Pathrat06

Awesome shop, Timberlady! I'm impressed that you picked a central idea and stuck with it. I'm still at the point that every article I read seems like a great idea and I want to do them all. Of course the problem is that many of them are contradictory and would cancel each other out. We will be moving in about a year as I leave the military for civilian life, so I'm somewhat stuck until I have an idea what our new home is going to offer. Oh well, I guess there are worse problems to have!

I think you give our government too much credit - any company that can't outthink a bureaucrat deserves to fold. Unfortunately, greed - not bureaucracy drives companies off-shore. European companies live in a much more regulated environment and continue to make quality products - which we Americans buy. A lot of American companies default to a mass-production model as the only way to make a profit and choose to go to countries without child-labor, environmental, or worker protection laws to make inferior products that get dumped on the US market at ludicrously low prices which we can't seem to pass up. The companies make cents on each product, but enough cents turn into real money eventually. The result is market-driven disposable tools that push out quality tool-makers. There is room for American companies to make and market quality products, but only if we support them. Unfortunately, we often get caught in the Black and Decker "buy one; get one for a penny" trap that says, "for a penny, I can always buy another one next week." Like water, markets follow the path of least resistance, and we consumers are the path of least resistance. No government support or leniency of laws will ever overcome greed that can feed on a $10 power tool.

Holtdoa writes: -----------------------------------------------------------
attaboy writes: As I understand it, Stanley shamelessly leverages it's great American pedigree while they are actually incorporated in the Caymans - or such. It makes me sick. I too am fed up with it and try as best I can to buy real American products from real American companies.
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I agree with the reaction, but I suspect from a totally different direction. I'm sick of our government driving American companies offshore and strangling those that do remain until they fold and their products are replaced by inferior versions.

I am retiring from the Army this July and hope to have more time to pursue my woodworking hobby/obsession. I'd love a copy of this book!

Beautiful! Hope she enjoys using it as much as you did making it! :)

Slick! Thanks!

I think the RAS is an "endangered species", not because it isn't useful or doesn't have its advocates, but because the current design has outlived its acceptable risk life. Cuss it, rail at it, or become a lawyer and make a living from it - product liability is the biggest driver of obsolecense of major product items. How many companies make and market one- and two-seater personal aircraft? Not many because people die in them occasionally (usually from their own mistakes) but our society has a low- to zero-tolerance for anything with the potential to maim or kill the user (cars and guns may be exceptions). Another great example - lawn darts. No recorded deaths, but forced off the market because they might hurt someone (ok - I wouldn't be too keen on turning my knucklehead boys loose with sharp, metal throwing devices either, but it is a great example of product liability driving obsolecense!).
Most of the inherent danger of the RAS could be engineered out while retaining the usefulness/versatility, but why would a company do it? As long as the name "RAS" is attached to it, personal injury lawyers and people seeking a quick buck are going to make it unprofitable. The cost of manufacturing a "safe" RAS would also be a major factor in how acceptable it would be to most users because price would go way up. Currently all of the functions performed by the RAS can be accomplished in other ways, even if it requires multiple tools and techniques - and can be done with the perception of greater safety. As long as the RAS has the reputation of being more dangerous than other power tools, no company is going to buck the legal profession and safety regulators by investing in the development of a "safe" RAS.

I'm a pathologist - I can hardly contain my excitement thinking about the neat bruises, contusions and abdominal lacerations that I'm going to get to see if this thing catches on! Engage Woodstop - disengage brain...

I'm old - and a beginner so I need a chance to catch up! :)

Gary

Leeann,

Nice job. I can't see any details on the "backsplash" area between the upper and lower cabinets - what have you done there? It looks as though there is a space behind the cabinets, is there?

Gary

Simple and practical - it's a winner! Thanks.

I would love enough sheet goods (plywood, hardboard, pegboard and MDF), enough hardware (fasteners, wheels, etc.) and enough TIME to really set up my garage workshop!

And if that's too much to ask for, Santa, I'll take world peace, national prosperity and an end to human suffering...just sayin' :)

Sounds like something I could use!

Do they come in chocolate?