A tool I’ve just discovered in the past year but really REALLY like using is a set of Kant Twist clamps. I use them for welding but they are also used in the woodshop for easily securing thing which I cant allow to slide around.
The copper clamp pads rotate around and each face has a groove at a different angle for holding rod and steel shapes securely.
I store mine overhead in a corner of one room in my shop:
There are other clamps that use a cantilever sort of principle for tightening. The ones I have are made by URKO and I have one each in the 10 inch (404C10), 16 inch (404C16) and 24 inch (404C24) sizes. They are made in Spain.
I also hang them overhead:
Spotted these Stanley locking pliers @ Lowes, looks like a play on the Milwaukee style adjusting knob with a niffty lock switch… the prices are of the items on the pegs below but they were priced $14-$24ish
https://goo.gl/photos/zm8fNsAd7Nf6de959
https://goo.gl/photos/cbnSHbrtNAeFQZw46
https://goo.gl/photos/NogZjnPvGG4ZykCv8
https://goo.gl/photos/iBbpRtiGQyuiqmZz7
I found no signs of them on Amazon.
I saw those at Lowes the other day too. The feel of the finish is strange, hard and rough. I’m not sure if it is a grip thing. I’m not saying it’s bad, just different. They also seemed lighter than they should be, but my point of reference is the pairs of Vise Grips that have been handed down to me.
There is nothing like a nicely coped joint for trimming out corners - especially irregular ones.
We had 2 older Bosch Barrel-Grip Jig Saws (1584VS) equipped with Collins Coping Foot (#88756) that once you got the hang of it did a pretty good job - with just some minor touch up needed. Collins makes some different models for Bosch, Carvex etc. Here is a link to one:
So nothing new here - but I just saw a more elaborate setup - called the Scribe Master - that claims to be a more production oriented jig - to mount on a miter saw stand:
With mounting kit:
http://www.amazon.com/Scribe-Master-SMMKP-Quick-Mount-Kit/dp/B00GIIINBG/ref=pd_sim_sbs_469_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=416Cb4rMkcL&dpSrc=sims&preST=AC_UL160_SR160%2C160&refRID=0CAPKHC6HZHXWDY6YAKN
and carrying bag
http://www.amazon.com/Scribe-Master-SMCBP-Cope-Pro-Bag/dp/B00GIIEJBO/ref=pd_sim_sbs_469_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=318wEDsg2uL&dpSrc=sims&preST=AC_UL160_SR160%2C160&refRID=0CAPKHC6HZHXWDY6YAKN
and recommended router bit
http://www.amazon.com/Scribe-Master-SMC02-Router-Bit/dp/B00GIIAYLI/ref=pd_sim_sbs_469_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=21PUrCE7ARL&dpSrc=sims&preST=AC_UL160_SR160%2C160&refRID=0CAPKHC6HZHXWDY6YAKN
your investment would be up around $500 - - IMO a pretty costly piece of gear unless you do an awful lot of copes per day.
Woodpeckers has a new “One Time Tool”
Stainless Steel Triangles allowing you to measure and mark angles. A 3 piece set costs $200 - but they are sold individually as well.
My go to tool for laying out angles is a Starrett Combination square - with a protractor head:
http://www.amazon.com/Starrett-PR-1224W-Reversible-Combination-Protractors/dp/B000VDRVCQ
I have several Starrett combination squares with different blade lengths - that the protractor head will fit:
So this is a one-time tool I’ll probably take a pass on.
very nice…just cant justify the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ my Swanson treats me well,
Amen
Swanson and other speed squares do fine for rafters and the like. I guess that Woodpeckers is trying to market this as a more precise layout tool for octagonal window frames and the like.
There are also lots of variants on the speed/rafter square idea - here’s a link to a few adjustable ones:
Fastcap makes some nice measuring tapes, lifting devices and other miscellaneous do-dads.
Recently they sent me some emails about some new items:
One is a rope cinching device:
Another is what they call a Beau Clip
http://www.fastcap.com/estore/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=56450&idcategory=28
Stuart sent me a link and asked me what I thought of the Beau clips. They seem rather specialized, I couldn’t really think of a good use for them except maybe access panels. I can’t see why you’d want to put removable panels up in an everyday situation, but that’s probably my lack of imagination.
I haven’t seen the rope cinch (at least no the FastCap one) before.
I saw both of those this week. The rope cinch seems pretty cool.
The beau clip is actually very similar to a product we use in production on commercial millwork projects daily.
Starhanger Blue Zero
They actually have a whole line of panel hanging products, aimed primarily at the commercial millwork industry, but also very useful for a variety of projects.
We use the Blue Zero and the Star Lock most often, as we can machine for them on the CNC very efficiently and just put in the hardware on the panel, and the mating screw on the sub panel and they line up without any measuring.
They are also very easy to install manually with just a drill as well. I have used them for many personal projects as well.
The snap in type fastener is not anything new, and has been used in different forms for marine type fasteners for years.
Here is a company with a very comprehensive system:
http://www.fastmount.com/
FastCap is a great company that does a great job helping everyday woodworkers bring their inventions to market. A lot of their products are aimed at cabinet makers and full time woodworkers.
@ Benjamin
My post was not meant as an endorsement - but just that I had recently seen these by way of 2 promotional emails from Fastcap. The rope “Bow Tie” showed up in my email this morning. While I’ve used figure 8 's and so called Figure 9’s and other rope/paracord securing devices from folks like Nite-Ize - my usual expedient is to just form a loop with a figure-8 knot or a bowline on the bight at one end of the rope - loop the standing end around the item to be secured - run it through the loop (as in a running bowline) - cinch it tight and tie it off with a couple of half hitches.
I didn’t mean the comment about not being able to figure out a good use as a criticism of the product, I genuinely am curious what you’d use these for.
Looking at the Starhanger Blue Zero website @Jacob_Edmond posted gave me some more ideas, like using these to conceal the undersides of bathroom sinks, but this still seems rather specialized even for FastCap.
Thank you for posting all the tools, many of the tools are new to me. I may not always comment, but you can be sure I’m looking at them.
@Benjamin
I did not mean to be critical either. I try not to opine on new items I have not tried - or in this case not likely to try. In over 50 years of tool buying, I’m always amazed at the inventiveness of manufacturer’s in attempting to build the better mousetrap and the variations in tool users applications, proclivities and style of working that “make one man’s’ meat another man’s poison” if can an adapt that phraseology. Like you. Thanks to Jacob Edmond’s post I too can see a potential Beau Clips - possibly in boat and RV manufacture.
Got an email from Rockler this morning - promoting this item from Triton:
Work Center - possible competition for Festool MFT
Around Christmas when I was testing the Sears peg workbench I saw this Triton Workcentre. I thought it was really neat that you could drop modules like a table saw or router table into it. But they sure are competing with Festool in the price category.
Triton has a lot of interesting tools, for instance their router lets you adjust the height by rotating the handle and has decent looking dust collection built in.
April Wilkerson is sponsored by them and has a video about the workcenter and some of the attachments. It looks pretty neat for someone without real shop space. I would’ve loved it when I was building on my rental townhouse patio, and pulling tools out of the closet, but I also wouldn’t have been able to afford it then.
Triton Workcenter Unboxing
Triton seems to be coming out swinging trying to make a name and seems to be pretty decent quality, but I don’t have any first hand experience yet.
Thanks for the link to video - reminds me a bit of my early days in woodworking when Sears sold a batch of fixtures to turn your circular saw into a table saw, your jigsaw into a scroll saw, drill into a drill press etc. To be sure this Triton table and its add-ons seem like a more modern and functional take on the idea.
Triton has been around for ages. Maybe 40 years? I had one of their Series 2000 Work Centers which used a circular saw and was portable to take on site. This new stuff looks pretty neat but expensive.
