New developments in the home workshop

Over the last two decades, we’ve become used to seeing all types of new technologies entering our homes. Everything from personal computers to programmable coffee makers, digital watches to cameras so small that they fit into a shirt pocket.

The workshop is no exception. In this category, and to name but a few, we find tools and machinery designed for carpentry, mechanics, lawn and garden that are more efficient, user friendly, safe and functionally simple.

Shop storage and management items such as workbenches and storage units are now more adaptable and complete. In the following, we will discuss a few of the tools now commonly found on store shelves, in the home workshop or shed, with the goal of providing information that will be helpful when it’s time for you to make such choices.

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Shop tools
Cutting
Measurement
Detection
Organizing your workspace
Outdoor equipment

Shop tools

Drills, reciprocal saws, power saws and the entire line of hand-held and fixed shop tools have gone through some startling transformations. Autonomous, battery-powered hand tools have brought the workshop outdoors and eliminated the need for AC outlets and long extension cords.

Cutting

Ergonomically designed pistol and U-shaped grips, lightweight, high-impact plastics, smaller, powerful and balanced motor and drive assemblies have made cutting tools more comfortable and easier to use. New lines of battery-powered hand tools have cut weights by half in some instances, while improving power delivery and durability. Battery recharge times have been reduced and they’re conveniently designed so that a single battery can power an array of tools.

Sawing with a laser

In the hands of the occasional carpenter, cutting along a line with a hand-held power saw or even a mitre saw was always a bit hit-and-miss. The slightest errant deviation inevitably produced a wavy cut and a lot of frustration, especially when cutting visible finishing elements like mouldings, baseboards and casings. Well don’t despair. Laser-guided saws will help you stay "on line".
One note, when referring to "laser-guided" saws, we’re discussing laser-guided shop tools, as opposed to high-tech industrial cutting machines. Both are sometimes referred to as "Laser guided".

Power saw

The power saw is lighter, easier to handle thanks to improved ergonomics and, to some extent, more accurate thanks to the introduction of the laser guide (but you still need a steady hand and a good eye). The laser is housed at the top of the handle above the blade and projects a straight red line that tracks ahead of the saw. This innovation replaces a notch or line on the saw foot plate and helps you to keep your saw straight along the cutting line as you progress.

An important safety innovation, now more common in consumer level saws, is the electric brake that, when the trigger is released, stops the blade quickly by virtue of a separate coil that creates a frictionless magnetic field.
Finally, you can buy saw blades vented with slots to prevent blade warping during operation and / or with teeth designed to prevent kickbacks.

Mitre saw

Lasers have also found their way into mitre saws. Working on the same principle as power saws, the laser is very handy for lining up and adjusting the saw for mitre and bevel cuts. As well, many models now feature electronic speed control that, as the it cuts through the material, automatically keeps the saw blade turning at a constant rate and this regardless of varying material density, thus producing smooth, even cuts.

Rotary tool

Although the rotary tool has been on the market for a few years, the most recent innovations come in the form of a wider and wider selection of attachments designed to do many jobs. As a result, it can be used to replace a drill, grinder, jig saw, etc. There’s an attachment for mitre cuts. The rotary tool has the advantage of being both small and lightweight, making it handy for work in tight spots. Some models come with detachable handles.
Of course, when using any power tool, safety in the form of eye and ear protection is a must. Never remove the blade guard from a cutting tool. Finally, store your tools away from children. To prevent workshop accidents involving kids, many fixed tools like bench saws come equipped with a removal key that, when removed, renders the saw inoperative.
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