3 comments about Northern Industrial Bench or Wall-Mount Saw Chain Sharpener.

1. very happpy with the sharpener it works great and now I have the sharpest chain saws in town thanks



2. For the price this is the best chain saw sharpener that I have found. I have tried the others that are the same price or cheaper, and believe me when I say that they belong in the trash. You would be better off hand sharpening if you choose something less. Item# 193020 from Northertool has the features that you see from the spendy models but not the cost. It comes with 3 grinding stones to allow many different types of chains to be sharpened. Angle #'s are on the base for consistent transfer from one side of your chain to the other. Overall this model is not made cheep, it is made to last and that is what I needed.



3. I received the product I ordered quickly and in best codition, as promissed. I highly recommend this seller.

5 comments about Hitachi 18108 10-Inch 6 Tooth Fiber Cement Cutting Blade with 5/8-Inch Arbor.

1. This is a great tool for cutting cement siding. I use mine in my radial arm saw and get very smooth cuts. With the radial arm saw I can cut the widest planks. The dust is much less than cutting with a regular carbid blade. I also use the 7 1/2 inch blade in a circular saw for rip cuts. I am also using Malco Plank Gauges for holding the planks during installation and they are very helpful.



2. Excellent product. I had tried a standard carbide blade when I started my siding project. In no time at all, it was burning on the cuts. Don't waste your time and money on a regular carbide blade. This blade was money well spent.



3. We cut miles and miles of Hardi material using this blade. I'm on my third blade now, but have been totally impressed by how long each blade lasts. We find it's best, or most efficient,to cut 4 or 5 thicknesses each pass. We tried 6, but it felt too hard on the saw. This was using a compound miter saw. We were cutting individual shingles from a big stack of hardisoffit material that was 12 ft long, 4 ft wide, and stacked 4 ft tall. Thousands and thousands of shingles, each shingle 10 7/8" long, so as to get 13 shingles from each 12-ft board length, and varying in width from 4" to 10". Anyway, the Hardiblade is a fantastic blade and I can't imagine doing it any other way. The cut edges of each shingle only needed a light pass with sandpaper to get the shingle ready for primer and paint.



4. I am not a professional builder, but I have re-sided one house and recently completed re-siding a portion of my current house with HardiBoard. Previously, I had used a standard "diamond-edged" saw blade, but wore it out quite quickly on HardiBoard. This blade worked exceptionally well, ripping and cross-cutting through HardiBoard like a "hot knife through butter". It claims to be "dust reducing", which perhaps it was a little bit, but it still kicked up a significant cloud of dust. You will still want to use an appropriate face mask.



5. This thing works ok. It is hard to believe it reduces the amount of dust created, as dust is blowing out of the back of the saw as if that were purpose of the operation. It does cut fiber cement siding crisply and repeatedly. My 7" blade cost $6 and this costs $60, they both work equally well. Go figure!

3 comments about Crown Molding Templates.

1. I bought these for my husband who owns a remodeling business and he says they are great.



2. this product was purchased for my son to use. I received it one day and he picked it up at my home the next. Hopefully once he has practiced with it enough I will see the benefits.



3. The templates are great, they definitly have saved me money on cutting mistakes. I would set the saw up put the template in the saw and see it was set up wrong for the cut I wanted. They are A-1 in my book. A must for cutting Crown. Thanks Eric Thompson

5 comments about Titan 23175 Electronic Digital Caliper.

1. this caliper works fine, doesn't show fractions, only decimals. the battery only lasted for about 20 minutes use. Other than that is a very handy tool for right-handed people.



2. The product arrived and the battery in side was already dead. It came with an extra so it wasn't a big deal.
   
   The calipers feel a bit flimsy compared to others I've used.
   
   Over all, an OK product for light use.



3. This is a good caliper for professional or home use. It is a must have for the money.



4. Very good product. Only problem was original battery was dead on arrival and the spare had to be used to operate



5. This seems to be a good product although I also received it with a dead battery. I noticed that the caliper was on when I took it out of the case the next day. That's the reason why everyone is receiving this with a dead battery. The On/Off switch is located in a position where it will activate if the caliper is in the case and the case is moved around (like during shipping). I put a couple of pieces of foam in the case so that the On/Off switch cannot be activated when the caliper is jostled around in the case.

5 comments about Bosch 1250DEVS 6.5 Amp 6-Inch Random Orbit Sander with Vacuum Port.

1. I make solid surface counter tops. I have used the fein and the festool sander. The festool sander has become a cheap plastic piece of junk. I am sure some of my friends that have spent twice as much will argue with my statement, but, just drop your festool plastic toy on the ground and tell me how happy you are with your purchase lately. I have two Bosch 1250DEVS sanders and plan on buying a third. I have no complaints about this tool and when I did have a minor issue the Bosch representative on the phone solved my problem. I am a happy customer.



2. Having read an assortment of reviews about an assortment of DA sanders, I went with the Bosch 120DEVS. The project is sanding the hull of an 80' steel sailboat. This machine is unbelievable - it allows me to remove 2 thick layers of badly orange peeled paint with speed and precision on the stock removal setting. It is at least 1/3 faster than the 6" Rigid and Porter Cable machines that I was using. Until you get the hang of where to lean on it to "steer", it can be a handful. Fortunately, it has a very predictable motion and you can lean a little bit at different points as you sand to steer. You can also slow the motor down if it's to aggressive.
   
   It is just about completely dustless on flat surfaces with the vacuum connected. Noting comments that the vacuum attachment doesn't fit (very unBosch!) I opted to use hose gotten at the hardware store. The motor is very smooth and reasonably quiet, you can lean into it without bogging the motor down. I have not used the fine setting extensively yet, but some test pieces lead me to believe that it will do fine work as well as it removes stock. The stock pad is very high quality and the motor is sealed from dust. I expect to get many years of sanding from this machine. It almost makes sanding fun.



3. I have used many tools in my 30 years of carpentry and the Bosch 1250 sander is one of the best hand tools I have ever used. Great ergonomics, low vibration, super non orbit mode, etc. etc. If your in the market for a dustless random orbit sander, I would highly recommend this one. I also have a Fein 8 inch Random Orbit sander and the Bosch is a much more comfortable tool to use. I use the Bosch over the Fein 9 times out of ten.



4. I have to disagree with the glowing reviews of the sander. My previous sander was a Dewalt and I decided to replace it as I was getting a large number of swirl marks from it with the very hard woods that I like to work with (Wenge, Bloodwood, Purpleheart and so on).
   
   I bought this sander on the strengths of the reviews as a replacement, and overall it has not performed as well as the Dewalt. Part of that seems to be design and part that it is just not the right tool for the application.
   
   Strengths:
   
   1. This is a very powerful sander. The motor does not break a sweat on anything.
   
   2. The "fast removal" mode lives up to its name... it's very rapid.
   
   3. Seems to work adequately as a polisher, though attempts to use it like this have always resulted in swirls in the finish. That could be user error though.
   
   Weaknesses:
   
   1. Intense vibration. You need to have some good vibration absorbing gloves on when using this sander, and long term this kind of vibration is no good for your hands. I worked on the assembly line doing spot welding and I know long term what vibration does to your hands. It's terrible.
   
   2. The same strong motor that doesn't flinch at anything can cause the sander to dance over the surface if the sandpaper grabs instead of gliding. The "fast removal" mode can throw the sander out of balance so that it wobbles and jumps all over the place. Small workpieces need to be clamped in place or else the sander can spin them on the bench. Surfaces that are not perfectly flat cause imbalanced friction on the disk and that can cause some of the jumping around. You need two hands on this, and a firm but light touch at all times. This is in contrast with a smaller, lighter sander that will glide.
   
   3. Regular sanding mode doesn't feel like, in spite of the power of the sander, to remove material any quicker than a smaller, less powerful unit. In combination with the two handed use and the constant threat of the sander jumping, it seems to be a net negative as a tool.
   
   4. "Swirl Free Finish" once again does not live up to its promise. Everyone promises this but few deliver. I think this is really highly dependent on the kind of material you're working with.
   
   So overall for myself, I think a lighter less powerful unit would have been the better choice.



5. I needed a sander for resurfacing my deck and while a belt sander would have been ideal it was not a tool that would get much use outside of that task. This sander worked so well that I do not feel I "sacrificed" anything. The "Turbo" mode removed material so fast it was amazing. no vibration what so ever. Once I was done with that job I wanted to test it on so furniture and it worked perfect. my 5" RAS will now sit on the shelf. You cannot go worng with this sander for any and all your sanding needs.

5 comments about Jet 708732 AFS-1B-WOF Washable Electrostatic Outer Filter for 708620B AFS-1000B Air Filtration System.

1. Just received this item from Amazon. The filter does have a metal frame. The actual filter material looks the same as the Jet disposable filter. This makes me a little skeptical about being able to wash this thing multiple times. Doesn't come with any instructions so I guess you can just take a hose to it when it needs cleaning.



2. The filter does not catch the majority of the dust, leaving the inner pocket filter to do the job. Both the inner and this electrostatic filter need cleaning after one day at the lathe. The inner filter takes a full day to dry, that means a down time ($$). The non-washable filter by JET is good. It just needed tapping to clean. After 4 or 5 cleanings the inner filter would also need to be cleaned. Soooooo disappointed with the washable filter. I now tape a furnace filter in front as a prefilter to the electrostatic filter. What a waste.



3. Easy to clean and continues to work well. I own 2 so one can be cleaned while the other is in use.



4. Has a metal frame with cross bars, etc. so I don't doubt it's washable. I just vaccuum mine though. My only gripe is that it isn't QUITE a snug fit. There's a 1/8th inch gap on each side which lets some stuff go straight past the filter (Probably because I have an AFS-500, but Amazon recommended this filter for it). But overall, I'm happy with it.



5. I don't know where the others have issues or questions with this filter. I have used the same cleanable filter for 2 1/2 years. When it's dirty, spray it with a hose from the back to the front (so you don't imbed the dirt into the fibers, just like cleaning a car's air filter with compressed air). Then set it somewhere to drip dry. Best done at the end of the day because it takes a few hours to dry. That's all there is to it. I didn't give it the fifth star because there is no element support on the front, so when you spray it the element tends to lose its louvered shape a little. But the first time you turn the Air Filtration System back on, it sucks the element back into shape, and besides it doesn't reduce the filtering capacity.
   
   And before running out to buy furnace filters, compare the micron filteration of the two. If you get a cheapo furnace filter you're just reducing the effectiveness of the Air Filtration System.

5 comments about Stanley 20-556 6-Inch FatMax Jab Saw.

1. I have a 40 year old house that I have been doing a bit of work on - including adding outlets and wiring for data ports among other things. I picked this little wall board saw to help in these efforts and I am truly impreressed with its performance. The teeth cut VERY agressively, which is a huge plus when you have a lot of holes to cut. I am also very pleased with the comfort of the handle and the fact that the blade is rigid enough to "jab" it through drywall without having to drill a starter hole.
   
   All in all this saw is a great performer and worth every penny.



2. This is part of my arsenal to deal with a bathroom do-over.



3. Nice jab saw. Used it to prune away a brush from lattice work. Versatile, keep in your tool bag. Not just for drywall.



4. This tool works great on drywall and even cement backerboard. It has gone through a large remodeling project and still seems very sharp.



5. This really is a great saw. I have a couple of other drywall saws, and this is the one I always reach for first. The thick rubber handle is "grippy" and feels great in the hand. The tip is really sharp, and strong enough to punch right through drywall (give it a little tap with a hammer for a cleaner cut).
   
   I couldn't find my hacksaw the other day and ended up using it to saw through a PVC pipe, which it handled with aplomb. Very versatile!

5 comments about IRWIN 2051100 9-in-1 Multi-Tool Screwdriver.

1. Multi Screwdriver:
   + Works fine
   + Durable
   + Comfortable
   + Bits aren't too tight or loose
   - Bulky
   - A bit heavy
   - Wide shaft inhibits access to tight areas



2. It seems like that the need for a screw driver is always a long distance from where the screw drivers are stored. I also have the problem of so many storage locations that I lose track of where the tools are. This screw drive offers various bits and takes up very little space and is well made. It does not hurt that Irwin Tool headquarters is in my home town. I only wish had bought several more so that I have would have one in each of my favorite tool locations. I will buy more of this tool and Irwin tools.



3. Although made in China, this is a well made, heavy duty and versatile tool. It can be used for driving both screws and nuts. The pin lock bits and hex holders enhances its heavy duty usage. But bits with pin locks are hard to find when replacements are needed. You may have to fall back on ordinary bits. The tool is well balanced, but those with smaller hands may find the large rubberized handle uncomfortable. For their listing the Amazon price of $10.76, before shipping, is well above list price. However, with free shipping it is lower than that of other online sellers. You may save a couple of dollars if you can find it locally. Under its HUSKY brand, Home Depot sells a somewhat similar heavy duty multi-tool with a considerable savings over the Irwin. It also uses pin lock bits. However, it is not quite as well made or as versatile as the Irwin.



4. Here is one tool that everyone needs at one time or another. It has nine different heads included here.
   
   Remember when you'd have to grab the Phillips head and regular screwdriver or other various types? Well this multi Screwdriver has them all inside! You just pull off the one head, turn it over and you have a different type or size. Need a different one, then you pull out the whole piece and there is another, turn that around and there is another. Yes, I know it sounds confusing, but it's almost like a magic act how Irwin put this together.....and it works!
   
   The one issue I've run into is that at times when my hands are sweaty it's difficult to pull out some of the parts. When that happens I'll just use a cloth or such to get a grip.
   
   The other thing is I like how how this feels in your hand. It's a good weighed rubber grip.



5. I got this as a filler item to get free shipping so in reality it only cost me $2. That having been said, in my humble opinion, no matter how light and flexible power drills get, you can never replace a good solid screwdriver. This one has a nice and thick rubberized handle which makes it comfortable to grip, and gives you a good amount of torque.
   
   I have owned a few Irwin tools before and have found them to last long enough to justify paying a bit extra for them. The bits seem solid and look like they will last a while. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a versatile home screwdriver.
   
   The only complaint is the 9 in 1 title, the screwdriver comes with 4 bits, so I would call it a 4 in 1.

5 comments about Mirka 23-615-060 Bulldog Gold 5-Inch 8-Hole 60 Grit Grip Vacuum Discs, 50-pack.

1. This is excellent stuff for those *really* tough jobs where you'd start thinking about getting a planer or similar "big" guns. Used this on my Makita orbital sander (which it fits just fine, in spite of the missing listing in the specs), and it stands up to punishment. Worked over a couple of 6x6 pressure treated beams and could get a reasonably nice finish pretty fast. These disks last surprisingly long, considering the work they perform. Also tried to use this to sand down a rusty old steel bulkhead coated with enamel, but the 60 grit doesn't cut it - you'll still need a steel brush head and lots of elbow grease for that kind of work.



2. I have purchased every grit of Mirka sanding disks from Amazon, and I find them to be good quality. The price per disc works out to be a great value if you purchase them in packs of 50.

   I used these disks on my Bosch random-orbit sander. The hook-and-loop backing is strong and holds on through rough sanding. The aluminum oxide sanding material lasts for a good amount of time. I've used them on a variety of wood surfaces, and I have used them to remove paint, and they last long enough to take down a lot of material. I have bought other brands of sanding discs that do last longer, but the Mirka discs definitely hold up well.

   The discs are packaged in a sturdy box with a cover, which makes it easy to dispense them as needed. Also, having them stored in a box keeps them clean, which helps the hook-and-loop function. This actually helps out a lot in the shop. Other brands come wrapped in plastic, and you have to find a container for them, or let them sit on a shelf and get full of sawdust. I appreciate this extra touch.

   The paper stock is somewhat thin, but this does not really affect their use. Since they are stored in a box, they stay flat. Other brands, which are stored in bags, get curled up on the edges.

   Bottom line: these are good quality sanding discs that last for a good amount of time, are a good value for the money, and are packaged in a convenient way.




3. I HAVE PURCHASED MOST OF ALL YHE MIRKA H&L 5'' 8 HOLE SANDPAPER
   AND FIND IT TO BE WORTH EVERY BIT OF YOUR MONEY SPENT.I AM AMAZED
   AT THE QUALITY OF THIS PRODUCT.I LIKE THE PACKAGING ON THIS
   PRODUCT .THE DURABILITY AND TO WITH STAND PUSNISMENT IS #1



4. PERFORMANCE: quick change but yet maintains tight grip to sander pad. aggressive cut makes this abrasive a premium sanding disk, in spite of the budget price. cuts hardwoods and softwoods with equal vigor. a good abrasive disk cuts well with light pressure, let the sander/abrasive do the work, you should not have to apply pressure to get it to remove material if you are using a fresh abrasive. these disks have a long abrasive cut life. I would love to do a material removal and abrasive life of all the 5 and 8 hole disks on the market.
   
   PRICE: forget buying packs of 6 to 10 disks at Lowes or Home Depot, its a ripoff if you do any quantity of production work. Yet these home improvement stores who bill themselves as contractor suppliers do not sell abrasive disks in packs of 50 ??? These high quality disks match the best you can buy, but the over the counter brands sold at your local home improvement store can't come close to matching this price. don't waste your money on inferior budget priced sanding disks either,(the super cheapies made in China) they don't cut well, abrasive breaks down rapidly and they have a low cut life.



5. I took a chance and tried this product. I was pleasantly surprised at how long they lasted, comparable to the much more expensive brands.

5 comments about Black and Decker WM125 Workmate 125 350 Pound Capacity Portable Work Bench.

1. The WM125 works well. It's most important feature for me is that it really does fold up small. (I live in an apartment.)
   It's strong and stable enough to support a Dremel 220-01 Rotary Tool Work Station without shaking.
   The only completely negative thing I have to say is that the assembly directions were terrible. I'm an engineer, and I had to completely start over three times before I got it right. The directions are so bad that at one point, I thought one of the clamping jaws (wood panels) was drilled wrong at the factory and was preparing to redrill it myself. Fortunately, I realized that I just had the other one backwords, because the directions showed it that way.
   I also have one concern that isn't certain yet, but I expect to become a problem: The locking nuts are slowly collapsing the steel square tube legs. Basically, the locking screws and nuts, which prevent the work station from collapsing while you use it, are much tougher than the tubing in the legs. (This is good from a safety point of view: Better that the leg gets squashed over time than that the work station collapses while you are working with a power tool.)
   Both of those issues to the side, I still consider it an excellent buy. If it does fail on me, I'll probably just buy the next better version. The basic design is excellent.



2. Very confusing instructions but I got the tables (bought two) put together just fine. The parts fit perfectly but you must put it together correctly (hard to do from the instructions). The leg braces are of different widths so they must go on the correct legs (the widest brace - the one with the B&D label - goes on the widest set of legs). The roll pins to secure the handles to the screw shafts are too big. So, either compress them to a smaller size or better yet, replace them with 8-32 x 1-1/4 inch machine screws with nylon insert lock nuts. The machine screw route is a perfect fit and leaves no slack (play) so the handles will last longer. It took a while to get the tables together due to the confusing instructions but in the end it was well worth it. They are very nice tables for the price.



3. I bought this item and found the set up to be ok until they tell you to hammer in metal pieces to hold the handles in. There is no easy angle to hit them in and it seemed to take forever to get them in while trying to not damage the wood parts. After deciding to return the item I could not fit the item back in the box because I could not get the handles off again.
   
   The main problem was that it does not work as a table, just as a vice. The problem is that there is about 1-2 cm left in between the handles and the edge of the table. This means that the movable part of the table jiggles. So if one puts a clamp on the movable side of the table to hold a piece of wood steady, it will jiggle too. A good part of the reason why I bought it was to use it with a circular saw, but if the wood I am clamping down jiggles, there isn't going to be much precision in my cuts. I returned it and got a Stanley workbench instead. It does not jiggle at all. And yes, I did screw all screws and bolts in very tightly. It is a flaw in design.



4. This may not be the best, most equipped or heaviest workmate on the market, but depending on your actual needs, this could be the best one for you. I looked at all the workmate benches, but figured for my basic needs, this one would do. After using it quite a lot, for about $20, I am going to buy another one to use them as saw horses or for working with long product. This is a solid bench that folds very flat, taking up very little space. It comes with four of the orange pegs and the vise is grooved for holding pipe under 2". For an active DIY guy, this one does the job for me, and when I am done, I will be able to hang both on the same set of wall pegs. The only con for me, is that you have to watch your fingers carefully when folding this unit flat.



5. Very flimsy, holes drilled in the wrong places, and most of the sheet metal is bent. Just total junk. Even the holes in the top aren't drilled all the way through. Don't waste your money.