Tool Features that frustrate me

paulrussell · Post by **paulrussell** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 12:25 pm

jb41339 wrote: 1. Wacky Ruler Markings. This one is about rulers that are marked in tenths of an inch. The only thing I need tenth of an inch for is measuring rainfall.

How about a Spinal Tap Ruler? Rather than 10, it would go to 11.

riot_nrrd · Post by **riot_nrrd** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 7:00 pm

paulrussell wrote:How about a Spinal Tap Ruler? Rather than 10, it would go to 11.[/URL]

Is that for when you cut the board too short, and you need that extra little bit?

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 7:07 pm

The SS universal tool rest. It gets in the way sometimes, like now for drilling a 12° hole in a chair leg.

thetorch · Post by **thetorch** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 7:53 pm

They always put a barcode sticker on new wood.
Then it leaves a stain on the project when you finish it.

fiatben · Post by **fiatben** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 8:30 pm

I absolutely agree with the frustration of safety switches which make the tool less safe. We have a circular saw with exactly this problem. About the only way I can power it up is to hold the safety button in with one hand while pulling the trigger. Definitely not a safe method with a handheld power tool.

I think after seeing this that I will bypass that safety. Sounds bad but the tool will be safer without it.

iclark · Post by **iclark** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 11:44 pm

fiatben wrote:I absolutely agree with the frustration of safety switches which make the tool less safe.

+1 on this.

another general frustration is manufacturers that leave out key specs on their web pages or in their manuals. examples that I hit today:
1) SS does not admit to the bandsaw blade length anywhere on the site - either for the saw or for the blades that they sell;
2) the Rikon 14" bandsaw manual cautions to get help lifting the saw onto the base and gives safe lift-with-knees instruction, but does not tell how much the weight is that one will be lifting (only the net weight of the fully-assembled saw - 251lb);
3) Jet cautions about getting helping lifting lathe ways and installing legs, but only admits to the net weight of the fully assembled lathe(440lb in the manual, 410lb on the Jet website). one cannot even get a shipping weight for the major parts because they are not in stock to order.

J R in MO/TX · Post by **J R in MO/TX** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 11:26 am

fiatben wrote:I absolutely agree with the frustration of safety switches which make the tool less safe. We have a circular saw with exactly this problem. About the only way I can power it up is to hold the safety button in with one hand while pulling the trigger. Definitely not a safe method with a handheld power tool.

I think after seeing this that I will bypass that safety. Sounds bad but the tool will be safer without it.

I have two circular saw of same brand. After much annoying greif:mad: one of the saw have the push button bypassed. Craftsman stand inline to use it. The push button one sitting in a case at shop. The button-less saw is in job box going to work again today.

J R in MO/TX

boostfan · Post by **boostfan** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 9:19 pm

I prefer in decimals instead of fractions, but it sounds like I am in the minority.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 9:55 pm

boostfan wrote:I prefer in decimals instead of fractions, but it sounds like I am in the minority.

Both have their proper place(as well as 'Bob's:D). [1 bob = 1/24"]

Never seen a fractional micrometer.

Vernier calipers that digitally display the nearest fractional are something I would avoid. They are guaranteed to be no more accurate than ± the (smallest incremental fraction)÷2 that they 'calculate/round to'.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 7:21 am

A couple good rules to follow might eliminate most of these problems or at least put the blame right where it belongs.

Rule Number One: Use the correct tool for the job being performed. The hard part here is becoming savvy enough to know one tool from another and how to use each.

Rule Number Two: Never buy "cheap" tools! Remember - You never get more than what you pay for.

Also, You don't always get what you pay for.

Rule Number Three: If you don't like the space wasting plastic cases, take the tools out and throw the cases away. The rule is really - Use your limited work space wisely.

While I was readings some of these I couldn't help but laugh out loud. We often talk about precision (accuracy) in the shop and yet we get caught screwing up by using a ruler divided in tenths of an inch. Give me a break! You are kidding of course?

Shopsmith Forums

Tool Features that frustrate me

Ed and Paul are so right