Tips on Tools
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Jun 15, 2010 – We recently discussed "the basic tool kit" with a guest on our weekly radio program. We talked about what to buy, but did not take the time to discuss how to buy. So, we'll do that now.
MEASURING TAPES: When you purchase a measuring tape, look for one that allows you to replace the blade. The blade is its most commonly damaged part. As tradespersons we have damaged a blade in as few as five days. The five-day-old tape was brand new in every other respect. A wide measuring tape is easier to use than a narrower one when measuring long distances (15 to 30 feet). And the larger numbers are easier to read. If you have a choice, select the one-inch blade. With this wider, more stable blade, one person can measure long distances without a helper to hold the other end. The numbers on the blade that fall on 16-inch centers are highlighted on some brands. This can save time when building walls, floors and ceilings where the framing members are 16 inches on center.
WOOD CHISELS: A properly honed, high-carbon-steel wood-chisel can turn the average do-it-yourselfer into a regular Michelangelo. With a good quality chisel, a great deal of cutting can be done without the help of a hammer or mallet. But beware. The differences between good and not-so-good are subtle. It is difficult to differentiate between one kind of steel and another when a chisel is new. In the store, one brand will feel as sharp as another, and the finish from tool to tool looks pretty much the same regardless of quality. So, what's the difference? The harder the steel, the longer the chisel stays sharp and the more easily it cuts. And chisels made of high carbon steel also sharpen to a finer edge. With chisels, you need to find out who has the best reputation in your area. One thing is for sure, when purchasing high quality chisels, they are definitely expensive.
POWER TOOLS: Differences are still subtle, but there is a way to see which is more powerful. On the side of every electrical device is a tag that shows how much amperage the tool draws. Let's say you are comparing three different quarter-inch electric drills. One drill uses up to two AMPS, one uses zero to three AMPS (this would be a variable speed drill that maxes at three amps) and another uses five AMPS. Chances are the five-AMP tool will give you the best bang for your buck. You may never need all five AMPS, but there is less strain on the motor, and you can count on it lasting longer than the others if you are drilling anything denser than balsa wood.
SQUARES: Not all squares are alike. It used to be that one of the most basic gizmos in a woodworker's tool box was the adjustable tri-square. It still can be a nice tool, but several moving parts sometimes make it a real pain in the tool-pouch. The blade of an adjustable tri-square looks nice when new, but if left outside will rust and make the measurements impossible to read. Also sliding the blade through the base will become difficult. We recommend that you look into a one-piece tri-square. They are usually made of aluminum and are light. The numbers on some are painted in bright colors on a dark background making reading them easy on the eyes. The nicer ones have degree markings that facilitate marking angles. Rain doesn't seem to bother the one-piece version and a fall to concrete from your roof will cause little or no damage to it.
WARRANTIES: Although a warranty or guarantee of some kind is important, even more important is that you make sure that the tool you purchase is one that is known to operate accurately and smoothly and that other tools from the manufacturer are known to last. By the way, we don't any tool unless it comes with an unconditional, full replacement lifetime guarantee.
QA -Talking Measuring Device
On your radio program you mentioned a talking measuring device. I missed the specifics. My husband is blind, and it sounds like this gadget might be a way to handle several problems - not just measuring rooms. We are also interested on behalf of a number of friends and acquaintances in the same situation.
Julie
Answer:
Some people have never adjusted to the fact that the electric power saw has replaced the hand saw for rough construction work. And we have a feeling that this new electronic measuring device will be met with much the same sentiment. The natural reaction of traditionalists is that nothing will ever replace the old tape measure. And, for the most part that's probably true. However, your letter shows that there is a need for such a device. Although it may not be a replacement for the good old-fashioned retractable tape measure, it does offer some wonderful features that are quite exciting especially for the visually impaired or blind.
The device we mentioned is Ultra Measure an ultrasonic measuring system. Ultra Measure transmits sound waves that reflect off the first major object in their path and return as echoes. A tiny micro chip computer then calculates the distance based on the speed of sound and the length of time the echo takes to return. Ultra Measure then announces the measurement either in feet, feet and inches or meters, depending on the unit of measurement selected. All measurements are announced twice. It has a range of two to thirty five feet, will compute square feet and square yards instantly and will even give you the current room temperature. Ultra Measure is 5" x 2.5 x 1.5" and weighs just eight ounces. Ultra Measure is manufactured by ETEC, Carrollton, TX.
TIP - Heat Gun!
Want to remove old paint without making a mess? Undo vinyl baseboards? Loosen stuck bolts and nuts? Thaw frozen pipes? There's one handy tool that does it all. It's a heat gun -- a great helper for pros and home craftsman alike. Electric-heat guns are like souped-up hair dryers that blow super-heated air (as hot as 1000 degrees) for a multitude of uses. They speed up hard work and soften up tough situations -- literally. A heat gun softens old paint so it can be easily scraped away. It softens old adhesives, caulk and putty, too. Its super heat loosens all types of stuck threads, and speeds thawing of frozen pipes. Heat guns cost from $20 up, with better models offering dual wattage and variable-heat settings. You'll find them at hardware stores and home centers like True Value (http://www.truevalue.com). Remove old paint? Tile? Baseboards? Loosen fittings? Bolts and nuts? Thaw frozen pipes? Want to get all this done -- and more? Get a heat gun. And that's the On The House tip for today.
