I had a chance to evaluate a new 20v DeWalt impact driver when building a plywood rack for the garage: the Atomic Compact 20v DCF809. I am looking to replace my tired Ryobi 18v tools for a set that is lighter, performs better and has a longer battery life. I have a soft place in my heart for DeWalt as their 9.6v drill was the very first battery drill I ever purchased with my own cash. I had a side gig in college building decks, installing doors and windows, and running trim in new/remodeled houses. That little drill made me so much money and fed me more than once.

I was shocked in the 20v performance when compared to my 10+ year old Ryobi driver. It wasn’t even close: the Ryobi hit harder, by a lot, didn’t get hot and drove screws better. The battery life was about the same. I will not by buying the DeWalt. It is just that simple.

I am still looking for a new lighter, long-lasting battery tool set – I want everything from the drill to recip saw to circle saw to portaband – all the good stuff!

I am going to give the Makita a go next (My neighbor across the ally just got the 7-piece set) as I have used and loved their tools for decades. The best circle saw I have ever used/owned was a Makita. It saw daily job site use for 4 years and weekend use for another 10. Never had to replace the brushes (it was stolen in 2014).

I spent a little time this weekend doing a quick re-organization of my molding and hand-planes in the shop. I cut some hardwood molding last week and hollows & rounds were scattered about on the bench and half were still in my wooden tool chest.  I used an existing cabinet/bookcase and added a couple of shelves. The planes are now right by the bench to I have easy access to use and can see if any are out of place with just a quick glance.

As I populated plan rack, I decided to make a space for my often-used bench chisels.  It took me a couple of hours or so and I got to cut some custom large cove molding on my table saw for the round chisel handles to pocket into. 

I have had a 2” chisel with a crappy handle or years and decided that it was time to address the issue. I turned the original ill-fitted handle down on the wood lathe to fit properly, added some flair, and then cut a new brass end ferrule for the mallet end on the metal lathe. Finished with Corey’s tung oil and a topcoat of Axe Wax. This handle should out last me by a few decades.

My long planned plywood storage rack is done. Spent a really long day of cutting, glueing, and moving all the parts into place. It had to be done in the garage as it was raining outside and I moved the Jeep out for the duration.

Adam Savage (Myth Busters Fame) has been doing a number of “One Day Projects) and this rack was also done in that vane (except that I drew the concept plans over a year ago). It is the largest project that I have taken on since shoulder surgery and I was a little leery, but I got it done and didn’t hurt myself so win/win. This will help with a couple of projects that are now in-progress and general shop clutter substantially.

while I got a ton of things done this past weekend, I am still healing. I have a long list of big projects and wants that are waiting until I am back in fighting shape. I can’t just sit around though and NEED things to do besides eat, rage post on the 9 forums I belong to, drink beer and rose in the yard, watch YouTube until 4AM, play video games, and get fatter. So I planned a busy weekend with the Jeep, some 3D printing, a little design work, some tool shopping, and I continued to shadow in all my tool boxes with birch plywood.

I spent 3/4 of a day cutting and finishing a multi-lever collet organizer. I designed it the weekend before and it came out perfect the first time. REALLY proud of the collet wrench fit: Like a glove with 1/6” gap all the way around! Was very happy to get one chest completely shadowed in – I have two more chests with 14 more drawers to go.

I was also stoked to finally get a BIG router for my router table lift and get it installed and working. I got an “open box” deal at my local Woodcraft, which is special in itself – I am usually stuck paying full retail for everything. I am not the guy who constantly tells the “Oh man! I got this smoked deal…: stories. The first router project will have to wait a little bit though until my shoulder is back in fighting shape.

I made my wife super happy by designing and printing a puppy bowl table out of white PLA and I ended what turned into a very hot Seattle weekend doing some free advertising for my beloved Subaru: I was wearing my Scooby mechanic shirt with a sweet new patch and a lady came up to ask be about a noise and a mod for her car. I told her I was not a Subaru employee, but she just kept asking. I did end up telling her that the noise was probably one of the exhaust manifolds – new gasket and needed to be torqued properly. Also told her yes on the K&N intake. Just being helpful. Subaru should pay me to preach.

Once again, I used my diabolical enginerd brain to design and cut ANOTHER tool organization drawer insert for my machine shop rolling tool caddy. It is something I can do while my shoulder heals from major reconstruction and still allow me to be productive in the shop.

I designed the insert with AutoCAD and Easel as I have with previous inserts and then cut it out with my x-Carve. A little hand fitting, three coats of clear matte varnish, a little teal colored foam, and the final drawer in my rolling machinist tool caddy (I am not a machinist!!) is done.