What came in the mail today?

[Von]

Shiny object time: I've been curious about these full-length blade screwdrivers so when I saw a couple at Habitat Restore yesterday, I picked them up. One just needs a little cleaning, the other needs new wood for its handle and a lot of cleaning, so will be a small project. I use flat-blade screwdrivers so rarely, I don't know I'll keep these, but can't resist at least trying them out for a while. (My photo doesn't show this well, but the metal blade runs the full length from the butt to the tip, and then has two wooden pieces to flush out the handle. I've heard them referred to as "Perfect Screwdrivers" for reasons unknown to me.)

 

[Jonathan McCully]

Got a pallet with my Dust Gorilla Pro in the mail today. Been looking forward to getting this set up for awhile. Still waiting on the ducting shipment but looks like I’ve got some work to do before it gets here. So excited to be done with dragging my 1HP DC unit around the shop.


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Thought I’d send a follow-up to this post now that I’ve gotten everything set up.

I bought the 5 HP Dust Gorilla with the 35 gallon bin and stand. I currently have my shop in half of the garage (it’s a large garage built for 2 vehicles and an RV) but plan to eventually move into a 1200sq ft freestanding shop building. This, I didn’t want to mount the DC on the wall but easily be able to move it.



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[Ron Swanson Jr.]

Looks like a great setup. Dust doesn't stand a chance!

[Coop]

Great looking vac setup! It’s a shame that you’ll have to break it down for the move but a 1200 sq ft shop should make it worth the effort. 

[legenddc]

Been dreaming of some tool upgraded but in the meantime, this will have to suffice.  The Nova jaw set was on clearance at CPO Outlets. 

[Ron Swanson Jr.]

This showed up a few days ago.  haven't been able to take much of a look at it yet. It's been a grueling week at work. Tomorrow hopefully. 

[Immortan D]

A new angle grinder with a paddle switch just arrived (Makita). I’m not sure if that’s good or bad. All I know is that I can’t hold it the way I’ve been holding the other grinders. I’ll be using it a lot next Friday. Let’s see how that goes...

[wtnhighlander]

I like paddle switch designs, since they shut off if you drop them.

[Von]

It sounded like a perfectly safe, boring garage sale but it sucked me in.

This guy will be a little bit of a project. Not sure I'll use it enough to keep it, but there definitely have been a few times I've been using a hacksaw that I've wished for one.

 

[gee-dub]

On 11/15/2025 at 1:39 PM, Von said:

It sounded like a perfectly safe, boring garage sale but it sucked me in.

This guy will be a little bit of a project. Not sure I'll use it enough to keep it, but there definitely have been a few times I've been using a hacksaw that I've wished for one.

 

Are you kidding!?!  I have a cordless "small" bandsaw for such things and cannot tell you how many times it has been super useful.

[Tpt life]

On 11/15/2025 at 6:08 PM, gee-dub said:

Are you kidding!?!  I have a cordless "small" bandsaw for such things and cannot tell you how many times it has been super useful.

I have used mine exactly once, and that once paid me back exceedingly well. I will die before I lose that tool. 

[Tom King]

Not today, but over the last several days the parts to go with the heavy 5" steel pipes I picked up for the fixed pylon risers for the rain system on the point.  18v drill just included for size reference.  The 5" flanges must weigh 35 pounds a piece.  These all came cheaper than expected off ebay.  They're new and unused.  I paid $21 for one of the 5" flanges with free shipping-not sure how that worked out for the seller.

All these are weld fittings that have to be welded together.  After I finish fabricating them I'll carry them off and have them galvanized.  I'll document the process.

The 5" pylons will reduce down to 3" flanges at the top to mount the 3" flanged rain guns. That's a 5"x3" reducer on the floor behind the 5" fittings.  The Tees are to reduce down to 1" for a drain in freezing weather.

[Tom King]

And not in the mail but free for the taking off Marketplace locally I picked up a couple of boat lift beams for a pontoon boat because the new owners of the house have a runabout and just wanted to get these out of their yard.  I'll cut the risers off and the beams will be used for the dirt screen I need to build on a dump trailer.

[Coop]

@Tom King, I’m glad you’re going to continue to document the rain system as I can’t seem to wrap my head around this. 

[Sergio Escudero]

Not today, but a week or so ago. I have this Juuma 4. If you've read my recent review, you'll see that I'm quite a fan of the brand, especially considering the price. I wanted this 4 because I have a Juuma 4 1/2 (I love that size) and another 4 and 4 1/2 from Record. My plan was to use the Records for medium-fine work and the Juumas for the most delicate work possible, since I have them with super narrow mouths and the chipbreaker is less than 0.5mm from the edge. I bought a couple of extra irons (for the 4 and the 4 1/2) to which I added a back bevel to reduce tear out if it still resists me.

[wtnhighlander]

Looks like a well made tool. I haven't heard of Juuma in the United States, so interesting to hear your thoughts about them.

[Ron Swanson Jr.]

I'm not 100% certain but i think that Juuma and WoodRiver are the same company, different names for different areas but the same products. 

[Mark J]

@Sergio Escudero, where is the Juuma company based?

[Ron Swanson Jr.]

On 11/18/2025 at 6:45 AM, Mark J said:

@Sergio Escudero, where is the Juuma company based?

I did a quick search:

 

No, Juuma and WoodRiver are not the same company, but their hand planes are made by the same manufacturer, the Cixi City Qiangsheng Tool Co. in China. They are rebrands of the same core product line, often referred to as Luban planes, sold by different retailers with minor variations. 

[Sergio Escudero]

On 11/18/2025 at 2:14 AM, Ron Swanson Jr. said:

I'm not 100% certain but i think that Juuma and WoodRiver are the same company, different names for different areas but the same products. 

I don't think they are 100% identical. Rob Cosmann compared a Woodriver with another Chinese plane from Qiangsheng (Luban, maybe?) and the geometry of the body was different, so they may use different molds for casting. 

In any case, they are very similar, and the main changes are the extensive use of brass in the Juuma planes and perhaps the quality control or finish level being different. The cheaper Dictum planes, I think, are finished a little more roughly, and their handles are very different from mine, including the wood. The only really noticeable change is that on the Woodriver, the side adjustment lever is the classic Stanley/Record type, while on the others it is a simple stamped plate.
 

On 11/18/2025 at 1:20 AM, wtnhighlander said:

Looks like a well made tool. I haven't heard of Juuma in the United States, so interesting to hear your thoughts about them.

You can read my review. Except for the detail of the lateral adjustment lever, I consider them better than my vintages Record and Stanley planes.

[Coop]

My beard trimmer went out on me a couple of days ago and after missing the exit to Target yesterday, I got lazy and ordered one from Amazon. I ordered it yesterday at 4:40 p.m. and received it last night at 8:15. Say what you may about Mr. Bezos, but we could use one of him in the government sector. 

[gee-dub]

On 11/19/2025 at 5:57 PM, Coop said:

My beard trimmer went out on me a couple of days ago and after missing the exit to Target yesterday, I got lazy and ordered one from Amazon. I ordered it yesterday at 4:40 p.m. and received it last night at 8:15. Say what you may about Mr. Bezos, but we could use one of him in the government sector. 

Right, what's the old joke . . . 

USPS - 3 to 8 days.

UPS - overnight to 3 days.

Amazon - We're standing in your kitchen.

[Von]

My wonderful wife, hearing me gripe about the lack of a back on my shop stool, bought me a new stool with a back from Woodpeckers. I have to say that while I'm grateful, it appears to be something Woodpeckers resells rather than makes and while it's a fine chair, I don't think it's "Woodpeckers" quality. The assembly instructions were particularly poor. So, while I'm happy to have it, I can't recommend it.

[gee-dub]

I used to deride stools in shops as I never sat still.  Now as 70 trails into the past I find I "go inside" to take a break at regular intervals and sometimes use a stool in the shop .  I use an old cast iron Bausch and Lomb doctors stool that belonged to the doctor that my dad went in with back in the 50s.  The story is that it was 'used' when that doctor bought it way before my dad joined him .

After rolling around on it in his own office for 50-odd years dad brought it home to his shop.  Mom replaced the failing leather seat cover with denim and I still rest my hind-end on it from time to time in my own shop.

[Mark J]

34 minutes ago, gee-dub said:

used to deride stools in shops

And now you "ride" one.  

I have a stool and two office chairs in my shop.  They are my most important tools.