SS-D10 Burner

Pyrographic Tools

It's always great to come across another Canadian company that is a recognized leader in their field. Razertip Industries has been setting the standard for hot-wire pyrographic tools since the mid-1980s. They manufacture two burner units, three fixed tip pens, one interchangeable tip pen, and over 250 different tip shapes. If they don't have the tip you're looking for, then you likely don't need it! You can purchase Razertip products from Lee Valley or

Chipping  Away, or on-line from Razertip.

If you carve birds, fish, reptiles or whatever, then you owe it to yourself to check out Razertip.

Stanley MaxLife™ Tripod LED Flashlight

Stanley's new tripod style LED flashlight combines emerging LED technology with innovative industrial design. The MaxLife™ 369™ Tripod is capable of generating more than 200 hours of continuous run-time when loaded with a full compliment of batteries, and unlike other flashlights on the market, it incorporates parallel energy cell technology. The articulating head allows you to focus the light right where you need it.

“Parallel energy cell technology refers to the manner in which each aluminum cell or battery compartment operates in conjunction with the electronic circuitry in the light,” said Greg Lavigne, Product Marketing Manager, Stanley Canada.  “The circuitry controls the flow of the current, maximizing the load to the system receiving the energy, in this case the LEDs.”

The retail price for the MaxLife™ 369 ™ Tripod is $34.99.  It is available at hardware stores and home centers wherever Stanley® products are sold.

Irwin Miter Saw Laser Guide

Retrofitting your miter saw into a laser guided power tool is as easy as replacing the washer on the saw's arbor. It automatically goes on and off with blade rotation, and has a battery life of 3,000 hours. All the details here.

Woodhaven Coping Sleds

Woodhaven has announced a set of coping sleds for the professional woodworker or serious hobbyists. These sleds are designed for use on a shaper or a router table and are available in different sizes.  The 525 Sled ($169.99) features a 15-3/4" square x 1/2" thick phenolic base, a 24" fence, adjustable steel miter bar and three 500 lb. toggle clamps.  The 526 Sled ($114.99) features an 11-3/4" square x 1/2" thick phenolic base, a 12" fence, adjustable steel miter bar and two 500 lb. toggle clamps.  The 528 Sled ($92.99) features a 7-1/2" x 11-5/8" x 1/2" thick phenolic base, 12" fence, adjustable steel miter bar and one 500 lb toggle clamp.  The 529 Sled ($75.99) features a 7-1/2" x 11-5/8" x 1/2" thick phenolic base, 12" fence and one 500 lb. toggle clamp.  The sleds are available through select dealers or direct from Woodhaven. Note: Pricing is in $US.

Micro Fence Portable Three-Axis Mill

The Micro Fence "Portable Three-Axis Mill" is a high-precision plunge base for trimmer motors that maximizes set-up efficiency and versatility in a wide range of routing activities. It features machine-tool measurement in setting the depth-of-cut and accepts several different OEM motors. Its LED light source provides unprecedented clarity in the cutting area and can be mounted in any of four different positions in either the motor carriage or the base. Compatible with all Micro Fence Edge Guide System components.

New Heavy Duty German Manufactured Bits

Bondhus introduces a complete line of bits for use with screwdrivers, ratchets and power drivers.  These bits are available in a wide variety of tip types, including Phillips, Pozi, Torx, and Slotted, and lengths from 1" through 6".  Many of these bits are available with the patented CVD-TiN coating, a ceramic coating of Titanium Nitride.  This coating is extremely hard, which significantly reduces tip wear. The CVD-TiN is also has a very rough surface, which improves the grip between the bit and the screw head.  This means less slippage and cam out.

High Pressure Woodgrain Laminates

Kendo, named after Japanese swords made of bamboo, is one of many unique items in Nevamar's high pressure laminate woodgrain collection.  All new patterns are offered in high pressure laminate and LamMates™ thermo fused melamine panels. Nevamar’s woodgrain collection is available in a wide variety of patterns.

All Nevamar® high pressure laminates offer years of easy-care performance due to its exclusive, award-winning Armored Protection™ Surface, which gives the laminates superior durability, abrasion and scuff-resistance properties.  Nevamar’s Armored Protection™ Surface results in retention of the pattern clarity and a “brand new” appearance for a much longer period of time. 

Stud 4 Sure

C.H. Hanson has introduced a new mini stud finder, the Stud 4 Sure. Small and practical is the by-word here. Contact C.H. Hanson for product details.

Beginner's Chip Carving Kit

Everyone in Canada's carving community knows Dennis 'Pop' Moor as a kind of carving guru. He operates 'Chipping Away' one of the best web sites for carving information and supplies, and is also involved in the annual International Carver's Conference (held this year in Kitchener, ON, from Sept 9 to 11).

Pop is also the designer of a unique line of chip carving knives, known as the Moor Knives. He's also written a new 96 page instructional book (Chip Carver's Workbook) specifically geared to the beginner and novice chip carver.

The book, a large or small chip carving knife, and 4 basswood practice boards stenciled with patterns from the workbook are available as a kit for $53.50. If you've ever thought of trying chip carving, or if you're looking for a fabulous gift for someone, you really want to check out this kit.

The newly designed Moor chip carving knives have innovative handles that are ergonomically shaped. Molded from superior synthetics, their texture provides a high coefficient of friction, which, as Pop says, "means they won't slip in your hand!"). There are two sizes of knives - one for those with large hands, and one for those with smaller hands. I have large hands, and found both knives to be very comfortable to use. With the larger knife you can do some pretty aggressive cutting, while the smaller one is very easy to control when making more delicate, detailed cuts. The blades on these knives are hardened to a Rockwell 60, and they hold their edges well, and can be honed to razor sharpness.

The 'Chip Carver's Workbook' is very well written. It's easy to read and follow, and there are ample photographs and illustrations that take you through all the basic elements of chip carving. There are sections on wood selection, tools, sharpening, layout, lettering, and finishing. The stenciled patterns on the basswood practice blocks are a great idea. You'll quickly see that chip carving is one of the easier carving skills to acquire - there are a small variety of basic techniques that you can learn fairly quickly, and from there on its practice, practice and practice. The nice thing is that fairly quickly you can produce a simple chip carved pattern. There are seven projects in the book that help you build your skills.

This is an excellent kit for anyone wanting to learn the craft of chip carving.

Thin Air Press Kit

This Canadian invention was originally developed for building skateboards, but it does a credible job of veneering small panels. The kit consists of a 20 mil heavy-duty vinyl vacuum bag with an integral one-way valve attachment, a length of breather netting (to prevent trapped air), two rolls of butyl rubber sealing tape, a hand pump, and instructions. The bags come in two sizes, 14" by 47" and 26" by 28". I tested the narrow but long bag kit ($54.99), which is available direct from Roarockit. The squarish kit is available for $59.99 Roarockit and $72.50 from Lee Valley (go figure).

The press is easy to use. After gluing your veneer to a substrate cover it with a piece of the netting, then place everything into the vinyl bag, seal the open end of the bag with the butyl rubber tape, then suck the air from the bag using the hand pump attached to the one-way valve. The vacuum creates about 12 psi of pressure, which is ample for most veneering. You can re-use everything.

I tried the kit half a dozen times, veneering commercial and shop made veneer to plywood and MDF. It worked very well (you can see in the bottom picture that the veneer is cleanly pressed to the substrate.) I found it best to veneer each side separately. In the top picture I've put in a piece that's about 10" by 44". It required about 60 pump actions to drive all the air out of the bag. I found the butyl rubber sealing tape to be a pain in the butt to use. It's hard to pull apart, and by the fourth pressing it was peeling off the bag. I simply wrapped the end of the bag around a length of wood and clamped it shut. Works great. Otherwise, I'm well pleased with the Thin Air Press. It won't replace my vacuum veneer press, but for small pieces, it's a good deal. Nice thing is that it doesn't take up hardly any space.

Understanding Wood Finishing

by Bob Flexner. Soft cover, 350 pages, over 750 photos, ISBN: 1589232003, $29.95

I have been using Bob Flexners "Understanding Wood Finishing" since it first came out in 1994. It's widely recognized as the best finishing book on the market. Comprehensive, reliable, and very well written, this book provides a wealth of information for both the novice and advanced woodworker.

The book has recently been revised and updated with new technical information, detailed step-by-step instructions, reference tables, and a wealth of new photos and illustrations.

The first two chapters deal with the why of finishing and surface preparation, while the third chapter covers the tools of the finishing trade. From there, Flexner moves on to staining, oil finishes, wax finishes and pore filling. The meat of the book comes next, with comprehensive information on the film finishes (shellac, lacquer and varnish), two part finishes, and water based finishes. This is followed by an excellent review of how to choose the right finish for your work. The final chapters cover advanced coloring, rubbing finishes, caring for, repairing, and removing finishes.

The new photos in this book, and the illustrations, are top notch, and really help to clarify the text. There is also an excellent list of suppliers. Lastly, it has a comprehensive index, which makes it quick and easy to find a specific topic you are looking for.

Buy this book. You won't be disappointed.

New eCommerce Web Site

Brian Bennett, of Custom WoodShapes is pleased to announce the launch of his new eCommerce web site dedicated to the sale of Canadian woodworkers’ products. To date over 40 Canadian woodworkers from 3 provinces have signed on to have Brian sell their custom woodworking products.

With over 300 products currently displayed
on the web site, web buyers have plenty to
choose from. The majority of the products
displayed can be customized to the buyer’s own specifications. CustomWood Shapes works directly with both the selected woodworker and the buyer to craft exactly what the buyer wants. Everything is made to order and shipped directly to the buyer from the woodworker’s shop.

CustomWoodShapes’s commitment is that
“if it is made of wood” we can get it crafted
for you. With this commitment in mind Brian sought and signed on woodworkers from a wide variety of woodworking disciplines and who excel at crafting unique products.

Rocker-Glider Patent for Sale

Gary Pugh has designed a new mechanical action chair. The rocker-glider has the look of a regular rocker, but has two extra rockers. The chair combines elements of a Rocker, Glider, and Slider type of chair. The chair has a larger than average seat, allowing people of different body types or more than one person, such as a parent and child, to sit comfortably.

Contact Gary if you are interested in purchasing the patent rights to the chair or for buying a blueprint that you can use to construct your own chair.

Wood Shows

Here are the shows for September. For a complete listing of shows for the balance of 2005 click here.

Sept 16-18, Saskatoon Tool & Hobby Show

Sept 23-25, Red River Tool & Hobby Show

Sept 23-25, Northern Ontario Wood Carving Competition

Sept 24-25, 20th Canadian Wildlife Carving Championships

Sept 30-Oct 2, Woodstock Wood Show

Garry Carter from Regina sends us this silhouette of the town skyline done up in birch. You'll notice that he's left the bark on the two sides. The piece is 5/8 inch and 9 inches by  12 inches. Garry used black mat board for the backing to bring out the detail, and a #5 reverse tooth blade to cut it out.  Where there were lines to add detail he first cut them with the reverse tooth blade because of better control, then used a #2 spiral blade to widen the cut.

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