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June 2002 |
Right On
 The
first thing I thought of when I saw the right-angled Clamp-It
assembly square was: why not just build one myself out of wood
scraps? Then I took a closer look and noticed several characteristics
that make this product so useful. For one, it can be temporarily
screwed into place when clamping isn’t possible or difficult
at best. This clamp easily secures to a work surface, thereby
creating a simple 90º assembly jig. Also, the inside corner
has a small, circular opening just big enough to poke a glue
nozzle or nail gun inside.
It is designed for use on either
the inside or outside of a corner, making it ideal for assembling
drawers with lipped fronts and tricky corners like pocket hole
joinery on face frames.
The square is made of rigid, lightweight
polycarbonate. The arms are 8" on the outside and 6"
on the inside. It costs about $20 and is only available by mail
order from www.rockler.com
or by calling 800-279-4441.
This isn’t exactly a revolutionary design but it does guarantee
perfectly square right angles every time you use it. —Jay
Somerset |
Plug Grip
 Repairing,
installing or removing an electrical outlet can be a very frustrating
and potentially dangerous job. Holding the outlet in position
with one hand and trying to safely attach the multiple wires
without fumbling is awkward. PlugGrip, a new, inexpensive installation
tool, solves these tedious problems. Simply shut down the power
to the outlet and plug the tool into any dual 110- to 125-volt
grounded outlet. Now you’ve got a handle to hold onto while
you wire and secure the outlet without having to worry about
keeping fingers and tools away from the wiring.
Once you’re finished with
the outlet, turn the power back on and use the tool to test
for power; if the power indicator lights come on, then you know
for sure the outlet has been properly installed. This is much
safer than testing an outlet by plugging in a lamp or radio
and potentially starting a fire in your living room.
The tool comes in two models,
PlugGrip and PlugGrip Pro; the Pro model does not include the
indicator lights. Both are UL safety certified and cost about
$10. They are available online at www.pluggrip.com.
—Jay Somerset |
Sharp Lines
 There
are several advantages to using a marking gauge instead of a
sharp pencil. For one, it marks a thinner and, therefore, more
accurate line. Secondly, for fine chisel work, the depression
the gauge’s blade makes provides a straight, tactile mark
to begin chiselling.
The new Tite-Mark wheel gauge
from Lie-Nielsen solves the two biggest marking complaints:
the flush-mounted steel blade scribes at any circumference point;
and the sharp, non-rotating blade cuts through wood instead
of tearing it, leaving a clean, sharp and straight line.
Setting up the gauge is easy.
There are two screw knobs for coarse and fine adjustments. Simply
slide the cutter until it’s relatively close to the mark,
lock in place and then set the head exactly where you want it
using the knurled adjustment sleeve. The gauge is designed so
you can use it with one hand; the slotted rod keeps the head
and tail from moving while you adjust it. And because the screws
are spring loaded, a quarter turn is sufficient to release or
lock them. The nylon setscrew underneath the head lets you adjust
the level of resistance.
The only maintenance it requires
is honing the blade every once in a while. It costs about $130
and makes a great gift. Find it online at www.lie-nielsen.com
or call 877-967-5966.
—Jay Somerset
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