Canadian Woodworking Magazine eNewsletter


Steel City Tool Works Oscillating Edge Sander
	Steel City will be introducing their Model 55230 Oscillating Edge Sander this July. The sander has a heavy-duty solid cabinet base and an adjustable cast iron table with three-inch vertical travel. The adjustable 6" x 89" belt can be used at 90° to 180° for all sanding applications. Simplified belt changing, tensioning and tracking allow for fast belt changes. While the heavy duty frame and motor mount prevent belt creep when shifting from vertical to horizontal head positions. The 4" dust port ensures efficient dust removal and can be easily moved depending on application. An auxiliary table, fence system, back stop fence and miter gauge come standard with this Steel City unit for added versatility. The sander comes equipped with: 2 HP, single phase TEFC, 230 volt motor, auxiliary table, fence system, back stop fence, miter gauge and user instruction manual. The Sander is also backed by the Steel City Tool Work’s five-year warranty.

Forrest No-Melt Saw Blade
	Forrest Manufacturing has designed a special No-Melt saw blade that has a unique tooth style and side clearances to produce cool, melt-free cuts on plastic sheets – even when stacked. It also delivers clean cuts on extruded profiles. Forrest’s No-Melt saw blades have a 5-inch face rake and are available in a variety of sizes – from 7 ¼" to 16" in diameter – including metric. The blades have 60, 80, 100 or 120 teeth and a 5/8 or 1-inch center hole, depending on their diameter. Like all Forrest blades, the No-Melt is precision engineered of the highest quality blend of corrosion-resistant C-4 micrograin carbide, coupled with proprietary grinding techniques. Exceptional perimeter concentricity and side runout of +/- .001 ensure chip and melt-free cuts, plus superior handling and performance.

Black & Decker SC1400 14.4 Lithium-ion Drill Driver
	Don’t let size fool you! Black & Decker’s new super compact 14.4 Volt Lithium-ion Cordless Drill is 40% smaller than standard 18 volt drills, yet delivers up to 100% more power. This ultra-lightweight, compact drill out performs standard 18 volt drills in drilling/driving performance. High voltage drills are heavy and often too bulky for tight spaces. With its small size, high-torque motor and newly designed gearbox, the 14.4 Volt Lithium-ion drill gets the job done in tight places such as drilling large holes between joists, loosening rusty nuts and bolts under sinks, assembling furniture and more. This high-tech style, super compact cordless drill is built around Lithium-ion batteries, which are smaller and lighter than other power tool batteries and hold a charge for up to 18 months (5 times longer than their NiCad cordless drill counterparts.) A state-of-charge indicator on the drill shows how much battery charge remains. An all metal single sleeve chuck with spindle lock provides faster and easier changing of bits with more durability than two sleeve chucks. The drill is sold with a charging station for grab and go convenience. $129.99

CMT Dado Pro
	The CMT stackable Dado Pro is the perfect tool for woodworkers, DIYers, and contractors who don’t want to break the bank buying an 8-in. dado head but do want a quality tool. The kit’s two rim blades and five chippers cut a perfectly flat-bottomed dado which is essential to quality joinery. The Dado Pro comes equipped with four 1/8" chippers and one 1/16" chipper. It handles grooves, dadoes, and rabbets from 1/4" to 13/16" wide. Each chipper is individually labeled with its dimension and this feature is not found with every dado head. A set of seven steel dado shims is included with the set to help hit those “in between” measurements and the size of each shim is clearly indicated which takes the guesswork out of choosing which shim to use for a perfect cut. The anti-kickback design of the teeth limits the amount of stock removal without adversely affecting performance. This feature makes the Dado Pro a great choice for underpowered saws. Even the owner’s manual is well thought out. It includes “recipes” of chipper and rim blade combinations to simplify set up for any user. The Dado Pro comes in a sturdy carrying case and the components are safely bolted into the case. The CMT Dado Pro has a street price of $149. The model number is #230.012.08.

Skil Tools Introduces New 3 1/4" Planer and Jigsaw
Skil 1560 Skil 4290	Skil has introduced two new products that are sure to be of interest to DIYers and home hobbyists. The Model 1560 electric hand planer has 5.5 amps of power and an 11 position depth control knob that allows for precise micro-adjustments. An adjustable auxiliary handle offers customizable comfort and control and the left and right handed controls allow users to get the grip that’s right for them. The on-board wrench storage offers convenience and the edge and rabbet guides make cuts quick and accurate, while a chip collection bag makes post-job clean-up a snap. The spring-loaded foot park keeps the blades from marring the work surface, helping to eliminate gouges when setting the tool down. Two reversible carbide blades and machined front and rear shoes provide smooth cuts every time. The Model 4290 jigsaw is equipped with a tool-less blade change system that accepts both T and U shape blades, a 4.5-amp motor, and an active dust blower so users can always see the cut line. On-tool blade storage keeps the tool and blades together. The new variable speed jigsaw delivers unmatched comfort with an ergonomically designed handle with a two-finger trigger.

Stanley MaxLife™ Illumination Tools
	Whether it’s for emergency lighting around the house or better visibility on the job, get illuminated with the Stanley MaxLife Illumination Tools. Now with four new models added to the popular lineup ranging from a mini key-chain design to models with a titanium finish and hands-free tripod option, MaxLife flashlights shine in every situation. They all feature a bright-white 1.25 watt LED light, four-position switch (low, medium, high, or off), multi-position head, and a flashing low-power indicator light to let the user know the batteries have less than eight hours of life and need to be replaced. When loaded with a full complement of batteries, MaxLife™ Tripod flashlights generate more than 200 hours of continuous run-time. From $9.99 to $34.99

Skil 3100-01 X-Bench Hero
	The SKIL 310001 X-Bench was designed with the homeowner in mind. The workstation comes folded for easy storage in tight spaces. It folds out, creating a working surface that measures 53" x 23". The aluminum legs are independently adjustable, allowing users set the table at the height level that best suits their needs, from 24" up to 36". The SKIL X-Bench is loaded with features. The new and innovative cut channel, located in the center of the bench, makes cutting materials quick and easy. No other portable workstation provides this type of cutting solution in the industry. Two table sections pull apart, exposing the cut channel, which can be used with circular saws up to 7-1/4". The table top is constructed from a tough MDF (medium density fiberboard) material. Ruler markings are provided on the MDF wood surface for accurate measurements. Additional features include a miter gauge slot and a bump-off power switch. The SKIL X-Bench comes with a range of accessories, including a universal insert plate, downdraft table, clamping kit and tail vise. Available in June 2007. $149.99.

Stanley FatMax™ Mobile Project Center
	Stanley's FatMax Mobile Project Center is an innovative two-in-one product that combines a convenient work surface with the functionality of a hand cart. The product, which can be converted from one application to another in three simple steps, and folds flat for easy storage, has heavy duty metal legs and a robust frame that can support up to 660 lbs. on the work surface and 220 lbs. on the hand cart. Additional features such as integrated clamps and electrical sockets give the user uninhibited mobility. $118.99.

4th Annual Welbeck Wood Expo
	Mark you calendars for August 10 and 11, 2007 - the Welbeck Sawmill in Durham, ON, is holding its 4th annual wood expo. There will be vendor exhibits, seminars, show specials, tours of their shingle mill, and a food booth. Best of all, entrance is free.

Slide-Lok Garage Interior and Storage Cabinets
Slatwall hooks Slatwall baskets	Organizing a garage or workshop is always a bit of a challenge. The folks at Slide-Lok aim to make your storage challenges less onerous. In addition to a wide range of modular cabinet systems from 5' to 16' widths, they offer a slat wall system with fully adjustable storage baskets, hooks and racks. To find the Canadian dealer nearest you click here.

Unique Woodworking Business For Sale
	If you've ever wanted to own your own 'hands on' woodworking business then this just might be the opportunity you've been waiting for. After more than 20 years making rocking horses, Gord Brown is retiring, and selling Gordon's Wood Crafts. Gord is looking for someone with a passion for woodworking that may be interested in continuing with this unique business. Even if you have never made a rocking horse before, it is not difficult to learn. As well as selling completed rocking horses the company sells everything needed to make them, including plans, books, accessories, videos, wood packs, and tools. The company has been in business for over 20 years and has customers located in fourteen different countries. For more information contact Gord.