{"id":40344,"date":"2022-10-04T03:35:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-04T10:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tkdev.kk.org\/cooltools\/?p=40344"},"modified":"2022-10-04T14:47:27","modified_gmt":"2022-10-04T21:47:27","slug":"comparing-circular-saw-blades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tkdev.kk.org\/cooltools\/comparing-circular-saw-blades\/","title":{"rendered":"Comparing Circular Saw Blades"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I want your input on this newsletter. How am I doing? What do you like? Don\u2019t like? What would you like to see? Help me create a publication that best serves the needs of its readers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Talk to\u00a0me<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gareth\u2019s Tips, Tools, and Shop Tales is published by Cool Tools Lab. To receive the newsletter a week early, sign up\u00a0here.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comparing Circular Saw Blades<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
In this Project Farm<\/em> video<\/a>, Todd<\/strong> tests 15 different circular saw blades to find out which ones are the best. He tested blades for performance in ripping 2\u00d74 lumber (before and after striking nails) and compared for performance while cutting through oak and ripping an 8\u2019 pressure-treated 4\u00d74. Bottom line? The Makita<\/a> blade ($10) was best overall. The Spyder<\/a> also performed surprisingly well for its $5 price tag (at time of testing), although that price is currently over $12 each, so look for it on sale. Doing a web search, I see it\u2019s available at some e-tailers for under $7.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cutlist Optimizer<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Speaking of cutting things. If you have a woodworking project that involves a fairly complicated cut list, there is a free app called Cutlist Optimizer<\/a>. It allows you to both organize your cut list to better keep track of all of your pieces and allows you to optimize the parts you can get from your sheet goods.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
How to Calculate 555 Timer Frequency and Duration<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Ah, the venerable 555 chip<\/a>. One of the most useful and popular ICs in electronics history. Invented in 1971, released in 72, it remains a go-to solution for a myriad of timer, delay, pulse, and oscillation applications. In this Digi-Key video<\/a>, they cover the steps for calculating the necessary resistor and capacitor values needed to achieve the frequency and signal duration that you\u2019re after in your project.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The Power of Great Reference Books and Knowing the Names of Things<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As both a maker and a word nerd (I edited Wired\u2019s<\/em> \u201cJargon Watch\u201d column for 13 years), I\u2019ve always tried to impress upon people the power in knowing what something is called. Knowing the proper name for something allows you to look it up, learn about it, track it down (if it\u2019s a tangible object). In this Adam Savage <\/strong>video<\/a>, he harps on the same thing. He does so while extolling the virtues of a book he recently discovered and loves, the Backstage Handbook<\/a>. This visual technical reference is for stagecraft, but most of its contents\u2013divided into tools, hardware, materials, shop math, electrics, and architecture\u2013can be applied to all manner of making. You you get to learn the proper names for all of the tools, hardware, and materials it covers. Magic!<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
TOYS! StylusReach Flexible Flashlight<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cool Tools<\/em> has launched a new newsletter called Tools for Possibilities<\/a>. Every week, subscribers get sent a page from the CT book: Cool Tools: A Catalog of Possibilities<\/em><\/a>. I was tickled to see that the first page I was sent had a review that I wrote on the StylusReach flashlight<\/a>. The Cool Tools<\/em> catalog was released in 2013. Nine years later and I still have, use, and love this flashlight. Good tools do that.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Maker’s Muse<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n

Bubbles\ud83d\udc4f pic.twitter.com\/UUftoSxpEx<\/a><\/p>— How Things Are Manufactured (@fastworkers6) September 11, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>