Tools of the Trade: Michael's Latest Articles

Combination Jab Saw/Utility Knife

Thu, 7 Feb 2013 01:57:08 EST

I've been testing tools for years and am on a lot of mailing lists, so new tools frequently arrive on my doorstep unannounced. Most of these tools end up gathering dust in my shop but a recent arrival from the Swanson Tool Company has earned a coveted spot in my tool belt...

Buying a Portable Generator

Mon, 7 Jan 2013 07:13:43 EST

In a perfect world there would be temporary power where and when you needed it, but in reality, many contractors must rely on portable generators some or all of the time. As a framing contractor, I've had to use them myself, so I understand how important it is to get a dependable machine that can provide the required power. In this article I will explain how to size a portable generator and what to look for in terms of features.

First Test: DeWalt's New Framing Saw

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 03:51:13 EST

Wormdrive saws are known for being plenty strong – and plenty heavy too. And as it turned out, where power is concerned, the DWS535 ranks right up there with the best of them.

First Test: High-Pressure Pneumatics

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 01:06:05 EST

Makita is bringing its high-pressure nailer line to the U.S., and we were the first framing crew in the country to get our hands on its framing and siding coil nailers and brand-new 400-psi compressor. High-pressure nailers are more common in Japan, where the affinity for efficiency and compactness drives a lot of product designs. Makita's models have been available there for about three years; they were released in Europe last year. Now it's our turn.

First Test: Bosch's First-Ever Nailer

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 01:06:01 EST

Out West where I build, the Big Three of framing nailers are Hitachi, Paslode, and Senco; if you've shot a 12d nail here, chances are it's been through one of these. There is no shortage of companies making framers, as I found out in our test of 19 full round-head nailers last year, but an unexpected name just entered the field. After decades of making every other tool imaginable, Bosch has introduced its first nailers and compressors, with all-new designs from the air intake up.

Framing Nailers

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 09:44:06 EST

About 30 years ago, when I made the decision to start using framing nailers and their expensive collated nails, there wasn't much to choose from; there were only two big players.

Tool Test: Framing Nailers

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 06:00:53 EST

About 30 years ago, when I made the decision to start using framing nailers and their expensive collated nails, there wasn't much to choose from; there were only two big players. The tools themselves were basic, so I made the buying decision mainly on the price of nails and who could provide the best service for the tools. I favored round-head nails and have stuck with them ever since, having gone through about 1,000 nailers since that time in my production framing business.

Modern Marvels

Tue, 5 Feb 2013 01:43:01 EST

I never gave much thought to work gloves. They were just another part of my work gear. And I'm a tightwad, so most of the gloves I've purchased over the years fall into the 'disposable' category. So when Tools of the Trade gave me the opportunity to review the latest and greatest gloves on the market, it opened my eyes to a whole new world of options.

Metal Connector Nailers

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 11:29:25 EST

Years ago I'd routinely build houses that didn't have any metal connectors in them at all. Everything was blocked or ledgered and a few 16d nails were considered adequate for almost any connection. Once in a while I'd use the odd joist hanger, so I kept a coffee can full of 1-1/2-inch hanger nails in my truck box. It would last me a year.

AutoFeed Screwguns

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 05:03:53 EST

As a production framer building large-scale projects, I could probably measure the amount of plywood subflooring and decking we install in terms of acres. And while most framers still use pneumatic nailers to fasten their subflooring, the argument for screwing and gluing plywood to joists, based on reduced callbacks for squeaky floors, is strong. So we were especially interested in testing the latest batch of autofeed screwguns to see if we could maintain our speed and increase our quality in a production setting.