Consulting Woodworker

Vendors very generously provide me with products to review for you. Better for you, they are also supplying products for me to give away. To be entered for the give a way, sign up for my e-mail newsletter. Be sure to ask to be entered into the drawing.

February Give Away!

 Rockler has given me two of the new Pock-It Hole Clamps to try out and review!

Better for you, they are also providing two more for two lucky winners in my drawing to be held February 28th

I love using pocket hole joinery for all sorts of tasks, but often it was something of a struggle to keep the parts properly aligned. Usually, as the screw is driven home, the joint spreads a little as the srew tip digs in, and then the joint is drawn together along the angle of the screw disturbing the alignment of the joint.

The Pock-It Hole clamp changes all that for many applications. The clamps use a Delrin pin in one of a double-pocket joint to hold the parts tight together. Keeping the parts tight as the screw is driven eliminates much of the alignment problem. But the machined flat bottom of the clamp also spans the joint, maintaining the alignment in a second direction. This is the equivelent of using the clamping pliers AND a bar clamp at the same time.

Because the clamp uses a pocket to grip to, it can clamp a face frame of any length, and even clamps across a 90 degree corner no matter how big your box is. This is VERY convenient when assembling pocket screwed cabinets.

The handles can be racheted out of the way so that the clamps lay flat on a bench or assembly table, and the Delrin pin is adjustable for differing depths of pocket. I used the clamps successfully on flat bottom holes drilled with a bit, and on rounded pockets made with a commercial machine.

They are designed to work with 3/4" thick material and up to 3 1/2" wide face frames. At $19.99 each, they are a must have addition to your pocket hole jigs.

Rockler's Pock-It Hole Clamps 

FastCap's New

Pro Grip Hammer

FastCap sent me one of their new Pro Grip Hammers to test out. It is a quality finish hammer with a well made hickory handle and a nail starter in the head.

Before you say, "Another hammer, so what?", the Pro Grip Hammer comes with all the things you need to customize the grip to your hand.

The "Pro Grip" in the name references the stuff that comes strapped to the handle. A piece of 80 grit sandpaper, one of FastCap's Speed Grips, and a piece of texture wrap, everything you need to form fir the handle to your hand.

The first step is to rough up the finish on the handle so the My Grip material adheres properly. Don't skimp here. Really dig in and rough up the handle so the plastic can grab on.

The My Grip part is then heated to soften it for molding. This is easy and fast to do. I use a small pan of water on the stove. Two minutes in hot water (140-150 degrees) and the Speed Grip is ready to mold. Take it out of the water, pat dry with a paper towel, and apply to the roughened surface of the hammer handle.

Grip the hammer handle tightly while the Speed Grip is still warm. Squeeze and release several times. This molds the Speed Grip to the handle, but also impresses your finger pattern into the surface of the plastic, creating a custom fit. For added texture, wrap the included texture cloth around the handle as you squeeze it.

I'm left handed, so the Pro Grip Hammer is excellent for me. It is now sculpted for left handed use. Do you work outdoors and wear gloves? Sculpt the grip with your gloves on and see what a difference that makes!

Have a favorite hammer, and want to add a custom grip to that?

Speed Grip

The Pro Grip Hammer