BingoBoy

It's a fine resource. I only wish it was truly an "app," as the email I received suggested.

I am so very glad that the magazine has published a retraction & corrected the article. I thought something was fishy when I skimmed the original article after getting the magazine, but I didn’t think too much about it at the time. I jus shrugged it off and thought “c'est la vie”, “caveat emptor”, “a fool and his money” etc.
Now I’m a novice woodworker to say the least, but I have a reasonably well equipped shop. Before I buy equipment I research on the web which specific products are best or the best value. In this process I rely most on the comparative tool tests you find in the woodworking magazine’s archives.
I did this kind of research on dust collection about a year ago & as a result bought a Delta dust collector & a Fein shop vac, each of which I converted to two-stage operation. [See the P.S. below for more info on what I did, if you’re interested.] I purposely did not purchase a ceiling mounted filter, since my research suggested, in short, that you can’t fight gravity and ceiling mounted filters just can’t do that much to clean the air in a shop if that is all you use.
But the article made me wonder whether the author knew what he was doing, how the editors of the magazine allowed such information to be published & whether manufacturers may have influenced the outcome.
So, as I said, I am very glad that the magazine has published a retraction & corrected the article.

P.S.
If you’re interested in what I bought for dust collection purposes, and how I modified the items, see the following:
1. For larger machines I use a Delta vertical bag dust collector # 50-760 (1.5 hp, 1,200 cfm, 4" hose). My research indicated it is one of the best of this type and size of dust collector, and it can be easily converted to function as a two-stage unit without increasing the “footprint” size of the dust collector. I did this by adding a 30-gallon metal garbage can (the first stage) connected to the Delta unit (the second stage) by a Delta quick connect fitting # 50-196. I also replaced the stock fabric filter with a Wynn cartridge filter # 35A. This is not necessary to convert the Delta unit to two-stage operation, but it reduces the height of the Delta unit, which is what I wanted.
The total cost was $300 for the dust collector (a real steal at Amazon at the time, with free shipping no less), $20 for the garbage can and $25 for the connector. The optional cartridge filter was $150.
You can see photos of how I converted the Delta unit to two-stage unit at Amazon, along with photos of similar conversions by others. Mine are the photos referenced “GAT.” Just search for the part number.
2. For smaller machines or tools I use an old style Fein # 9-55-13 Turbo II 9-gallon shop vac. Similar vacs by a variety of manufacturers will work just as well. I liked the old style Fein because it is very compact. The vac was converted to two-stage function with an Oneida Dust Deputy and the combination was mounted to a Seville Classics utility cart # SHE18304, so it can be rolled around easily to wherever needed. The Seville cart is very sturdy, has nice big wheels and is reasonably priced at Amazon with free shipping.
The cost was: $ 300 for the vac, $100 for the Dust Deputy and $60 for the cart.

For someone interested in the Bosch model mentioned in the article you might also look at the 18-volt two-speed four-function Makita BTP140. It is a hammer-driver type tool with impact, hammer, driver and drill functions all in one. It costs c. $400 at Amazen with battery, charger & case. The bare tool alone, the BTP140Z, without battery, charger or case, is c. $200. The Makita is fairly compact and weighs 3.9 lbs. with battery, according to Makita.

This is ridiculous.

If these guys just put there (tiny) thinking hats on for a few seconds it would dawn on them that kickback is really no threat.

All you have to do to dodge a kickback thingy is stand to the backside of the saw and pull the piece through instead of pushing it. No way will it hit you.

If necessary have your mother-in-law stand in front of the saw to catch the workpiece.

;)

P.S. As a follow up to my previous comment:

I’m thinking of getting one of these for my father. He’s 89 and I think it would be easier for him to use than a laptop. Kind of like one of those desktop phones they make for old folks with the great big numbers.

1. Like everybody else, I haven’t used one of these (since they’re not available yet).
2. But I have used one or another of Verizon’s smartphone/PDA’s for years now (going back before the iPhone or iTouch came out), and I’ve found them very valuable because there are so many apps available and yet the device will fit in a pocket. However, the larger size of the iPad and the fragility of that beautiful screen makes it impractical for use in the quite the same way as a smartphone/PDA. And yet it’s not as powerful or versatile as a laptop either, or so it seems to me. And of course it wasn’t meant to be – really it’s a very special niche product.
3. In my shop I use an older PC running Windows XP and covered with a towel when necessary. It’s networked to a PC running Vista in the house. The shop PC is rather heavy, but it has a big bright 17” screen which makes it easy to see. Also, I’ve gotten in the habit of copying to my PC many of the Flash videos I see at FWW Magazine, YouTube and other sites. Then I can watch them at my leisure, either at my desk or in the shop. So I’m very disappointed that the iPad won’t play Flash. BTW, I use Replay Media Catcher to copy the videos, but there are other, maybe better, programs for that purpose too.
4. So for me I think a laptop connected to the web still is much more versatile & practical in the shop. And you can get a small PC laptop, with a fairly powerful processor (like an Intel Core 2 Duo) for not much more than the most expensive iPad.
5. But the iPad does look great for entertainment uses, e-book reading, web surfing or making calls with Skype. And I love how you can change the screen from portrait to landscape mode just by flipping the device! Unfortunately, with the AT&T 3G network making phone calls or downloading large files may be problematic for some users, as I understand it. On the other hand, I’ve read that the AT&T contract for the iPad is essentially a month-to-month deal, cancellable immediately without penalty (unlike the contract for an iPhone).

Bosch makes a lot of accessories for the PR20 Colt trim router, including several alternate subbases.

One is the PR007 side-handle subbase. It is somewhat oval in shape and is made of clear plastic. It has a round knob handle on one side and a dust collection port on the other. It is not compatible with template guide bushings, however.

If you want a large round base and one that does accept guide bushings, Bosch has two black plastic models, the PR009 and the PR010.

The PR009 accepts either Bosch’s proprietary design bushings or, with their RA1100 adapter, threaded Porter-Cable style bushings. The PR010 accepts only Porter-Cable style threaded bushings and does not require an adapter. Both of these subbases may require Bosch's RA1150 centering cone to help center the subbase.

In my limited experience the smart setup is the PR009 subbase plus Porter-Cable bushings. It is not as large as the PR007 but is larger than the small standard base. And the Porter-Cable bushings slip in and out without a hassle.