Lee Valley Christmas catalog arrived, sigh

Re: Lee Valley Christmas catalog arrived, sigh

Jim Matthews

Fortunately, out of stock.

If you would like a more humble version, drop me a PM.

I'm thinning the herd.

Re: Lee Valley Christmas catalog arrived, sigh

TomD

That does look sweet.

I use this one, it would be better if the arm were stiffer, but that would be easily fixed if one really wanted to. Perfect for people who do not want so small a drill. I use a Yankee for small hinges, etc...

https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/tools/hand-tools/drills/32294-traditional-hand-drill?item=28K0405

Re: Lee Valley Christmas catalog arrived, sigh

John McGaw

Got mine too. Saddest thing is that, looking through it, not a single item made me lust for it.

Re: Lee Valley Christmas catalog arrived, sigh

Joe shelton

I don't know, John, that panel gauge looks awfully good.

Re: Lee Valley Christmas catalog arrived, sigh

William Duffield

Why can't I find the online version of Lee Valley's 2020 Christmas Catalog online?

I did find their panel gauge online, 15N0601, but it is out of stock for three more days. It's expensive, too, but not unreasonably so, especially considering it's innovative design features. It's elegant, to boot.

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/hand-tools/marking-and-measuring/marking-gauges/110788-lee-valley-panel-gauge?item=15N0601

It looks like it would be fun to try to build one, maybe from some tropical hardwood a bit more elegant than beech. I wonder if I could build one in three days? Naw! It wouldn't happen; I've got my ducks running all over the shop, the house, the yard, the gardens, the woods and the dog track. Also, I don't have the tooling to reproduce this non-rotating wheel cutter part or the brass protective fender that encloses it.

Re: Panel Gauge

TomD

They sell the wheels separately.

The brass guard could be made from pipe, however an overhang from the wooden grip would be just as good.

I made a panel gauge by just making a fence for one I already have. This is easier with Japanese gauges, as they are already wide enough for this application. Took less that half an hour, and that only because the beam required a specic roundover. It has been great, except for the fact it looks inocuous enough that I can neve find it, and it first got lost before I could situate it on my measuring tools, board...

I have never been a fan of the LV round cutters, I prefer a blade. Seems better in every way, but that is just my preference. I own two of the small gauges that tended to unscrew, but even then the blade did not cut as well for me as a proper cutting blade.

Re: Some Other Possible Short Cuts *LINK*

William Duffield

Of course, making a straight blade from an old jigsaw blade is quick, easy and cheap.

If I had to make one in a hurry, I would use a 750 mm length of Festool Domino XL stock, preferably 14 mm thick, for the beam. The matching mortise in the head could be quickly and accurately cut with the Domino. I wouldn't even worry about putting dings in the beam with the thumb screw. When it has too many dents to be accurate, just stick it back in the original box and pull out a fresh one. The dings won't affect the performance for its original purpose.

If you follow the link, don't panic at the box price. They are 29 1/2" long, at $6.11 each, and I only suggest this approach to those who have already invested into the Domino 700XL system. 8mm, 10mm and 12mm XL dominos are also available.


Domino Beam Stock