For more info, visit the QuickSTOP drill press table (www.woodpeck.com/quickstopdptable.html), and the Low profile table (www.woodpeck.com/quickstoplpdptable.html)

QUICK-STOP
DRILL PRESS TABLES
Woodpeckers is introducing two new drill press tables that feature a new flip-style stop called QuickSTOP. They each have an extruded aluminum fence mounted to the top of a Baltic birch/phenolic lamination, with one left and one right stop. The QuickSTOP LP (low profile) drill press table incorporates a novel new device called a TrackLOCK which allows the operator to directly secure the fence to embedded T-tracks. This reduces interference with the drill chuck and enables side-to-side shifting of the fence to extend its stop range.

Resp-O-Ratorª
A new concept in shop dust filtering involves a modified mouthpiece-type respirator with no straps, no hot rubber half mask hanging on the front of your face, no visual obstruction, no batteries to charge and no little fans to maintain. The Resp-O-Rato draws air from behind the user's head and two large filters scrub the air down to 0.3 microns. The clean air goes through two tubes to the valve chamber and mouthpiece. These tubes rest on the user's shoulders and help to counterbalance the weight on the mouthpiece. The tubes are clear and allow for visual inspection of the filters' performance. Since there are no straps, the Resp-O-Rator is totally compatible with all types of hearing protection, safety glasses, full-face shields, magnifier lenses, and even most welding helmets. In addition, with a downward exhaust, it doesn't fog the wearer's face-shield, goggles or eyeglasses, even in cold weather.
The small mouthpiece is almost weightless and people with large beards, facial hair or other physical challenges can wear it with total confidence. There is no need to remove eyeglasses, hardhat, or any type of safety equipment. Removing the mouthpiece allows for intermittent usage or short breaks to take a drink or answer the phone.

For a retailer, see the company's Web site. Only Hartville Tool carries the new Resp-O-Rator Jr. It has only been out a few months and was designed more for allergy problems than wood working.

Carver & Turner Light
The new clip-on BIL-LITE from Klingspor's Woodworking Shop offers hands-free operation and an intense, focus beam of light right where you need it most. It comes with CR2032 3V lithium batteries which are good for 100 hours, and it only weigh 1 oz. The BIL-LITE is LED (no bulb to replace) and comes in yellow, red, blue (shown) and black. Cost at the time the June issue went live was $17.96 +s&h, and a spare 3V battery was $2.00.

For more info, visit them online.
(http://www.woodworkingshop.com)

Cryogenic Tool Edges
Cryo Nebraska offers an unusual process for helping knives and cutting tools keep their edge a whole lot longer. They freeze your tools to -300 degrees F over a period of 12 hours and keep them there for 24 hours using liquid nitrogen (the liquid nitrogen never comes in contact with parts). Then they are allowed to come up to temperature very slowly, so as not to damage anything. This process happens three times.
Here's what Morris Anderson of the Coleridge Carvers had to say about the process:
"I have used (my carving knife) for 2 hours per day since I received it and I have yet to sharpen it (six weeks later). It seems to have extended the edge considerably. This is a great plus for carvers!"

For more info, visit them online.
(http://www.cryone.us)

Add compound angles to
mortises, tenons and more...
The Craftsman Gallery has introduced a new accessory for the WoodRat WR5 joinery machine which will definitely be appreciated by woodworkers who build chairs or cut angled tenons. It's a multi-angle clamping device which attaches to the WoodRat machine and allows a workpiece to be cut at a single or compound angle during mortising, tenoning and other joinery operations. The accessory can clamp a work piece up to 4" thick, either horizontally, vertically, at a left/right miter angle, or at compound angles up to 45-degrees. It has preset stops for 0 to 45 degrees in 5-degree increments, plus 22.5 degrees. The WoodRat is a machine which works with a router to joint wood and is capable of handling a wide variety of woodworking joints. Unlike a router table, the router is mounted upright, the machine holds the work and you can see the cut as it is being made.

For more information, visit them online [www.chipsfly.com]

Barbara Gill's Philosophy of Wide Board Construction
We came across a very interesting and concise essay about using wide boards, and how they behave during changes in their environment (principally moisture/humidity fluctuations). Click on the link to read the essay.

Visit Barbara Gill online
http://www.velvitoil.com/Wideboard.htm

On May 18th, Bosch Power Tools and Accessories introduced their 1297DK 1/4-sheet palm-grip finishing sander kit with Bosch SheetLoc Sandpaper Attachment System, award-winning Microfilter dust collection, and low-vibration technologies. This is the most innovation that this category has experienced in years. Several aspects of finishing sanders have been in need of improvement, and Bosch addresses each of them here. SheetLoc is a fast and easy paper attachment system that pulls regular sandpaper flat and tight for efficient, uniform sanding and longer paper life. With the press of a button, the sander's front paper clamp lifts to slide the paper in. By simply releasing the button, the paper is secured. Clamping the paper at the back is done by pulling a lever, which causes the rear clamp to first clasp the paper, then pull it flat and tight as the clamp is locked into position. (The 1297D will accept stick-on paper if regular paper is not available.)

Bosch also improved finishing sander dust collection with its Microfilter dust canister. With through-the-pad dust collection, the durable canister provides up to 75 percent collection efficiency, capturing up to 40-percent more than competitive devices. Additional dust protection such as the sealed on/off switch extends the life of the tool, too. Bosch designed the 1297D with a low-vibration three-point internal counter-balance system, ergonomic soft-grip top for enhanced comfort and control, and all ball-bearing construction for smooth operation and long life. The 1297DK kit comes complete with Microfilter dust canister, a sheet of 120-grit sandpaper, paper punch plate and versatile carrying bag. Bosch will also launch a complete line of sandpaper, including 1/4-sheet solutions that will accompany the 1297DK, during the summer 2004.

For more information, call 877-267-2499 or visit them online
(www.boschtools.com).