tpww's Podcast

In looking for Hock plane blades, I ran acrossed The Craftsman Studio.  They have the best prices that I found for Hock blades.  So I took a chance and ordered from them.  They are located in San Diego, CA and we're located in Central Square, NY.  Surprisingly, the order was received 4 days after placing it.  I'm impressed with the company and will be doing some future business with them real soon. . . like later this week.  It should also be noted that there was no shipping charges for this item.  Doing a quick price check of some items, they, The Craftsman Studio is less expensive than the big woodworking stores.

After many years of wood working, I've decided it's time for me to take the plunge.  I'm going semi-pro at this time and hope to be full time in the next 5 years.  I never wanted to turn my hobby into a profession, and after many years of debating I'm going for it.

Over the last several months numerous shop upgrades have been made.  Most importantly the garage has been insulated more, doors changed out. the ceiling finished off, lights added.  In addition, many tools, and jigs have been added.

Tool used on:  Sears 10" table saw approx. 23 yrs old, original v-belt.

Blade: Thick kerf Freud Rip Blade & Thin kerf Freud Combo Blade.

Test wood: Maple, Oak, plywood and many others types.

This review is long over due.  I purchased the item last fall while it was on sale at Woodcraft.  Currently, I'm unable to upgrade my current table saw.  As a result, I've been finding accessories to upgrade it. 

The miter gauge that came with the saw needed to be adjusted every year or so depending on how much I used it.  Also over time the miter gauge has become sloppy in the miter gauge track.  One more reason was trying to set an angle and tighten it down with out moving the gauge was a trick.

As soon as it arrived, I was like a child at Christmas, ripping and tearing open the package.  Throwing the directions aside, I ran to the shop with it.  The T-miter gauge adapter needed to be removed in order to use it in an American tool.  The T-adapter is easy to remove after taking out one Phillips head screw.  It would then fit in a conventional 3/4" x 3/8" miter gauge slot on the table saw, bandsaw and the router table equiped with the Inca miter gauge track.

Four little discs will adjust the miter gauge in the miter slot. This holds it in place keeping it from being sloppy.  The first cut was a 90' cut and works great, futher testing showed that it was accurate on each pre-set angle cut.  There are "rapid set" notches every 5' and at 22.5'  If you need a cut  on a single degree, loosen the push knob and set it to the desired angle and tighten the knob down.

Features as listed by Woodcraft:

Discover the newest and most affordable addition to Incra's popular line of precision, state-of-the-art Miter Gauges. The V27 is engineered to provide a high performance, yet low cost upgrade to your table saw, band saw, router table, disk sander, belt sander or any other tool in need of a better Miter Gauge. Like all Incra Miter Gauges, the V27 delivers extreme miter cutting accuracy through the advanced combination of Incra's exclusive AngleLOCK™ indexing system and its patented Adjustable GlideLOCK™ Miter Bar.

• 27 Precision V-Stops are laser-cut in solid steel to lock-in angles at exact 5° steps over a full 120° range, with special stops at plus & minus 22.5°
• An oversized clamping knob allows cutting angles to be securely set anywhere between 5° stops
• Four patented expansion disks adjust the GlideLOCK™ Miter Bar for zero side play, anti-friction travel on all shop tools with standard (or near standard) miter gauge channels
• All of the V27's incredible precision will actually show up in your work because the bar can't wiggle around in the slot
• Vertical work support surface doubles as a Universal Mounting Bracket that makes it easy to add just about any fence if you ever need one

Ease of use:  This is a very easy to use item, good directions,  and is a great addition to the shop.  If I had to, I would buy another one.  Accurate right out of the package.

Power Twist Plus V-Belt review. 

Tool used on:  Sears 10" table saw approx. 23 yrs old, original v-belt.

Blade: New thick kerf Freud Rip Blade.

Test wood: 4/4 Oak and 5/4 Maple

With the original v-belt, slowing down of blade, and blade marks on edges of wood noted. 

Replaced belt with Power Twist Plus V-Belt.  Needed to remove approx. 5" off of a 4' belt.  Placed on table saw.  Table saw started up good tension noted minimal deflection noted in belt.  The same pieces of wood were used, with the following results:

WOW!  Ripped both like nothing.  Feels like I added a larger motor,  much more power now.  I will be adding this to my band saw and drill presses.  I can't believe I've waited this long to get one.

Ease of use:  This is a very easy to use item, good directions,  takes about 5 mins to change the belts. 

This item is American Made.

Over the last 10 months I have been very busy with family and work.  Hopefully things are starting to slow down now.  Even though there have been no posts a lot has been going on.  As time permits, new posts and video podcasts will be posted. 

Still trying to figure out a good format for the show.  Some goals that I would like to achieve are : weekly video podcast, with a duration of 30 minutes, 26 week season,  during the off video season  15 min. audio podcasts, year around blogging,  covering a range of topics from shop improvement to  reviews.

If anyone has any comments, please mail them to tpwoodworker@gmail.com.

On June 14th and 15th, Roy Underhill, host of the WoodWright's Shop was at the Ste. Marie among the Iroquois, Liverpool, New York.  Ste. Marie is a unique  replica of the 17th century Jesuit Mission.

He did two demonstrations from noon to 5 pm both days.  On Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend for a couple of hours.  He's just like he is on tv, down home and comical.  The one thing that I found truly amazing was the fact  how easy it really is to work with hand tools.  He did some hewing of a log making it look effortlessly,  he did like 3 feet in less than 5 minutes.  That included stopping to talk and tell stories.  Many things that he has done on the show, he brought with him.

At the end of the show, I did have the time to meet him and get a picture with him.  I now I started watching the WoodWright's Shop about the same time I got my first VCR, that was in 1985.  If memory serves me correctly, I started watching the show prior to getting the VCR.

For more pictures click here.

I haven't had much shop time since I started the blog.  This year the time spent woodworking has been little, however, extensive time has been spent doing other things.  One of the greatest things that I have done this year is to stop by the local flea market on the way home from work on Sunday mornings.  The finds have been unbelievable:   Delta drill press , spindle sander,  various planes, marking gauge, and many more finds.

If you want to build a tool collection or increase the size of the tool vault this is the way to go.  Its inexpensive.