Soldomat Solder Rings

Right-Tool had solid illustrations and was selling these gizmos for quite some time.

These are pre-formed little rings of solder that slip into the fitting -- not bad -- can save a lot of time. But I cannot find them on Right Tool nor anywhere on the web. When the company comes back into business -- perhaps restrained by code approvals or capital -- please let me know.

Found them here:
Pace Machinery Group Inc.

Enter Soldomat Rapid Solder Rings. A simple solder product that takes most of the error out of the job. You still must clean and prepare the joint, but the skill required in using just the right amount of solder at just the right moment to ensure proper solder flow, is unnecessary. The Soldomat solder ring provides just the right amount of solder and is applied cold into the fitting before coupling with the pipe. Apply the flame as usual and wait for the solder to appear at the edge of the fitting indicating a complete and solid joint. The solder flows from the inside to the edge and all around the joint at once. The conventional technique requires that the solder spread from one side around the joint to complete the seal, sometimes making it difficult to be sure the flow is complete. With the Soldomat Rapid Solder Rings the solder is visible all around the joint and since it came from the inside the seal is for sure complete. The product is available in three sizes, 1/2", 3/4", and 1" and sell 100 for $20.

Electric Soldering Gun

right-tool.com: "REMS 163020 Hot Dog 2 Electric Soldering Gun eliminates open flames in those close, cramped hard to reach soldering jobs. The Hot Dog Gun with its unique clamp design safely applies heat to joints right next to flammable materials such wooden joists and fiberglass insulation. Light, it only weighs 24 ounces allowing for easy use on long reach jobs. Hot Dog 2 develops 1500 degree temperatures accommodating jobs on up to 1-1/8' OD tubing. About $275"

Also take a look at Cedarberg Circa-Torches which surround piping with jets of propane or acetylene flame for fast, efficient tube sweatingand brazing operations. Under joists. In corners. Inaccessible places for single-tip torches.

Pootatuck Lion Miter-Trimmer

right-tool.com: "Pootatuck Lion Miter-Trimmer -- Produced for more than 75 years the Lion Miter-Trimmer produces superior results for trim and finish work. Unlike a miter box saw which leaves a rough surface, the Lion Miter-Trimmer cuts with razor-sharp knives to shear off the wood for a glass smooth finish cut. The two gauges, left and right, can be adjusted and locked instantly to any angle from 45 to 90 degrees, and enable you to take up to 4' stock when mitering and 6' stock when squaring ends. About $270"

Reciprocating Carver

right-tool.com: "WE-CHEER WE320 Variable Speed Reciprocating Carver and Rotary Tool Kit. Excellent new power-carver at great price! About $125"

Reciprocating Power Gouges at FlexCut

Frame versus frameless

woodweb.com: Question:
I am new to the cabinet making arena, although I have been woodworking forever. I am stumped on frameless versus face frame construction. Can someone explain the differences between the two?

A frameless cabinet is one that replaces the 3/4' thick solid wood face frame (on face frame cabinets) with edge banding. Or, put another way, when you build your box, instead of putting solid wood face frames on, put on edge tape/banding or thin wood strips no wider than the panels are thick. Much more discussion and tips....

Bi-Metal Blade

irwin.com: "Unbreakable Bi-Metal blade technology improves performance. Stays sharp three times longer than the next best utility blade."

Employee time records

exaktime.com "Each day your workers TOUCH in and out. A battery-powered Jobclock attaches at each of your jobsites and acts as your 24/7 onsite timeclock. Your workers each carry two ID Keytabs on their own keyrings. They touch the green Keytab to clock in and touch the red Keytab to clock out. That's it! Green - go. Red - stop. Easy to understand. Simple to use! Collect the time records before each pay period to a Palm and to a PC. AccountLinx for QuickBooks can increase the power of the Jobclock System dramatically. No pricing available. Wierd! "

Truck Bed Cover

bedskins.com: "No snaps, buckles or frames that put ugly holes in your truck
Instead, Bed Skins use quick release buckles attached to the Bed Skin and covered by what we call stir-ups. The expanding straps are made of webbing and have vinyl coated hooks at the end which grab underneath the body of your truck.

Five access points -- Easily put on or take off your Bed Skin! Get into, out of, load or unload at any one of the five points of access around your truck bed. No cover on the market is easier or more versatile to use in this regard than the Bed Skin. About $350"

Mini Backhoe

power-trac.com:
- 1,200 lbs. lift capacity
- 30 Horsepower Diesel Engine
- 8' Lift Height
- 53' Wide
- 40 front mounted attachments
- Hydraulic Operated Quick Attach
- Removable Backhoe Available
- 4-Wheel Hydrostatic Drive
- Infinitely Variable Speeds
- Independent Wheel Motors

About $15000-$17000

Mixing Machine

right-tool.com: "PERLES ME120 Comfort Mixing Machine w/Plaster Paddle -- A mixer featuring a 2-speed geared motor for handling the widest variety of mixing jobs with professional ease. Rugged and powerfully designed for universal use in mixing loads of up to 10 gallons. The ideal tool for the interior finish tradesman tho' it costs almost $400."

Multi-Pattern Euro Jig

right-tool.com: "This versatile European hinge jig is adjustable to the 8 major euro hinge manufacturers' patterns including: BLUM, MELPA, GRASS, LAMA, HETICH, HETAL, INAUX, and SALICE. Comes equipped with TCT (tungsten carbide tipped) 35mm center bit, two HSS (high speed steel) 7/64' dowel drills, hexagonal ball device, 5mm face frame template, and carrying case. Other dowel bits in tungsten available from 5mm to 40mm. About $220.



F-975BLRegular: $249.95Special: $219.95"

Auger Bit Set

right-tool.com: "Steelex 7 Bit Auger Drill Set with Case -- Extra long auger bits allow deep boring through most wood, walls, and flooring. The self-centering screw pointed bits are hex shanked to provide positive no-slip grip in drill chucks. Set includes 1/4', 3/8', 1/2', 5/8', 3/4', 7/8', and 1' auger bits. High value import. Not bad at $45."

Lock Drilling Set

right-tool.com: "Install locksets with the included 7/8' (22mm) screw point auger bit and the 2-1/8' (54mm) saw toothed forstner bit. Made of quality high carbon tool steel. High value import at $19.95"

Roof nail caddy

right-tool.com: "Prazi PR-2200 Coil Caddy holds wire collated pneumatic nails for your power nailer. Works with construction type H.D. work belts. Keeps nails at the ready to save time and energy. Holds up to 7 coils of nails. Under $10."

Energy Analysis

archweek.com: "One sixth of the electricity consumed in the United States goes to cool buildings, at an annual cost of $40 billion... In the 1970s the yearly high temperature in Los Angeles exceeded the former high temperatures caused by the eruption of Krakatau in 1883... These facts are among the 'tips of the day' on the GeoPraxis, Inc. Web site, reminding visitors of the critical need for energy analysis and consciousness in architectural design."

Top ten Green Buildings

In recognition of Earth Day 2004, The American Institute of Architects and its Committee on the Environment selected ten exemplary "green" buildings that - through their construction and operation - minimize damage to the environment. Together, they showcase environmentally responsible design through brownfield redevelopment, alternative heating and cooling systems, and/or creative use of daylighting.

Talk Energy

talkenergy.com -- an online community like slashdot that focuses on energy conservation and alternative energy within the home.

Example link: Head over to Enviromission -- the first-of-its-kind baseload solar electricity generator they plan to build in Wentworth, Australia. The device will be essentially a humungeous [sic] greenhouse (7km in diameter) with a massive chimney (1km tall) in the middle. The sun heats the air under the greenhouse canopy, producing a roaring updraft through a chimney; pressure-staged turbines around the base of the chimney use the resulting airflow to generate 200 megawatts (peak) of electricity for about 200,000 homes.

Vegetable oil cars

greasecar.com Not cheaper but definitely an alternative. An $800 kit for diesels."

Low flat truck rack

Loads plywood or drywall far closer to the ground. Works with existing bed tool boxes. Doubles rack capacity. Spans across bed rails without drilling. Costs about $250 from rjenterprisesllc.com

Landscape lighting tip

jlconline.com: "During the design phase, we strive to limit the length of runs to 100 feet or less, and to keep the total wattage of lights served by each transformer at 80% or less of the transformer's power rating.

We also avoid straight runs involving many lights in series -- instead, lay out the circuits in a 'star' or radial pattern, running one wire to a central point and then branching out to individual fixture loads. That works better, because voltage drop depends on the distance between the load and the source. Adding more lights doesn't create more voltage drop as long as the power doesn't have to travel more feet to get to each one. So if I have a 50-foot run to a branch point, and five lights at the end of five 10-foot branch wires, my voltage drop for each light is based on 60 feet of cable. If I string those five lights in series, with 10 feet of wire running from each light to the next, the last one will be at the end of a 100-foot run and will experience more voltage drop as a result. "

Stucco repair

jlconline.com: "Repairs made with traditional cement-based stucco require multiple trips and take weeks to complete because cure time is needed between coats of mud. The scratch coat should cure for 48 hours, and the brown coat should cure for 7 days. Shrinkage cracks may appear in the finish if you skimp on curing.

Use traditional materials for new work and for large repairs. Window replacements are different because there's only a small area to patch. For small repairs, we'll use a one-coat system for the scratch and brown: Maxit 690 (Maxit, Antioch, Ill.; 847/395-7110, www.maxit-usa.com), a premixed bagged product that contains Portland cement, sand, glass fiber, lime, and additives that reduce shrinking. "