.
One thing I would suggest if you don't already have it, a spare tire mounted on the trailer... Once I had a blow out on a trailer that didn't have a spare... that was a royal PITA.
Neil
Edited 4/10/2008 8:46 pm ET by CAGIV
CAGIV,
actually i sprung for a spare tire and mount---which added a couple hundred bucks to the trailer---thanks for reminding me----- I meant at the time to get an appropriate jack ASAP-and have yet to do so.Trailer dealer said he had NEVER had anyone order a dump trailer with a spare tire mount before.dumped 27 square yesterday--cost me $54
my previous trash guy would have charged me $324
Kaching!!!!!!!
Stephen
Farm country? I thought Lawrence was a big city? National champions and all musta swollen their heads quite a bit.
Edited for sp.
Edited 4/11/2008 10:00 pm ET by leftisright
Well living in larger cities myself, I don't care what the local's (which I guess I am now) care to say, Lawrence is a small town.
And yeah, the town's pretty proud of the team... With good reason ;)
Are you gonna keep your coach?
Always liked him, even when he was at ILL.
Doug
Edited 4/12/2008 6:21 pm ET by DougU
I not 100% certain that he has signed anything yet, Self has mentioned he wants to stay and is either in the process of re-working his contract or it's been settled.
He is a great coach and a stand up guy.
CAGIV,
my sister in law considers herself a Jayhawk having earned her PHD there.
she now is a professor in PA.
anyhow--she gave my sons Jayhawk T-shirts years ago.Fast forward to a couple weeks ago. son #1( a fairly clueless kid who pays zero attention now to sports involving a ball)--is walking across HIS campus in southern ohio wearing a jayhawk shirt.the womens track and field throwing coach saw him in the jayhawk shirt--and suddenly he was being mugged by a 2003 plus woman screaming "rock,chalk,jayhawk-----wooohoooooooooo!!!!!!!!!"I am told that means something--but kevin said she scared the hell out of himturns out she is a jayhawk alum.
He distantly knows her because he is on the mens track team---but short of that, he said he would have screamed in terror like a girl.womans throwing coach---- i am thinking average size linebacker.
stephen
Well give it ten years and you'll just be another sububurb of Kansas City. I did see that they widened I-70 between Topeka and Lawrence becasue all of the state employees live in LarryTown. I can remember when there were riots in Manhattan after beating KU so I think you guys handled it much more professionally. Waiting to see if Beasley comes back next year (not gonna happen) to see if K State will beat KU in Manhattan again in my lifetime.
I think it would be good to be more or less a suburb of KC, most of the locals would probably hang me for saying so. The corridor between Overland Park and Lawrence is quickly gettng filled in.
Beasley would be fool to play another a year IMO. He has a golden ticket to the NBA and chancing getting hurt playing for nothing seems like a bad choice to me. Not saying education isn't important, but he can always go back with a much bigger bank roll if he flames out in the NBA.
MM, colins coping foot, festol saw/track, festol pointed orbital sander, vacuum drywall sander, japanese chalk boxes, every size of stabila level, construction master calculator, leather oxy case for construction master, Trojan saw horses.
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.