Power tools?

Question:

I am sistering joist in my basement. i was thinking of buying a paslode cordless nailer but wasn't sure if i needed a finisher or a trimmer. My joist are douglas fir and I'm sistering them with 2x8 treated joist. which cordless nailer is the best nailer to use for that application. i want to buy paslode because of their reputation and i also want cordless. please help. finisher or trimmer ? angled or straight ? and the last question is it powerful enough to drive 16 gauge 2 1/4 inch nails through douglas fir ?

Answer:

I don't know if you have heard of a cordless impact drill driver, but I use one to do similar jobs as you have described. They can drive a 3 1/2 " screw with no problem into pine joists. They are also hand for drywall too, and relatively inexpensive. I bought a craftsman one in a kit and it performed well. They sell for around a 100 bucks or so. For more power check out a Dewalt but they are also more pricey. Just depends on how much you plan on using it.

Do the modern Amish, and Mennonites use power tools?

Question:

I always hear commercial's on the radio from stores that sell hand crafted furniture made my Amish, and Mennonite craftsman. Something makes me think they don't use power tools for building because i figure they do things strictly with their hands since their old fashioned.

Answer:

Some Amish sects use power tools, but for the most part no. The Swartz who build buggys have improvised their tools. ie: Turned a bicycle into a air powered paint sprayer. Made a treadle sewing machine into a band saw.
In Indiana there is a Amish sect that uses solar panels to charge the batteries on their buggys that power their headlights and taillights for night driving. They have running water in their community, it is graviety fed.
In Missouri there are Amish who milk cows for a living and have a cooler run by electricity for the cans of milk. Plus these Amish have a little building with a telephone inside for all the clan to use. Mennonites on the other hand do use power tools, drive cars, have tractors. Usually no television. Maybe they will have a radio. Their clothes can have prints, buttons and zippers, unlike the Amish who prefer the plain cloth.
Here is a tiny bit of history for you. The Mennonites came first. There were disagreements among them and they broke up as a group. One man, Jacob Amin tried to get the group back together, but instead wound up forming another church and the Mennonites dubbed them Amish. One of the quarrels was over the men's beards. Some felt the Bible said not to cut the beard and to wear it long, others thought it meant to keep the beard trimmed up and short. They couldn't agree on what to do, was it Biblical, traditional, or doctrine?

How do I lock drill bits on to my Bosch power tools?

Question:

Inherited a set of Bosch power tools from my dad, I can't seem to lock drill bits on to the tool. Any clues?

Answer:

If it's a regular drill they all have you covered, BUT if its a hammer drill then it may have a different kind of chuck. these are smaller, no teeth, and probably smooth and smaller than the normal chuck, the drill bit has a larger section about 1 to 1 1/2 inches long this section has three little pockets located in the sides of this swollen part. You just insert this into the chuck and pull the chuck back toward the body of the drill. the drill bit becomes locked in place to remove it just reverse the process. these drills usually have three kinds of functions, there is a switch on the side that changes the function. It will drill like a conventional drill, or the bit will move in and out in a hammering motion, or it will do both at the same time hence the name hammer drill. It is for drilling holes in masonry, You can even get a chisel for breaking up concrete.

Bosch makes a great tool line, too bad they are moving all their operation to China.......

What are some essential power tools to have when doing small and large wood crafts?

Question:

In the near future I want to start making wood crafts and sell them at craft shows just as a side job. It's something I've always been interested in and I want to get an idea on how much it would cost me to get it started by making a list of power tools and machinery I would need. I already have an idea of what I might need but maybe more experienced people can name something I haven't thought of.

Answer:

Depending on what you want to make I would suggest a good table saw, a drill press and either a small/med lathe and a 21 inch scroll saw would be a good start. You can always add tools depending on what you need later on Also a small band saw can be a great addition to a workshop.
I do a lot of woodworking as a hobby and so far I haven't found anything I couldn't make with those few tools. My shop area isn't huge just the back corner of my garage really but I've produced some really neat thing in there.