The best Dustpan in the world.

When I’m working on a project, I make a mess. A big mess. I’m a sloppy worker. My wife has nicked named each and every one of my tools THE sawdust maker – as in “Are you going out to the garage to use the noisy or the quiet Sawdust Maker”. When I’m out digging in the yard, she makes me strip down before I come in the house. I used to think this was because we were newlyweds – but recently realized that she didn’t want to Swiff the floor behind me.

I realize that the 2nd to last part of a job is to clean up behind yourself. I have no problem with that. In fact, I love a clean workspace. When I’m pulling wallpaper off the wall I deposit it into a garbage can instead of dropping it on the floor. When I’m breaking out a bathroom vanity, I carefully deconstruct the unit instead of smashing it to pieces.

On a strange side note, my mother in law takes it to the extreme. When we go to their house to visit, I’m generally asked to make one dinner while we are there. I guess they like my cooking – ha! But what’s strange is I’ll be cutting an onion next to the sink on the cutting board. I chop off the ends, peel it, and do a quick dice. Then I’ll scoop up the bits and run them over to the other side of the kitchen to dump them into the sauté pan. By the time I get back to the cutting board, she has whipped out the antibacterial spray, and is scrubbing the cutting board. Just thought I’d share that.

So anyway, I’ve been using this tiny little brass plated dustpan that came with the house when we bought it. I remember my parents and even my grandma having one. You know the kind, They cost 99¢ at the dollar store, and do a good job for most messes.

But not my messes. I make ‘em big. And I need an industrial dustpan to help me clean them up. Now I’m not talking about a stainless steel dustpan (it’s not like I’m cleaning up a surgical suite), but a nice aluminum model like this one: Super Scooper Giant Dustpan

Aluminum Dustpan

What’s so great about this super scooper?  First of all it’s made to last.  Heavy guage aluminum.

Next, it has a great big handle that you can easily hold on to when you are wearing heavy-duty yard gloves.

Next it’s super wide.  Most piles of sawdust can be scooped up in one motion.  It also handles piles of leaves, and the occasional spilled garbage can with ease.

last but not least, it’s not too big that it over spills a garbage can.  Have you ever tried to use a dustpan thats too big for a garbage can?  I have and it’s no fun.

So, if you are looking for the ultimate dustpan.  Try this one.  You won’t be disappointed.

I always promised myself that the first thing I would buy when I got a house was a good table Saw.  So the first thing I did was head out with my Dad, and Dad-in-Law (who were both in Austin at the same time for the housewarming), to Sears, Home Depot, and Lowes.

Now, let me just say that my father used to sell tools for a living, and my Father-in-Law was a professional refinisher for a time, so both know about table saws.  I was hoping to pick up a new, good 10″ model for around $450.  Man, was I disappointed.  All the models either had a pot metal frame, or no base, or so much plastic you would think they were made by Fisher Price. Strike 1, 2, 3.  Game over.

Or so I thought.  On a last chance effort I checked out the local Craigslist, and found an old 10″ Jet Contractors saw with a base, cast-Iron top (which was a bit rusty but  flat as a pancake), a new 1-HP motor, and even a nice fence and miter.  All for $150.  When the guy who was selling it saw me coming in my little 2000 Honda Civic, he said, in his deep Texas southern Drawl: ” You ain’t never gonna get that saw in that car”.  Well, the base fit in the trunk (with the seats folded flat), and the saw rode shotgun in the passenger seat, thank you very much.

Here’s my Baby – The Jet JTS-10. According to the serial number this was the 65th one ever made.  I know it ain’t pretty, and it’s definitely not new, but boy is the blade sharp, and the cut true.  Of course there are absolutely zero safety features.  No RIP guard, no safety switch.  This saw was made back in the day when Table saws weren’t dangerous,  Like when it was ok to play with mercury, and Asbestos was used as insulation.

What  was your first table saw?  Whatever happened to it?  Share your response in the comments below.

Table Saw raised blade, and fence

Old but accurate Table Saw Miter Gauge

Jet Table Saw Height Adjustment Wheel, and Power Toggle-switch

Jet JTS-10 Table Saw, contractor's model

Belt drive table Saws

Close up of miter guage

Jet JTS-10

Norm Abrams

I just read a post by Zach over at Eaton County Woodworker, that The New Yankee Workshop is not going to produce any more new episodes.  The reason I didn’t learn about this sooner was because I vacation with my wife in France and Spain.

This is horrible news!  One of my main inspirations for woodworking has always been norm.  For 20+ years (or as long as I was able to turn on a power tool) Norm, has inspired, educated, and cautioned me to “always wear these, safety glasses”.  And who doesn’t remember the first time they saw a laser line on a chop saw on the program.  I know I do.

According to the Fine Woodworking website, the New Yankee Website will continue, as well as the store where you can order back episodes of TNYW on DVD, as well as participate in a Q&A section.

Norm will also continue to be a host on This Old House, so if you need your fix of beards and plaid, you can always tune in and watch on your local PBS station, or Create.TV .

I sincerely hope that this isn’t a sign of the times.  I just started this woodworking blog, and while looking a bit deeper into some of my favorite how-to blogs I discovered this sad bit of info. It seems like the internet is changing the horizon of media.  Instead of tuning in on a weekend morning to watch the home improvement shows (which I Tivo every weekend) on Public TV, you can now turn to your laptop and do a quick search for whatever project you might be interested in building, crafting, or tackling.  You can find videos, detailed step-by step descriptions, reviews of products and tools, and all kinds of other stuff.

Let’s just hope that Norm is re-organizing, and instead of working on too many different things he is consolidating and spending more time with his family.  Best of luck you you, Norm.  Maybe now you can reveal the secret hidden location of the best woodshop in the world.