Red Square

I bought my first Woodpecker’s tool a few years ago from Christopher Schwarz. It was during his first tool purge. I bought it as much because it was from Chris as because it was a nice, 12” try square.

Once I received the square, a model 1281, I was amazed by it’s heft, accuracy and build quality. I like Chris, but I’ve never been able to wrap my head around why he’d sell such a great square.

Later that year, at Woodworking in America 2010, I was able to meet Richard Hummel, the founder of Woodpecker’s. We had many conversations over the weekend. Richard’s enthusiasm for machining aluminum was equal the most enthusiastic woodworker talk about wood. Talking with him and finding out how they make their tools sold me on the company.

Since then, I’ve picked up a full set of squares (and even helped convince him that they needed a 26” model). I’ve also managed to collect some T-squares, rules, story sticks and the like.

When they introduced the original Model 640 6” try square as a one time tool in early 2011 I ordered one right achoice. I’ve found it to be my most used square in the shop. So much so, that when I saw Woodpecker’s at a show with extra one time tools, I bought a second 640.

The new 640 is a very similar square to the old one with just a bit more milling.

The 850 is what has me excited though. With an 8” blade, It hits the sweet spot between 6” and 12” squares.

I ordered an 850. I would have ordered a 640 too, if I didn’t already have two.

You can see more about the new 640 and 850 here, or take a look at their video (the coolest part is when they show the milling).

Order for the new squares end on September 16th, so don’t wait too long.

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Get a GRR Ripper

A few weeks ago the folks over at MicroJig were nice enough to send me a pair of GRR-Rippers and their new MicroDial tapering jig. By the time Katie’s Quilt Rack was finished the GRR-Rippers had proven themselves must have shop aids.

When I unpacked the box from MicroJig, I was excite by the build quality of their hardware. Because I already own their MJ Splitter and ZeroPlay Guide Bar I wasn’t surprised by the quality, but it was still nice to see on their flagship product. Thankfully, the MicroJigs and MicroDial tapering jig they sent me were pre-assembled. When I read through the assembly instructions, I think putting them together might have been the hardest part of using them.

In the shop, I put the GRR-Rippers right to work on my Katie’s Quilt Rack project. While building the sculpted quilt rack didn’t involve any tapered cuts, it did see lots of square rips on the table saw (to prepare the leg blanks and make the panels which were glued up for the drawer box).

All done with the GRR-Ripper

For these cuts, both narrow and wide, I used the GRR-Rippers to push the maple and walnut blanks through the saw. While I’m sure most of you know how wonderful the GRR-Rippers are at cutting small and narrow stock, what impressed me the most about them was their overall gripping ability.

I used them on relatively wide stock (4” to 8”). This may make it seem as though the GRR-Rippers were unnecessary. While that is technically true (I could have cut the boards with my old push blocks), even in this situation the GRR-Rippers proved amazingly helpful. Their most outstanding feature is the grippy stuff on the bottom. It’s a rubber like material of some sort. It grips the wood like glue.

On the long, wide pieces of the quilt rack there was no edge to hook a finger (or push stick) on while performing the first 2/3 of the cut. With my hands (or a less grippy push block) I would have worried about slipping across the top of the board during such a cut. Not with the GRR-Rippers. They did not slip.

The GRR-Rippers proved a great accessory to my table saw for all cuts. Given how well they grip, I’m tempted to buy the new GRR-Rip Bock too, as it’s a simpler device with the same grippy bottom. The MicroDial Tapering Jig will have to wait until I have a tapered project. I expect it’ll perform just as well. I’ll let you know how it does.Dont forget about the +Modern Woodworkers Association Podcast. We talk woodworking with Guests from around the world of woodworking every other week. Subscribe to the RSS feed or iTunes today.

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