Features

• Includes a good size table top 15″ by 11.5″ in size
• Has a 1/2 hp motor which is strong enough for most applications
• Include six different sized spindles, and starter sand paper
• Intuitive storage space for all your spindles and nut tightening wrench
• Safety switch key for protection
• 1.5″ Dust Port

The sander is able to use six different size sanding spindles.  It includes everything you need to get started.

The WEN spindle sander has a handy base that allows for storage of the spindles, and tightening wrench.  The sander also includes a sawdust exhaust port.

The WEN spindle sander includes a safety key in the front and slots in the base to hold all of the throat plates.

Assembly

The assembly of the WEN Oscillating Spindle Sander was super simple.  Included are instructions that actually make sense.  The spindles slide easily on and off and are secured with a lock nut.  The sandpaper slides on top of the spindle.  Lastly you’ll put a size matching throat plate on the table.  You can easily assemble this in less than 15 minutes.

Summary

I really like the WEN Spindle Sander Model 6510.  This spindle sander is easy to assemble, use, and includes a great variety of spindles.  It’s well priced for what is included and should last for years.  The heavy cast iron table just looks and feels solid.  My only criticism is that this product appears to sold under MANY names.  So you need to do a little shopping to ensure you get the best price.

Looking for more information?  Check out the WEN Spindle Sander 6510 Spindle Sander Manual

The post WEN Spindle Sander 6510 – Review & Assembly appeared first on WoodLogger.

Features

• The device offers two blade speeds: 1620 and 3340
• Two dust collection ports.  One at the back and one at the front.  They are 2-1/2 in. and 4 in. deep.
• Include a standard 3/4” x 3/8” miter slot
• Seven foot power cord
• Upper and lower guards
• The saw has an 8-inch resaw capacity and ball bearing guides to help reduce friction and lengthen blade life.
• Craftsman One Year Limited Warranty
• 45-degree tilting table

A tension indicator is located on the side of the bandsaw.  Adjusting the tension knob on the top of the saw will move the indicator up or down.

The saw includes a large start and bright red safety stop lever.

The saw can be adjusted to cut at two different speeds.  A handy guide is included on the side to make it easy to adjust speeds.

Assembly

The assembly of the Craftsman Bandsaw went smoothly and overall was simple.  I did a quick video of how I assembled it below.  You can easily assemble it in less than an hour.

A nice thing about assembling the Craftsman Bandsaw were the directions.  They were complete and just made sense.  In fact most of the band-saw is already assembled for you.  You will need a few tools to complete the assembly:  Phillips screw driver, adjustable wrench, and a square.  The saw is heavy and I would strongly recommend that two people lift it onto the table when you’re ready to seat it.

Summary

I really like the Craftsman Bandsaw Model BAS350 (00932607000P).  This bandsaw is sturdy accurate and easy to assemble.  It’s well priced for what is included and should last for years.  The heavy cast iron table just looks and feels solid.  It is great for cutting wood, and with adjustable speeds it can be used for other purposes.  It’s extremely rare that I have no criticisms for a product, but honestly I have none at this time.  Perhaps with more use and time I will update this post, but for now it just seems solid.

Looking for more information?  Check out the Crafsman Bandsaw Model BAS350 Manual

The post Craftsman Bandsaw – Review & Assembly appeared first on WoodLogger.

Features

• X-Y axial projecting laser guides provide accurate pre-alignment of drilling location
• Twelve operating speeds (300-3100RPM) allows for drilling in metals or wood and sanding operations
• Dual left and right hubs allow for placement of crank handles on either side of drill head
• Cast Iron work Table designed for wood or metal drilling, tilts up to 45 degrees for bevel drilling
• Spindle travel up to 4″ provides extra depth capacity
• Adjustment depth gauge allows for accurate repetitive drilling
• Adjustable goose-neck work light for better illumination of work area

The drill press has 12 speeds from 300 rpm to 3100 rpm which can be adjusted by moving pulleys in the top of the drill press.  Moving these around are a snap and a helpful chart is included that gives suggested speeds based on material type and drill bits.

Another nice thing included with the drill press is an adjustable drill gauge.  This allows for repetitive and accurate drilling.  The gauge has a quick release that allows it to move up and down quickly.

A laser cross beam is included with the drill press allowing for precise drilling.  The instructions include detailed information on how to align this.  Fortunately for me the laser was lined up perfectly out of the box.

Three handles that can be attached on either the left or right side are included.  So whether you’re right or left handed it’s not a problem.  The handles are a nice size and make it easy to grasp.

The drill press also has a really nice(and large) cast iron table.  It includes  a well for those who may use it for drilling metal.  Another nice feature is that it can be rotated and tilts up to 45 degrees for bevel drilling.

Assembly

The assembly of the drill press was very simple.  I did a quick video of how I assembled it below.  You can easily complete it in less than 30 minutes.

Summary

I REALLY like this drill press.  The Porter Cable Drill Press is sturdy accurate and easy to assemble.  It’s very well priced for what is included and should last for years.  The laser pointer was aligned right out of the box and required no adjustments.  The heavy cast iron table just looks and feels solid.  It is good for wood or metal drilling.  My only criticism of the product is that the work light seems a little dated compared to other models that include an LED light.  This is a really minor complaint; especially considering many will not even require a work light.

The post Porter Cable Drill Press – Review & Assembly appeared first on WoodLogger.

The first thing you’ll notice with the Dewalt Planer is just how solid the whole tool feels.  This is a bench-top tool after all, but on the right cart it doesn’t feel like it.  Dewalt has always had that rugged “this thing is probably gonna last” feeling to it.  Another feature that was noticeable right away were the in-feed and out-feed tables.  The tables fold up to save space however, one annoyance is that if you attach the back dust hood you cannot fold up the back table.  It will have to remain down.  Not a huge deal, but if you want to store the planer with the hood attached keep that in mind.

Another nicety is the cord storage; there are hinges that the cord can be wound up on.  If you’re going to find a permanent home for your planer this may not be a big deal, but for the rest of us it’s a handy thing to have.  Along the same lines if you’re going to need to move you’re planer around a lot it does have a nice set of handles on the top that make it easy to move.  The planer weighs approx. 80 lbs. so I would recommend building or purchasing a cart for it.  You’ll do your back a favor if you do.  Dewalt makes a good-looking cool cart I have a link to it at the bottom of the post, definitely worth a look.

Another great feature on the planer is a depth gauge that allows you to dial in exactly how much you want to take off.  You simply slide your board into the front where the Material Removal Gauge is(click on the picture on the right to see a close-up of the gauge).  Then you just crank up or down to the  depth you need.  The gauge goes up to 1/8 of an inch.  I usually do 1/32″ or 1/16″ and haven’t seen any problems.

One thing that you quickly learn about planers is just how much saw dust they create.  Depending on how many passes you need to make you can quickly feel a trash can full of sawdust.  Really..!  The Dewalt DW734 planer makes it a quite a bit less painful with the included dust hood.  You simply attach the dust hood to the back of the planer and attach it to your dust collection system.  If you don’t have a dust collection system I would recommend that you attach your shop vac to the end connector.  You can pick up an adapter if needed at most places where they sell shop vacs.  It’s worth doing considering the amount of sawdust that gets kicked out.

Summary

In conclusion I REALLY like this planer.  The Dewalt DW734 Planer is sturdy, accurate, and easy to use.  Dewalt products have a reputation as being dependable.  To date, I have not experienced any issues with mine.  With quality usually comes added price and with this planner there is no exception to that rule.  It’s a little pricey, but considering what you’re using this for I would go with the better model.  My only criticism of the product is that when you have the dust hood attached to the back of the planer there is no way to fold up the back table.  Not a major deal, but in my small shop it’s definitely a small inconvenience.  If you’re looking to purchase one check it out over at Amazon.

Looking for more information?  Check out the Dewalt DW734 Planer Manual

The post Dewalt DW734 Planer – Review appeared first on WoodLogger.

The first thing I have to say about the Craftsman Orbital Jig Saw is that it’s more rugged and certainly feels more durable.  It’s a little bulkier than some of the other saw’s I’ve use, but it handles very nicely.  The grip handle has a hard rubber feel to it.  It also has a nice feature where you can remove the handle from the top and use the bottom of the drill as a barrel grip.  It has a rotating cut head on the top of the drill.  I haven’t found a use for that yet, but I suppose it’s beneficial to some.  It also has a laser trac attached to it to help with cutting straight lines.

I purchased my Craftsman Orbital Jig Saw 28223 from Sears.  I’ve been using it for a few months now, and it seems really solid.  In fact this is my third jig saw that I’ve owned and is by far my favorite.  It just feels rugged.  I picked mine up for around $70, and also bought a blade holder(it’s definitely “a nice to have”).

If you’ve read any of my other reviews of Craftsman product then you already know that I have mixed feeling about Craftsman tools.  Craftsman hand tools are hands down the best in the world.  No one beats them, and the warranty they offer.  Power tools on the other hand are a different story.  I think as a general rule high-end Craftsman power tools are usually pretty solid, but if you get the low-end or middle models of a craftsman power tool it’s a bit of a gamble.

• Jig Saw
• 2 blades
• Dust tube
• Hex Key
• Carry Bag
• Manual

Here is some more basic info about the saw:

• Has a 2-in-1 design that allow you to remove the grip handle and use as a barrel grip.
• Has a 6 amp, 800 to 3000 SPM variable speed motor.
• Has Laser Trac
• Has a variable speed based on pressure of handle
• Has 5 cutting modes
  • Scrolling 360
  • Smooth
  • Low
  • Medium
  • Fast
• Bevel cutting capacity 0° to 45° left to right
• Built-in LED Work light
• Blade storage in base
• Carrying Bag

The post Craftsman Orbital Jig Saw – Review appeared first on WoodLogger.

The drill was actually purchased as part of a kit (model# 935704).  The kit includes the following items:

• DD2100 Heavy Duty Drill/Driver
• CH2030 Multi-Chemistry Charger
• PP2020 XCP 19.2-Volt Compact Lithium-Ion Battery Pack
• 2 Double Ended Screwdriver Bits
• Tool Bag
• Operator’s Manuals

If you’ve read any of my other reviews of Craftsman product then you already know that I have mixed feeling about Craftsman tools.  Craftsman hand tools are hands down the best in the world.  No one beats them, and the warranty they offer.  Power tools on the other hand are a different story.  I think as a general rule high-end Craftsman power tools are usually pretty solid, but if you get the low-end or middle models of a craftsman power tool it’s a bit of a gamble.

The first thing I have to say about the new drill is the size and weight is a big improvement over my old drill.  It’s more compact making it easier to use in tight spaces.  The handle and grip is also wrapped with a soft rubber grip.  Another plus is it just feels more powerful when I’m using it.  The manual states that the new battery technology XCP gives the drill 10% more torque than other lithium batteries.  I’m not sure if it’s the battery, or the fact that my old drill was 12 years old.  Either way it’s a more powerful drill which is always a good thing.  Here is some basic info about the drill:

• Two variable speed gear box with ranges 0-375 / 0-1,600 RPM
• Powerful motor up to 465 in-lbs. with forward and reverse selector
• 24 – position adjustable torque clutch
• 1/2″ all metal, single sleeve keyless chuck
• Micro texture grip
• 19.2 volt compatible lithium-ion battery
• Built-in LED Work light
• 1 year warranty

The new battery technology XCP is supposed to give your 19.2 tools more torque.  More power is almost always a good thing.  Another nice thing is the light that shows you when your battery is getting low.  It switches green to yellow to red to alert you how much energy is left.  Here are some of the features listed about the battery:

• Up to 35% more run time
• Up to 10% more torque
• Extreme Weather Performance (Operates in temperatures from 5° to 158° F)
• Energy indicator light on battery

The new charger that is included as part of the kit is also solid.  I’ve used it to charge three different types of batteries.  It’s designed for the 19.2 battery line and it’s really nice that it can handle all the flavors of that voltage.  It has light indicators to tell you what type of battery is being charged and what the status of the battery is.

Overall I really like the entire kit that Sears has put together.  The drill, battery, and charger all seem solid, and they even throw in a storage bag to keep it all in.  The drill feels lite, but strong and I believe will last for many years.  I think if you’re a casual woodworker like me, then this is probably a good fit for you.

The post Craftsman Power Drill DD2100 Review appeared first on WoodLogger.

Before I go any further though I have to say I have a weird myopic bias for and against Craftsman tools.  I believe that Craftsman makes the worlds best hand tools.  No one beats them, and the warranty they provide.  Power tools on the other hand are a different story.  I think as a general rule high-end Craftsman power tools are usually pretty solid, but if you get the low-end or middle models of a craftsman power tool it’s a bit of a gamble.

The table saw I purchased is the Craftsman 10″ Contractor Table Saw Model No. 351.218330.  This is the second table saw I’ve owned, but I think it’s a great starter saw if you can afford it.  I paid roughly $550 (on sale)for this one, and that’s not a bad price for a solid table.  If you know for sure that you’re not going to use it much then save your money and go cheaper.  Conversely, if you know your going to want to use it every day, then you may want to look at an even higher end saw.  This saw for the money and performance was a perfect balance for what I need.

I’ll try and break down the best features of the saw as I see it:

• The saw allows for cutting at a 45″ angle.  There is a blade tip wheel that allows you to easily adjust this.
• The saw includes a solid rip fence.  I’ve read other review where folks weren’t too happy with the rip fence.  I’ve never had any problems with it and I use mine all the time.
• The saw comes with a miter gauge that is adjustable from 30″ to 90″.  I usually only use this to square up stock, but I have made a few cuts adjusting this to a 45″ angle and it was dead on.
• The saw comes with two table inserts.  The first is a standard insert, and the other is a for a stacked dado blade.
• The saw comes with a REALLY nice feature for me and that is a foot lift lever on the bottom of the saw that allows it to be moved easily.  The saw is on four wheels and the lever engages those wheels making easy to move.
• The saw includes a riving knife and blade guard.  I have to confess I frequently remove the blade guard, it’s a little bulky, but the riving knife is great and really cuts down on kick back.

I think my biggest criticism for this saw was the initial setup of the saw.  It was a nightmare!  Truly a nightmare!  It felt like a thousand pieces, and a couple of times it was a must to have two people flip it over and then right it.  I had to adjust the rails numerous times.  It was truly an afternoon, nearly all day project to put this thing together.  In Craftsman’s defense I complained about his install to a friend of mine who has a large heavy-duty Rigid saw and he informed me it was the exact same headache.  So I can’t necessarily blame Craftsman for this, as it appears to be a common thing.  However, keep in mind if you purchase this don’t think you’ll be using it an hour after you get it home.  You’ll easily spend an entire afternoon putting this thing together. Also another thing that bugs me about table saws is that they don’t include Zero Clearance plates. You can buy one over at amazon by clicking here, or check out how I made my own zero clearance plate.

Overall I really like the saw!  I think it’s a solid entry, and mid level grade saw.  If you’re a casual woodworker like myself I think you’ll find that it’s an excellent way to go.

The post Craftsman Table Saw 21833 Review appeared first on WoodLogger.

When it comes to taking care of your tablesaw it’s a must that you clean and wax the tabletop from time to time.  I used to frequently clean it off, but I never even considered waxing it.  “It’s a table saw, not a car!”, I would say.  I could not have been more wrong about that attitude.

The first thing wax does is protect the tabletop.  If you’re in a garage shop (or any shop really) like I am, you’re more at risk for your saw coming into contact with moisture.  Also I have little kids who can’t seem to understand why you don’t put wet toys, cups, or rocks (eee gads) on a tablesaw. A layer of wax on your saw can help lengthen the life of your table top and protect your saw from that drama.

The second biggest thing is the fact that it allows your material to slide easier across the tabletop.  That was probably the biggest eye opener for me.  You really don’t even notice how badly your stock moves across your tabletop until after you wax it.  When your cutting your materials you want your boards to glide as easily as possible.

When I clean my tablesaw I like to completely vacuum and then wipe down the top.  After that I use a product called Johnson Paste Wax.  You can pick this up at most stores for a pretty reasonable price.  When I wax mine I use either a heavy paper towel or an old rag.  Just wipe it on (think Karate Kid movie while doing this) and wait about 20 minutes. You’ll see the wax create a white waxy layer on top of your saw.  After that, all you need to do is buff it out.  Be sure to follow the directions on the canister if you’re still unsure.  You can also see how I do this in the video below.

This simple thing can really save your tablesaw top, and make your job as a woodworker so much easier.  If you haven’t done it, you should check your tablesaw manual to ensure it is safe to do so.  I know you’ll be happy with the results.

The post How to Wax a Table Saw Top appeared first on WoodLogger.

For my birthday recently my wife purchased me a Craftsman 16″ Variable Speed Scroll Saw.  (That’s right fella’s she’s all mine)  Having never owned a scroll saw, and quickly realizing that I’m a novice to this tool; I’ll do my best to give an honest review of this tool.

But…  Before I can start I have to give a little insight to my scroll saw bias’.

I’ve been doing the “woodworking thing”, for a few years now and I’ve always thought I had all of the tools that I needed. I also have always had two opinions when it came to scroll saws.  The first was that anything that I needed to do with a scroll saw could just as easily be done with a band saw and a router.  My second opinion was that these things were for people who like to make really intricate wood details.  A tool for a wood-carver, or a tool for a whittler.  After owning a scroll saw for less than a month now; I still believe my opinions are correct….  Mostly….  What I’m discovering though is how much easier it is to make more accurate cuts for smaller projects.  I’m currently working on a music box project, where I wanted to make a small rounded cut into the base.  In the past I would have gone straight to the bandsaw for this.  I chose to use my scroll saw to do this work and even though I screwed up a few times, I quickly learned that this was going to be a tool that I’ll use going forward.

The scroll saw I have is the Craftsman 16″ variable speed scroll saw(Model # 21602).  This was a good introduction model for me.  Craftsman hand tools I almost always give 5 star kudos too.  Power tools on the other hand I think craftsman is that great middle model.  It balances cost with performance, and amount of use.  I’ll be the first to say if your going to use your scroll saw intensely or for professional uses this model is probably not for you.  For everyone else though it seems to be pretty solid.

The saw allows for cutting wood up to 2″ thick.  I’ve only cut wood that is 3/4″ thick and it did excellent work on it.  I have cut pine and oak wood with various widths and for both hard and soft woods it seemed to handle the job nicely.  It uses standard 5″ blades and can use both the straight blade and those that have a pin on the end of them.  The saw came with four blades to help get you going.  Depending on what types of wood you’ll be cutting there are various size blades.  The manual includes a pretty good chart on what to use for this.  Another nice feature is that the saw base can be adjusted to a 45″ degree angle allowing for beveled cuts.  The saw includes a dust port, although from what I can tell most of the dust stays on the top of the table.  There is a small dust blower on the top of the table which helps somewhat.  There is a blade holder on the side of the saw, but its a little flaky because there is nothing that keeps them in place.  If your saw is going to stay in a stationary position and not be moved around then no big deal.  If however, you have a small shop like me and move tools left and right those blades won’t stay there for long.

I think my biggest complaint for this saw was the initial setup of the saw.  Usually when I get a new power tool everything is set and calibrated before receiving it.  Only occasionally do you need to make a minor adjustment.  This was the case for the scroll saw.  The table was not level when set to 0°.  No problem though, there is an adjustment screw located under the table plate that is adjustable.  On my setup it was WAY off so I had to really adjust the screw.  It makes you question was there any testing done on this before it was boxed?  Somehow I doubt that.  After leveling the table with the adjustment screw I also had to adjust the measure screw to point it to 0°.

Overall I like the saw, and think it’s a great starter saw.  If you’re a serious SS’er (“Scroll Sawer”, I just created that term ) then you may want to look at other models that have more features, and are a little more rugged.  If you’re a casual woodworker who enjoys playing around with these tools, then the Craftsman 16″ Scroll Saw is an excellent way to go.

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