Tools of the Trade: Jesse's Latest Articles

A Finish Carpenter’s Bag of Tricks: Part 2

Mon, 13 May 2013 10:53:03 EST

Here are 12 more tools I could not live without.

A Finish Carpenter's Bag of Tricks: Part 1

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:08:08 EST

These are not the only tools in my bag; they’re just the ones I like or use the most.

Tools Up Close: 16-Gauge Fusion Nailer

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 12:15:51 EST

In my work as a finish carpenter, I use a variety of nails: 18-gauge brads for molding and trim, 15-gauge nails for door jambs, and 16-gauge nails for everything else. I prefer to work without hoses, and for the last 10 years have been using 16- and 18-gauge fuel-powered nailers from Paslode. They work very well, but I dislike having to buy gas cylinders, breathe exhaust fumes, and oil and clean the guns.

Tools Up Close: Benchmark Worktable

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 12:15:52 EST

The Benchmark differs from the tables I've used before (usually a door blank on sawhorses) in a couple of important ways: It folds, so it's easier to transport; and it has an open top consisting of a series of cross bars covered with stepped plastic caps. Since the top isn't solid, you can cut on it with a circular saw without damaging the work surface — you just position the piece so that the blade passes between the cross bars or through the channels where the caps step down. If you misjudge and hit a cap, you'll only be hitting plastic.

Repurposing a Lock Mortiser

Fri, 1 Feb 2013 04:54:44 EST

Last summer I built a set of craftsman style carriage doors for my house and decided to use mortise and tenon joints. I hadn't made this kind of joint before so I asked my friend, Gary Katz, how to go about cutting the deep mortises. He suggested using a lock mortising machine, a tool designed for cutting mortise locks into doors...

Tools Up Close: Bosch Glide Miter Saw

Tue, 5 Feb 2013 01:40:14 EST

For as long as I can remember, miter saws have ridden on rails. This design works very well except for one shortcoming: You need to set up away from the wall because the rails protrude from the back of the machine. Bosch recently introduced a 12-inch dual compound sliding model (GCM12SD) designed to solve that problem & and several others, too. It's called the Glide miter saw because instead of sliding on rails, the motor 'glides' forward and back on articulated arms (which don't protrude from the back of the machine). To test this tool, I've been using it in my finish carpentry business since October. Here's what I found out.

Tools Up Close: SawGear Automatic Measuring System

Mon, 7 Jan 2013 07:13:27 EST

The SawGear consists of an aluminum measuring bar (or fence), a flip stop, and a power head with a digital LCD screen and keypad. Unlike most length stops, which must be positioned by hand, this one moves along the measuring bar in response to dimensions entered on the keypad.