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December 2001 |
Fine Filtration
 My
shop vacuum works like a charm for sucking up most of what ends
up on the floor of the shop, but fine sanding dust is another
matter. More often than not some of the smaller particles being
sucked up end up as nearly invisible clouds that slowly settle
around room.
I tried a Clean Stream cartridge
filter in my shop vacuum recently and I was pleased with the
results. The simplicity of the cartridge design was a welcome
improvement over the fussy foam sleeve and paper disc combination
filter that came as standard equipment on my vac.
According to the manufacturer
the filter traps 99.7% of all particles down to 0.3 microns—a
big improvement over my factory-supplied filter. And filter
also has a non-stick surface that sheds dirt and dust quite
easily when it’s shaken out—you can also wash it with
soap and water.
Clean Stream has filters that
fit most Craftsman, Shop-Vac, Hoover and Genie models. They
cost around $26.
For more information contact Clean Stream Filters at www.cleanstreamfilters.com
or at 800-758-6755.
—Douglas Thomson |
 Dual-Power
Nailer
There’s no question that air-powered nailers are great
for a variety of woodworking and DIY projects. But as handy
as a brad nailer can be, every once in a while a situation comes
along when you may want to leave the dangling air hose and compressor
behind. For those situations Porter-Cable’s new nailer
can be powered by either a 12-volt high capacity battery or
by an air compressor.
The new Porter-Cable BN200V12
accepts all standard 18-gauge brad nails ranging from 3/4"
to 2" and a sequential fire trigger. It also has an adjustable
depth guide that allows adjustments without changing the compressor
settings.
The gun’s removable non-marring
tip prevents scaring by providing a soft cushion on the tool’s
nosepiece, and should you need to remove it, there’s a
handy storage slot for it at the end of the nailer’s magazine.
It sells for about $429. Contact: www.porter-cable.com
or 800-463-3582.
—Douglas Thomson |
Floor Scraper
 If
you’ve ever refinished a wood floor, you know what it’s
like to inflict a dust storm on yourself. And reducing this
misery is one of the claims made for the Veritas floor scraper.
By fastening a 1/16" scraper blade to two wooden handles,
this tool removes in ribbons what a belt sander normally takes
off by pulverizing into dust. It’s a good idea, and the
unit I tried did work aggressively enough to be practical for
hardwood floor refinishing, though you’re not going to
break any speed records using it. The tool also didn’t
completely eliminate the need for sanding. I couldn’t quite
get a finish-ready surface using the scraper alone. A final
smoothing from a random-orbit sander was necessary.
On the plus side, the tool handles
are comfortable and encourage lots of downward pressure from
your hands. This is where the design shines; the adjustable
long handle is particularly welcome as you change positions
on the floor while working. It can be had for $39.95. For more
information contact Lee Valley Tools at www.leevalley.com
or 800-267-8767.
—Steve Maxwell
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