Tool Update and Reviews

Been awhile since I’ve done any posts or tool reviews and since I’ve updated a few things and it’s cold/crappy outside thought I would record my thoughts/comments.

 

Just got this and only tested on couple boards so can’t really say if good or not. While at WBS with Kerr, he used a 5″ saw to get out the planks. This looks like the perfect tool for that task, just have to see how battery life is. Will also be used to break down 4×8 sheet goods which is always a pain working alone. Online reviews say it is very good saw with only negative comments relative to 1 1/8″ max cutting depth. Since I will be using 2 stacked pieces of 1/4″ sapele ply this won’t be an issue for me.

 

After digging out countless stripped stainless Phillips head screws last summer on the P13, I am switching to 100% slotted silicon bronze screws for my Peapod. After some research, found the best drivers were gunsmith screwdrivers from a small company in Michigan. Not cheap, but the ends are milled to better fit the screw heads. If you strip a slotted drive, you can usually just regrind the slot deeper and all is well.

 

I have had pieces of this full set (old style -not quick change) for over 35 years and while at WBS needed to hit a spend number to get tool discount (25%) so this is one of items I picked up. Have only used on the Kayak Storage project so not much to say. They work great.

 

Typical flimsy compass’s only cause problems building boats. This one is from the leather working industry and comes with a solid awl that can be changed out with pencil (as above) for scribing etc… No comparison to big-box bought compass.

 

Surprising how much scrapping is done on glued plank construction. This is 3/4″ blade – they also make a 2″ blade. Think handle is interchangeable so will be ordering wider blade soon.

 

Kerr used this quite a bit in his class. I used on Kayak stand project and found it easy to make centering mistakes. Probably user error but not something that has come up before. The straight ruler nice but I ended up breaking edges at corners as they were very sharp. Since carried in back pocket was always worried about sticking into my back or sitting down on something. Not certain I would replace if lost/damaged.

 

Absolutely a killer tool. Have used many times and it works amazingly well. I heard about these maybe 3 years ago at Eastman Boatbuilding project and bought a couple years ago. Buy one if you do any finesse woodworking.

 

Don’t like this at all. Sharp edges, difficult to set. IGaging does not produce really high quality tools from my experience. Will be getting older Stanley as soon as I can find on e-bay.

 

Nice low angle block plane. Bought this thinking I could use instead of shoulder plane to cut gains. A bit too short for that, but excels at everything else.

 

Ended up getting this. Came down to traditional Lie-Neilson and Veritas. Better blade and fits my hand perfectly.

 

Per Arch Davis – #4 best all around plane you can get for boat building. I used Lie-Neilson, Stanley, and Record planes last summer at WBS. All of these work great but were uncomfortable fit in my hand. Someone told me Veritas standard planes fit larger hands well and they were right. Used a bit and it is great.

 

A surprisingly useful tool for laying/transferring dimensions on sheet goods. Bought a couple more last summer just in case…

 

 

Not really new tool. Bosch make really excellent blades. Having some problems finding slotted driver bits for screw guns so will see if I end up driving everything by hand. The blades on the right are for an oscillating tool – another incredibly useful tool that most people under utilize.

 

Forgot about new respirator. Need something better than N95 masks for working sapele and sanding partially cured epoxy and using the new epoxy based paints.

 

Truck has been kicked out of garage. Melting snow when brought in was flowing toward one of the walls. Recall I sheathed all walls with pressure treated plywood and needed to wait 4 months or so to fully dry. Need to paint interior white before shop configured for boat build and last thing I need is water to wick up into sheathing. Lighting is terrible in garage so got no choice.