Showing today at the Bath and West showground in Somerset, the Woodrat has had a mini makeover, apparently generated by the introduction of their template acessory. More interesting than the templates, to me at least, were the new extruded ali fences, replacing the glass filled nylon ones, which were barely rigid enough.
The new fence is of similar overall shape to the old, more rigid being of metal, and has small T tracks in the face. This allows simple addtion of a jaw facing. General purpose flat with sandpaper for grip, or shaped as needed to grip a particular job.
The new mitre box, with HDF cheeks, is similar but larger than the old. This had a number of uncomplimentary and largely true comments posted about it, which seem to be corrected by the new design. The cheeks still lodge in the rail, but the left hand cheek is now also bolted to the new ali fence (those T slots). Once set for a job, the r/h cheek is cammed up much like the old version, with an additional outboard clamp of very simple but ingenious design that allows quick release and re tightening of the work without anything falling on the floor (a frequent criticism of the old mitre box)
I didn't ask the price, but apparently the instructions are just about ready and sales details will soon be in the Woodrat on line shop.
The new fence is of similar overall shape to the old, more rigid being of metal, and has small T tracks in the face. This allows simple addtion of a jaw facing. General purpose flat with sandpaper for grip, or shaped as needed to grip a particular job.
The new mitre box, with HDF cheeks, is similar but larger than the old. This had a number of uncomplimentary and largely true comments posted about it, which seem to be corrected by the new design. The cheeks still lodge in the rail, but the left hand cheek is now also bolted to the new ali fence (those T slots). Once set for a job, the r/h cheek is cammed up much like the old version, with an additional outboard clamp of very simple but ingenious design that allows quick release and re tightening of the work without anything falling on the floor (a frequent criticism of the old mitre box)
I didn't ask the price, but apparently the instructions are just about ready and sales details will soon be in the Woodrat on line shop.
