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For being one of the most versatile stationary machines in the entire workshop, the Drill Press gets very little recognition. This amazing tool has such an array of accessories and add-ons, it might be the most used tool in some shops. There are 2 versions of this tool, one that sits on the floor and stands about 6 feet high and the shorter version which is designed to sit on a work bench or some other sort of stand. The only real difference between the versions is the ability or the floor standing version to accommodate larger objects for drilling.
Often considered to be the safest tool in the shop, the drill press can be deceivingly nasty and deserves the same respect as every other tool in the shop. Just because it doesn't spin at the sames speed as a table saw or mitre saw, doesn't mean you can ignore safety, safety glasses, no loose clothing or hair are imperative. The issue with drill presses is that they are geared so low, that if something gets caught in them, they just keep on turning ... just like a winch, drill presses are very powerful.
The first thing that needs to be done with a drill press, just like any other tool, is to check the set up and that means starting with the speed the chuck will be spinning at ...
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The bandsaw is one of the most versatile tools in the workshop, but like all tools, you still need to give it a great deal of respect and always follow safety guidelines when using it, and in fact the greatest threat from bandsaws is that they are one of the dustiest tools in your workshop, which means you really should be using good dust control when ever using them. Bandsaw's versatility can often be confounded by the fact that if they are not set up properly, they can be frustrating to use. There are many different things to set and know about and to adjust but once these are set you can expect good, consistent results.
When doing ANY work on setting up a bandsaw, the first rule is always make sure the saw is unplugged from it's electrical source. After that you need to understand what all the controls and setting do on a bandsaw including ...
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THE most important part of a table saw is the blade. You can get great saw cuts on a mediocre table saw that has an excellent blade, on the other hand, a really good table saw with a crappy blade will give you just that ... crappy cuts. If you are going to spend some good money on something in the workshop table saw blades is the place to do it. There is a place for poor blades, they can be used if you are cutting up wood for the wood stove, or maybe even making a fence, or hacking up shipping pallets, but if you are a woodworker, and you want good cuts you need to have good blades.
In this video we show 4 of the most popular saw blades for woodworkers and describe their uses and what makes them unique. With the information presented in this video you will be able to make wise choices in selecting table saw blades that will do the job you need.
You can't always rely on price to purchase good quality blades, but in most cases you can. There are some anxious retailers who either don't know how to price table saw blades, or they are perhaps a bit aggressive in their profit margins when pricing their wares. It is up to you, the woodworker to know what you need, and how to select better quality blades.
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In this video we begin our series on videos for beginners, with basic instructions on how to use a table saw safely. With the help of a little bit of trick photography for the title page, we go on to show proper table saw setup and usage.
To start of with, you need to make sure the saw is set up properly. ALWAYS, unplug the saw to disable power to the motor before doing any of the fine tuning and adjustments that might need to be done. Table saws can come out of alignment with all the use and vibration, so they need to be checked from time to time, and if you have never done this, now is a good time to start. First, check to make sure the blades is running parallel to the mitre slot, next the fence also needs to be exactly parallel to the mitre slot.
If you have a Riving Knife or Splitter with blade guard, you need to make sure that these are in perfect alignment with the saw blade. If they are not, you may need to purchase or manufacture shims to adjust the positioning. I use brass sheets from the metal store, they are not expensive and last for ever, but any thin metal will work, you may need a few of different thicknesses to accommodate different blades.