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Got some time on your hands over this Holiday vacation? Now that you have some new power tools, what about making a vehicle out of some of your old power tools? You can enter the Power Tool Drag Races in San Francisco or just post your project on one of the innovative websites like Hackedgadgets.com or Instructables.com.

Alan Parakh from Hacked Gadgets created  a radio controlled vehicle made out of  cordless screwdrivers. Check this out!
“This is a radio-controlled vehicle made from two cheap, cordless power tools with wheels attached. The electrical control part consists only of an old R/C controller, two servos, and 4 microswitches. Since I had most parts already in my part bins, it cost me about 20$ to build.

When I first saw cheap cordless screwdrivers, I started to think about (mis)using them for a purpose like this. A self-contained gearmotor with rechargeable power supply with a socket for attaching anything you wanted seemed perfect for a small vehicle or robot base. Not to mention far cheaper and easier than rolling my own. So I decided to make an R/C car out of two screwdrivers to see how workable it would be. And while I was at it, I resolved NOT to use any fancy motor driver electronics or anything. It can drive and steer without electronic drive motor control - it uses switches only. It worked great.”

You can save money and buy reconditioned power tools from ToolKing.com !

Everyone has their own taste in tools ~ ~ here's wishing you all a Happy Holiday from the folks at Toologics!

photo by: Monica Bruce

Plasma cutters were invented in the early 1960's with the introduction of the plasma arc. By increasing the temperature of a commercial welder (speeding up the flow of gas and shrinking the release hole, engineers created a gas "saw" that could could through metal, thus the Plasma Cutter was created.

Plasma cutters were originally used in metalworking industries such as construction to cut beams or metal sheet goods, vehicle manufacturers and custom auto body shops. Basically any place where thick metal needs to be cut. With the advent of relatively inexpensive plasma cutters (under $500), artisans began using them to craft their wares. Evidence of this plasma cut art is all around us in restaurants, shops, homes and galleries alike.

The photo to the left is a metal sculpture created by Ralph Berger. Ralph uses a plasma cutter and a mig welder to create geometrical designs. "Working with metal gives Ralph a great deal of pleasure and allows him to create on either small or large scales. His original designs are cut from either found metal objects or steel plate. The metal sculptures are multi functional, finding their way into gardens and landscapes as well as interior room dividers, mirrors and wall décor."

Other such examples of plasma cutter art are shown at one of my favorite places, the enormous statues at the Griffith Sculpture Park, an hour south of Buffalo, New York. Serene and magnificent, these ancient looking sculptures are reminiscent of the pagan worshipping eras but were actually crafted much more recently. Griffith Sculpture Park, New York photo by Liz Falvo.

Are you interested in creating art with a Plasma Cutter or a Welder? Hobart Welders has some great instructional pdf's on their website. You can purchase an inexpensive welder or plasma cutter for well under $500. Go ahead, treat yourself and start creating cool stuff with metal.

 

Resources:
http://www.rcvag.com/members.htm
http://hobartwelders.com/
http://www.toolking.com

I went into the ToolKing store and asked one of the salemen, Rick, what he found to be the most popular item that people were buying for Christmas presents. He said that hands down, it was the JessEm Miter Gauge. "Why that particular miter gauge", I asked him? Rick said because the JessEm Miter Gauge is an extremely accurate and sturdy after market miter for woodworkers who want their products to turn out perfectly. You use it in conjuntion with your table saw to cut miters to perfection.

The JessEm Miter Gauge features a Mite-R-excel™ fence features a heavy-gauge aluminum extrusion that’s rock solid with no flex. The fence length is 27” closed and extends out to a maximum measured cut length of 36” with stop. JessEm's innovative Dual-Indexing Angle Location System provides positive stops at every ½ degree and a separate vernier scale allowing additional angle settings. The JessEm fence also features their unique "dual-reference adjustable scale" that allows accurate measurements from the blade to 24” and out to 36” when using the telescoping fence extension.

The JessEm Miter Gauge is so accurate, even I might be able to make something nice! Check it out for $199 at Toolking.com