Checking a Level Against Itself
I remember a lad I taught back at the college, a bright enough kid, who spent three weeks’ wages on a fancy digital laser level because the brochure promised "unmatched precision." He spent more time calibrating the bloody thing than actually setting his frames. It’s the same nonsense I see online today—people getting bogged down […]
Testing a Combination Square for Square
I’ve spent forty years on site and another ten in the classroom, and if there is one thing that gets under my skin, it’s the way modern tool reviews try to turn a simple piece of steel into a high-tech gadget. You’ll see these glossy videos talking about "ergonomic grips" and "proprietary coatings" as if […]
Two Tapes That Disagree by Two Millimetres
I remember standing on a job site back in the nineties, watching a lad struggle with a piece of expensive, "professional grade" tape that kept buckling every time he tried to reach across a frame. He’d spent a fortune on it, but the numbers were already rubbing off and the hook was wobbling like a […]
A Dowel Jig That Actually Lines Up
I remember standing in a workshop back in the eighties, watching a young lad try to force a joint together with a cheap, plastic jig that was wobbling like a jelly on a plate. He was sweating, cursing, and fighting the tool more than the timber, and all the expensive power accessories in the world […]
Biscuits, Dominos and Dowels Compared
I remember standing in a college workshop twenty years ago, watching a lad try to justify buying a top-of-the-line, computerized biscuit joiner that cost more than my first motor. He was reading a glossy brochure that promised "unmatched precision through digital calibration," but all I saw was a machine that would be a paperweight the […]
Jigsaw Blade Choice Decides Everything
I’ve spent forty years on site and another ten in the classroom, and if there’s one thing that gets my goat, it’s the way modern tool reviews focus on nothing but flashy specs and motor wattage. You’ll see some lad on the internet telling you how to review a jigsaw based on how many lumens […]
Sanders and the Dust Problem
I spent thirty years on-site and another ten in the classroom, and if there’s one thing that gets under my skin, it’s the way modern tool reviews feel like they were written by someone who’s never actually felt a grain of oak under their palm. Most of these online guides are just reading off a […]
Routers and Which Base You Need
Most people approach technology like they approach a cheap, disposable chisel: they buy the flashiest thing on the shelf, use it until it fails, and then toss it in the bin without a second thought. I see these tech reviewers throwing around jargon about "gigabit speeds" and "dual-band architecture" like they’re reciting a prayer, but […]
Snipe and How Much Is Acceptable
I spent thirty years on site and another ten in the classroom, and if there’s one thing that grates on my nerves, it’s the way modern tool reviews treat a machine like it’s a piece of high-tech consumer electronics. You’ll see some lad on the internet talking about "user interfaces" or "smart features" when he's […]
Bandsaw Resaw Capacity Honestly Measured
I’ve spent forty years watching lads walk into tool shops and get talked into buying a bandsaw based on nothing but a shiny coat of paint and a list of features that wouldn't help you cut a straight line if your life depended on it. Most of those glossy brochures and "expert" online guides will […]