King Arthur’s Tools claims that being able to see what you’re sanding means you’ll work faster because you don’t have to keep removing the tool to see your progress. With their Holey Galahad carving discs, you can actually see through the disc to the surface you’re cutting. The discs can be used on wood, fiberglass, plastic, foam core, soapstone, and other materials.

Made in the USA, the discs will fit most 4-1/2″ and 125mm angle grinders — just be sure to keep the speed under 14,000RPM. The 4″ diameter steel discs have sharp conical tungsten carbide teeth bonded over the cutting surface and can be used on both the face and the edge

(more…)

Not many people are going to need a stainless steel pipe polisher, but the tool just looks really cool.  You can use Fein’s RS 12-70 to grind pipe welds, sand pipes to a satin finish, or polish pipes to a mirror finish and anywhere in between.

The variable-speed sander can drive the belt to speeds up to 22 m/s.  The belts rides on what I’m assuming are spring-loaded arms that allow the belt to flex around the pipe so you can surface all 360° of the pipe in only two passes.

(more…)

Sharpening flat edges is relatively easy; trying to match the curve of a gouge requires more skill and a bunch of curved stones. DMT is trying to make it easier to keep a keen edge on your curved tools with their new Diamond Wave.

While it looks like a piece of metal that’s had a bad day, it’s actually a combination of convex and concave surfaces coated with a micronized mono-crystalline diamond coating. The curves vary precisely from a radius of 0.0625″ to 1″, which gives it the ability to sharpen a wide range of curved tools. You can use the Diamond Wave dry or with water.

DMT makes the Diamond Wave in the USA. Available in fine (25-micron/600 mesh) or extra-fine (9-micron/1200-mesh), pricing starts at $47 shipped for either “stone.”

DMT Diamond Wave [Press Release]
Diamond Wave [WoodCraft]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]

Add Manufacturer DMT (http://www.dmtsharp.com/index.html))

At one time in my life, the Dremel was the only power tool I owned and I used it for everything. It still finds its way into almost any carving or fine-scale modeling project I manage to undertake. Now Dremel has added another bullet to the already extensive accessory-laden gun with the new detail abrasive brush.

Each of the finger-style bristles on the brush has a bit of sanding abrasive embedded in it that wears down as the brush is used up to expose new grit, eliminating the need for abrasive compound. It also negates the need to replace the wheel after you wear the first bit of abrasive off. The entire wheel is abrasive, instead of just a bunch of sanding grit glued to paper.

(more…)

We’re seeing more and more dust collection devices aimed at the home woodworker. For instance, you wouldn’t think a flexible shaft tool would kick out much sawdust, but then again it doesn’t take much sawdust to make a huge mess. Enter the Flexible Shaft & Dust Extractor, sold by Lee Valley.

Connect the 6mm flexible shaft to any tool with a chuck — just don’t try to run the shaft in reverse or over 10,000 RPM — and connect a vacuum to the dust collection port, and you’re ready to do some shaping, sanding, grinding, or whatever rotary operation you choose with less mess.

On the end of the 46″ flexible shaft is a handle with a three-jaw 3/8″ Jacobs style chuck surrounded by the dust collecting shroud. You connect the vacuum via a 1-1/4″ diameter, 54″ long hose that comes off the rear of the handle.

Not only does this $105 tool look a lot like an attachment for King Arthur’s Tools Guinevere total sanding system, but the optional dust extractor extender is also identical, so we’re guessing King Arthur’s is the supplier of this flexible shaft tool.

Flex Shaft and Dust Extractor [Lee Valley]
Guinevere Accessories [King Arthur's Tools]

$5 for a two-pack is a lot to pay for what amounts to some six-sided sand paper, but for special jobs, these could be just the trick. Ever tried to prepare the inside of a turned wooden bowl for lacquer or stain? T-minus two minutes to cramped fingers, unless you have a few of these in your tool chest. Home Depot and Lowe’s both carry a variety of grits and dimensions.

Sanding Sponge Pack [Gator Grit]
Street Pricing [Google Products]

Marshalltown designed the Rapid Rasp to be a low-cost tool for shaving foam insulation and EIFS (Exterior Insulation Finishing System) to size.

(more…)

Removing putty from windows is almost never a fun task — you run the risk of breaking the window if you push the wrong way, and you can scorch the wood if you try applying heat.  I usually end up just using a putty knife and hoping for the best, but this Prazi Putty Chaser looks like it could take a lot of the work out of the job.

(more…)

The versatility of the reciprocating saw puts it on the list of must-have tools, but here’s one use we bet you hadn’t thought about: power rasp!  Paws Off manufactures a rasp blade that fits most reciprocating saws, for if you ever need to remove some wood in a hurry.

Attach the Woodhog-Rasp to clean out notches, round over edges and corners, or shape curves faster than a hand-held rasp and without banging your knuckles.

We’ve yet to see pictures of the other side of the rasp, so we’re not sure if it’s curved or flat, or if it even has teeth, but if the Woodhog fills a need that you didn’t even know you had, you can pick it up for around $27.

Woodhog-Rasp Adapter [Paws Off]
Street Pricing [Google]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]

The sanding block I currently use is whatever scrap wood I can find — this works well for the most part, but the possibility of something better out there piques my interest.  Looking at all the various options, I’m thinking a basic model would be best for me, rather than a more ergonomic one, and I want something that takes a quarter to a third of a sheet.  3M’s 9248NA Sanding Block fits these requirements, so I’m going to give it a shot.

(more…)

The Dremel has long reigned as king of the multi-tools because it can handle most small to medium-size jobs with ease, but several contenders are looking to unseat the Dremel from its throne, including Rockwell’s SoniCrafter.  Instead of turning its attachments through a full revolution, the SoniCrafter’s “Microsonic” technology creates a high-frequency oscillating back-and-forth motion that makes the tool easy to control.

(more…)

Stop thinking with your stomach — we’re not talking about the candy bar, but the abrasive product from FastCap that lets you break or relieve the sharp edges of sheet goods, hardwoods, or softwoods with just one pass.

(more…)

Back when I was an artilleryman in the military, when we found rust on the cannons we called it “artillery gold.”  Little did I know that the artillery gold would follow me in my post-military years;  any times there’s a rapid temperature change, or rain, or high humidity, a thin layer of water covers my shop equipment and the rusting process starts.  Nowadays I remove that “tool gold” with Klingspor’s SandFlex Sanding Blocks.

(more…)

R.J.R. Studios claims their SAND-FLEE portable drum sander is more versatile than an overhead drum sander, is easier to use than a belt sander, and gives you more control than an orbital sander.  It also runs very clean, capturing most of the dust in its base even without a vacuum attached to its 2-1/2″ dust port.

(more…)

Polishing metals and plastics is almost an art, with so many different polishing materials and compounds to choose from.  If you’re looking for an easy way to get into polishing, or if you just need to restock the basic supplies, Eastwood’s Deluxe Polishing Kit can help — it includes the tools you need to work on large open items or in the details.

(more…)

Don’t throw out your favorite beer mug just because you chipped the rim — with DMT’s Crystal Saver file you can smooth the sharp edges and keep on drinking without cutting up your lip.

The Crystal Saver is a 4″ long half-round nickel file coated with a coarse grit of diamonds.  DMT gave the file a fake crystal handle — probably so you’ll put it in the silverware drawer, not the toolbox.

It’ll smooth jagged edges on hard material such as glass, china, or ceramic.  Just moisten the file and take a few light strokes over the chip with the flat side.  Use the round side to take care of sharp dips.

You’ll pay around $18 for the Crystal Saver.

Crystal Saver [DMT]
Street Pricing [Google]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]

Most firearm owners will recognize this nylon bristle brush, especially if they’ve been in the service — the brush is included as standard issue with all M16s in the military.  One end is a normal toothbrush and the other end has a very thin version of the same brush. This narrow brush will enter most of those smaller areas to get them squeaky clean.

I personally keep two of these brushes in the shop:  one in the parts washer and another in the toolbox. The brush is made by many manufacturers, but I believe the Kleen-Bore is the most popular commercial version.

Street pricing starts at $2.

Gun Brush [Kleen-Bore]
Street Pricing [Google]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]