Review provided by website guest Walt. Do you have a review? Send it to newtoolreviews@gmail.com and we’ll post it.

On the good side:

• The Shop Fox has equal or more power compared to other 12” disc sanders within its price range.
• The Sanding table tilt angle and distance from the sanding face is fairly easily adjusted.
• The dust port seems to work great when a shop vac is attached.
• The unit is fairly quiet.
• The miter table is flat.

 

On the downside:

• The miter slot in the table is not parallel to the in-board edge of the table, so if you want to set the miter slot parallel to the disc face, you must use either a jig or a dial indicator.
• The miter slot will NOT accept a standard 3/8” x ¾” miter slide.
• The Disc face to which the sanding disc attaches is not flat.

 

Either the motor has excessive runout, or the sanding disc face is bent causing the disc face to wobble back and forth/in and out (this is in the horizontal plane-towards and away from the sanding table) so that only the high point of the sanding surface actually cuts (unless a bunch of force is applied, and then it cuts unevenly). When combining the wobble, and the not flat sanding face, it makes it extremely difficult/impossible to do any setup for a precision angle (within 0.1 – 0.3+/- deg or 0.6 degrees total) to be sanded. Even if using a digital protractor, the wobble makes the angular setup within o.3 degree impossible.

The Chalk Hog is used for marking lines at the “snap” of a string.

This is a large marking tool — thus the “Hog” in the name — and is made of a seemingly durable plastic case. A few metal parts accompany the tool — found in the sharpener (for a carpenters pencil), the reel handle, and end of line hook. Everything appears to be built solid for a hard day on the job site, or in the shop.

So simple, yet so beautiful. Who doesn’t enjoy poppin’ blue lines across some fresh plywood just before plunking down a dozen nails? Or snappin’ a stripe across timbers to mark your cuts before grabbing for the worm drive saw? The new Chalk Hog 100 is a step up for an ordinary chalk line tool. It has a finer line that definitely snaps clean, and reportedly uses much less chalk per snap — thus saving you money long term. In building a barn, we put this tool to use time and time again to mark our cuts, nail paths, and more. The fun of “blue line’in” quickly became the best part of the job … and not only because the act of snappin’ the line was fun, but also because it was so easy to use. The end of chalk was no where near in site (considering it holds a full 8oz bottom), the quick reel returned the line with little effort, and the built-in pencil sharpener was an added convenience.

If you are buying your first chalk line tool — get this one. It has all the features of the best at a better price. If you already have a chalk line and rarely use it, then you won’t need another and this might not be worth it to you. If you chalk often … then it’s a no brainer. It will pay for itself in chalk saved (it uses less) and you’ll no longer have to fill the tool with chalk … you just screw on a new 8oz bottle when you’re out!

Manufactured by CH Hanson, the Chalk Hog retails for around $15 – $20.

About as basic a function as every woodworking & DIY project will need … marking measurements and jotting down notes.

Tougher than any “pencil” I’ve ever used. The graphite composition that makes up the pencil is tough and extremely flexible. It could break … but not from anything in the normal to extreme use. In fact, to test this I dropped mine from the 14′ loft of my barn and didn’t even break the tip.

With the CH Hanson pencil sharpener, it was quick and easy to get a good point on this pencil. By that time the pencil was ready for the task and I put it to work immediately. A bit skeptical at first, I found myself impressed with the writing capabilities on raw lumber. The point held it’s edge well and the lines were easily seen for all markups.

For general carpentry and construction, this would be a neat tool — okay, I’m considering it a bit more than just a pencil because it breaks the rules — to keep in your toolbox. The fact that it will last 7x longer and is so durable makes it the carpenters friend, for sure. For precision woodworking, nothing probably can substitute a mechanical pencil or marking knife, but for most roughing measurements this would be more than sufficient (and you won’t have keep cursing the regular pencils because the lead always breaks!).

Manufactured by CH Hanson, the Superpencil retails for around $5-$6.

Multiple purposes in one package … a combination square is used as a rule, 90 degree square (right angles) and 45 degree gauge. As for it’s purpose in the shop, one will be used in virtually every project to measure, mark, and measure again (remember the adage, measure twice, cut once!)

None are built better … these are top notch and as good as it gets (and the price reflects it!). Treated right this is a tool that will out-live you without a doubt.

When I finally took the advice of a woodworking mentor and hunkered down to buy one, I was skeptical at best. Having never owned a Starrett tool, I couldn’t imagine anyone needed a combination square that cost more than $10 — wow, was I wrong.

Hindsight is 2020 and this is one of those moments where I look back and say “of course!”. At first it seems a bit silly to spend so much money on such a simple tool (some may say a ‘hunk of metal’), but in practice the tool is worth the dough. Let me explain …

A quality, well-made, precise tool is essential to accurately create anything in the shop. Sure one can use the $10 combination square, but there will be times when it’s accuracy (sometimes up to 1/16″ inaccurate) is not exact enough and proves only to offer unnecessary frustration. The Starrett square with it’s etched rule is dead-on accurate and sturdy (no sag or bending) … all of which adds up to better projects and better times in the shop.

If precision is your thing — or required in what you do — then you should own this tool. While it isn’t needed by everyone (like in construction), it’s a necessity in the furniture-makers wood shop.

Manufactured by Starrett, this combination square retails between $65-$75. Buy one at Amazon (link)

Simply put … removing wood from a spindle (on the lathe). Did I mention, quickly? Well, yeah, removing wood QUICKLY!

This Crown roughing gouge is 1-1/4″ wide with a 14″ handle, and is 20″ long overall. As is the standard for Crown tools, this chisel is made very well with HSS (High Speed Steel) and a long, sturdy handle.

Brand new out of the packaging a chisel is not sharp enough to use typically — and this one was no different so it had to be sharpened. During the sharpening process I opted to make the bevel a bit steeper (personal preference) than the rather blunt bevel it ships with. The use of a sharpening jig (like the Penn State or OneWay Wolverine) make the job of sharpening much faster and accurate.

The first project for this new tool with a crisp edge was going to be a baseball bat made of white oak (yeah, that’s not a typical baseball bat wood … I know!). Several weeks ago I had assisted with the creation of a similar bat so I was familiar with the process and how a “standard” chisel would take to the task … so needless to say I was ready to put this one to work.

WOW! This bad boy took to the wood like a beaver (at least the cartoon kind) … chipping away decent size chips and quickly getting the stock down to a nice round blank. What took about an hour with the standard 3/4″ chisel (generic brand), I had accomplished in about 20 minutes using this large (better quality) tool. Not to mention the entire blank was roughed out without the need to resharpen mid-stream — another bonus!

If there would be a drawback to the larger chisel, the only thing I can think of is obvious … it doesn’t get into tight spaces as easily (or safely) as a smaller gouge — however, with that said a roughing gouge isn’t really designed for those tight space anyway.

Every turner needs a few essential tools and the roughing gouge is one of them. Considering the fair price and high quality of the Crown tools, I think this one would be a nice addition for anyone using a lathe for spindle work (meaning don’t use this on a bowl!). With proper care, occasional re-sharpening, and safe use this chisel would last a long time and serve to be a true workhorse in the shop.

Manufactured by Crown Tools, this gouge retails between $55-$65.

This magnetic base shop light is designed to provide a convenient hands-off light source in your workshop or garage.

The base is constructed of a 2 3/4″ round magnet in a nylon base with a 14″ steel flex arm with a plastic sleeve. The lamp (not included in package — which was very disappointing considering it’s not a standard bulb) is a 40-watt reflector track-type light bulb. The light comes with an 8ft cord with a polarized plug (for safety).

Nothing fancy here, but very useful around the shop. Mine was initially purchased for the lathe where lightening was typically inadequate in my shop. It easily “stuck” to the lathe (as a good magnet should do) and went to work doing what it does best (giving off light, of course!). No frills, just function.

This light would also work great on a drill press, or any other machinery with a safe, solid metal location to stick it. he price is a couple bucks higher than I would have liked, but not unreasonable in my opinion ($15 would have been much better — but that’s always the case!). Putting some direct light on your workpiece is typically safer, and this light can help in that area. If you need something simple, yet highly effective, this might be a great piece of equipment to pick up.

Distributed by Delta, the light reviewed retails around $20-$25. Buy one online at Amazon (link).

The Miller Dowels are designed to create solid joints in wood.

Both the stepped drill bit (TruFit) and the wooden dowels are well-made. The stepped bit is made from HSS (High Speed Steel) and if taken care of will last a long time while providing superior performance.

Interesting indeed, the Miller Dowel is a dowel system that is used from the outside of the project (a standard dowel is concealed between (inside) two pieces of wood). At first this sounds like a disadvantage, however it most certainly is not — instead it’s a creative alternative that can quickly add character and sophistication to virtually any project.

In a nutshell the Miller Dowel system works like this: A special stepped drill bit is used to make a perfectly sized hole between two boards. Next a Miller Dowel (a special stepped dowel sized exactly for the matched drill bit) is lathered-up with glue and hammered into the hole. A few taps to ensure a snug fit and any remainder is trimmed off with a flush cut saw and then sanded smooth. Quick, easy and painless! (Not to mention you get to use a hammer — which is always fun!)

The Miller Dowel system is a great alternative and a nice tool to have in the shop. It’s simple, fast and easy to use; it’s strong; it’s reasonably priced; and (in our opinion) it’s attractive. Though not the right answer in every situation (of course, nothing is), this system can be used far and wide in the shop to strengthen many types of joints (i.e. butt joints, dado joints, lap joints, etc).

If you favor quick & easy joinery, and don’t mind a decorative circle at each joint (the dowels head) … then the Miller Dowel is a great solution. It’s at a price range anyone can afford, requires nothing more than a standard hand-held drill and hammer, and makes even the most basic joint extremely strong.

Manufactured by Miller Dowel Company, these specialized dowels have a variety of buying options. From single bits to complete starter sets. The average price range I’ve seen has been between $15-$30 — depending on the size and quantity you buy. Buy a starter set online from Miller Dowel Company (link), Amazon (link), Woodcraft (link), or Klingspor’s (link).

The Jefferson Extracting Pliers are designed with one task in mind — removing objects (nails, staples, tacks, etc) lodged in wood. The simple and effective design allows even the most stubborn of fasteners to be removed with ease without damaging the surface of the wood.

Picking up a pair of these pliers one is immediately reminded of how a quality hand tool should feel. The pliers feel solid and are designed with serrated teeth and patented, parallel, auto locking jaws. This combination of quality construction and good design make for a well-built tool.

There are plenty of one-trick ponies that aren’t worth their weight in pennies, but this tool stands apart from that crowd. While not a classical tool in the toolbox, the modern woodworker will be glad they have this tool the next time a pneumatic fastener shoots out the side of a drawer. What could be a disastrous mistake and time-consuming removal becomes nothing more than a small inconvenience with these pliers.

These pliers are the first in our review because they’ve been so helpful and reduced a lot of stress in my shop and around the house (especially if you are removing molding/baseboards!).

Instead of treating the family to dinner out one night this week, cook up something at home … then take that money savings & buy a pair of these for your toolbox — you won’t regret it when the time comes and you need them!

They also make a great gift! Everybody who sees them in action at my house usually says the same thing “Wow, I want that” … and usually they end up with a pair as a gift later in the year.

Manufactured by Jefferson Tool and priced between $25 – $30. Buy online from their website (link)