ShopNGarage

A modest assortment at a reasonable price…

Dremel 75-Piece Accessory Tin Can Kit at amazon.com

A look inside.

The little plastic box contains some sanding and polishing supplies.

I liked the storage tin better than the plastic boxes used with the other accessory kits.

I have had this little mixer for a couple of years now. Assembly was easy and the smaller size doesn’t need much storage space. It is capable of mixing a full 80 lb bag of concrete. My only complaint is that it sits too low to pour out into a wheelbarrow. I need to build leg extensions.

Harbor Freight 1 1/4 cubic foot mixer…

91907 Cement Mixer

Harbor Freight also sells a larger 3 1/2 cubic foot mixer…

67536 Cement Mixer

I took a video while I mixed an 80 lb bag of concrete…

There are three basic types of taps used for cutting female threads.

A taper tap has a long taper that is easier to start in a hole. Because of this long taper, a more gradual cutting action is produced. This reduces tap breakage in smaller sizes or harder materials.

A plug tap has a shorter taper that allows starting in an unthreaded hole, but produces a more aggressive cut. This is the most common type of tap.

A bottoming tap does not have a tapered end. It is not possible to start this type of tap in an unthreaded hole. This tap is used to finish cutting threads in the bottom of a blind hole.

In this picture, a plug tap has hit the bottom of a blind hole. Because of the taper, the bottom few threads are only partly cut. This tap is backed out and a bottoming tap is used to finish the job.

The local hardware store probably isn’t going to stock a bottoming tap. In a pinch, I have cut the tapered tip off of a plug tap and used it for a bottoming tap. Use a cut off wheel and work slowly. Cool the tap frequently in cold water so you don’t change the temper.

I’ve been looking for an original Workmate for years. I want the vintage model with cast parts. I’ve only seen one in pictures, never in real life.

Used Workmates are usually severely beat. Today I came across an older model in great condition. While not the original with cast parts, I thought it was a good deal at $40.

It’s time for a new fence at my house. I broke my old fence post level, so I went looking for a new one.

I went to Lowes first and looked at a Swanson Wood Magnet. It looked liked it would fit a 2×4, but I was skeptical of how it would work with a 4×4 post.

My next stop was at the Home Depot. They had a Kapro post level that was marked with the Husky brand. This level has magnets, can fold, and has click locks at every 15°. It looked too fiddly to me.

I settled on an Empire post level. This tool is simple, well made, and low-cost. It works with wood posts or steel pipe. The included rubber band was old and brittle, so I hand stitched a new band from elastic.

Made in the USA and available on Amazon…

Empire Post Level