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LN frogs don't fit Cliftons, unfortunately.

My Tilgear cat. came today - no more CD, Hurrah! I thought it was interesting that Tilgear do not list the 'Grant' brand planes in the new 2009 catalogue. Presumably either (a) they're so good world demand is so high they can't secure a regular supply, or (b) they had so many returns after...

I find David Charlesworth's advice spot on; make sure you set the support rod 9mm from the wheel (bit of 9mm MDF) Then use the diamond dresser, having set it with a bit of thin card under the business end to reduce the cut (stonesaver). Then don't move the support again, adjust angles by...

I was recently given an old (what I think used to be called) blacksmith's portable electric drill; about 300 rpm / Morse 2 taper / 2 big side handles, and in good condition. There was something similar 40 yrs back at our village forge (long gone), used sometimes in agricultural machinery...

I too bought a Kell for Jap chisels, although David C's subsequent mod to the eclipse works pretty well. Either hold narrow chisels better than the MkII. The Kell's wheels are not really suited to waterstones, get full of slurry - better diamond and maybe harder 8000 grit waterstone to polish...

The Dyson does have an after-cyclone filter, although you don't have to change it very often in a domestic setting. What they don't say in ads of course is how much air resistance the tiny cyclones/air pasages cause - for all I know as much as a bag! I did experiment with a broken Dyson...

Thanks for your replies; doors will be 19 or 21mm. I prefer a smaller gap but in other people's kitchens, door hinges are often well worn! I have all the figures from the Blum catalogue which allow you to calculate all posibilities, but was not sure if the big gaps found on mass produced...

The main purpose for a vac tank is to prevent pump cycling on and off too frequently. If you're going to let the pump run contiuously no need for tank (but not very kind to pump) You don't need a very big tank, if you're using one. See here: http://www.joewoodworker.com/veneering/welcome.htm...

Is there actually a "preferred" clearance between runs of doors, drawer fronts etc when using concealed hinges? (The hinge itself may set a maximum cabinet side overlay and thus the absolute minimum door clearance dimension)

An engineering workshop straight edge is required to set up machinery (ie planer tables) or test tools for flatness. The "tester" should be about 10x more accurate than the error you want to check. the relevant standard is DIN 874/2 (/1 is much too accurate and expensive!). You'll find some...

Niki, your Woodnet engineer is talking rubbish! The best selling UK domestic vac cleaner (for the house) is the Dyson, which has an exclusive selling point All cyclone, No bags! Whilst looking into this, including Bill Pentz' website, I found papers on line about the use of small cyclones to...

The new Mafell has a purpose built scoring-by-backward-cut position, which my older saw lacks (also less good extraction). My (Mafell) saw also plunges on columns like a router, rather than tilts into work, possibly better for plunge cuts. The main point of all these saws is the retractable...

I upgraded from a Freud to the Lamello "classic style but no paint" model at just over 200 quid as all lamellos seemed to have least play in the plunge mechanism. Money well spent. I think the Makita which the magazines liked was about £160 at the time. The freud design really needs you to...

Derek, having thought of it overnight, I think the DC method scores with repeatability - it was first time I could g'tee continuous, curly end grain shavings every sharpen. Perhaps I should have tried using the hollow grind to support the blade (guidless) on 600 grit, and instead of doing the...

There was an earlier FW test (before issue 90, well before LN, I have it in the 1st "Best of FW" book series) that included Iyoroi Marples Footprint etc. The 2 Japanese came top and Footprint was chosen for the best western chisel.

Early 'rats had solid plastic runners and no slop; it's not difficult to make such up for yourself. Woodrat doesn't seem to worry much about the slop, for if you clamp the wood in as reccomended the job itself removes any backlash. This is true for lighter work and if you have aluminium fences...

I got fed up with watching silly prices on ebay and got a 5300 which was very good value (esp before last 2 increases!) Will fully tension a 1" bimetal blade and rip without lead.

I was under the impression that since Record was taken over by Irwin the Sheffield end had closed and all prduction moved to China? FW magazine liked the Footprints, still UK made, better than Marples (Record). Anant (India?) at about 2.50 each are quite OK for building jobs and softwood...

I guess the 33 - 35 deg(as DC suggests for LN blades) could be 30-32 deg or less, according to steel and species, start low and increase if edge not retained to your satisfaction. Once you have the grind (or primary bevel) it only takes me a few moments to put the blade in my LV II guide, and if...

I thought the 3 bevel system would be an over-elaboration till I tried it out, urged by one of David Charlesworth's books. For a typical blade, he says grind at a bit under 25 deg, to within say 0.5mm of the existing edge (to keep the shape you like, straight or cambered) then raise a burr at...