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Christmas is rapidly approaching and many of us have not yet decided what to give that special person in our lives. I remember while growing up, every year at Christmas we always selected a new power tool for my father. Many fathers, husbands, boyfriends and other men like me like, use, and appreciate woodworking power tools. More and more women also use woodworking power tools around the home and on the job. Thus, woodworking power tools make a great gift at Christmas or any other time.

I have compiled a list of suggest tools to give as gifts this Christmas. The list includes woodworking power tools that were top-rated in their category by ConsumerSearch.com, Consumer Reports, Amazon and various other respected consumer reviews. Also included is a short review of the product to assist in your decision.

From the list below I am sure you will find a quality gift that will bring a smile to recipient on Christmas morning and for many years to come.

Best Corded Circular Saw: Milwaukee 6394-21

Reviews praise the 7.25-inch Milwaukee 6394-21 circular saw for smooth, accurate cuts, easy adjustments, excellent balance and comfort. It has an electric brake for safety, a Quik-Lok cord attachment and onboard blade-wrench storage. The Tilt-Lok handle adjusts to keep the saw balanced, and a front handle provides extra control. The 10-pound Milwaukee saw can bevel to 50 degrees, useful in many remodeling and construction projects. It carries a five-year warranty.

Best Cordless Circular Saw: Makita BSS610 LXT

Reviews recommend this light 7.1-pound Makita circular saw for comfort, safety and convenience. The 18-volt lithium-ion batteries recharge in 45 minutes and hold their charge a long time between uses. The saw has a laser guide and dual LED lights, plus a dust blower to clear the cutting line. The 6.5-inch blade can cut 2X lumber even at a 45-degree bevel, and the saw comes with a 3-year warranty.

Best Heavy-duty Circular Saw: DeWalt DW378GK

The DeWalt DW378GK is a hypoid saw with the motor mounted behind the blade. This makes for better cutting-line visibility and less risk of kickback. It’s heavy at 13 pounds, but light for this type. Experts say the added weight can even be an advantage when sawing sheet stock on a horizontal surface. Reviews praise this saw’s performance, durability and convenient rafter hook. It comes with a three-year warranty, plus a 90-day “no questions asked” return option.

Best Cordless Drill Overall: Panasonic EY6432GQKW

The Panasonic EY6432GQKW is the cordless drill/driver recommended in more reviews than any other. It’s a well-tested model that comparison reviews often rank at the top, even above cordless drills that use batteries with higher voltage. It’s nicely positioned, serving both homeowners and professionals at a moderate cost. If you mainly only need a cordless drill for occasional jobs, consider the budget-priced 12-volt Ryobi HJP001K (*est. $80), whose lithium-ion batteries have shorter runtime but hold their charge longer between uses.

Professional Cordless Drill: Makita LXT BDF451

The 18-volt lithium-ion Makita BDF451 driver-drill with �-inch chuck is recommended in more reviews than any other lithium-ion cordless drill. It’s the current pro version in the Makita LXT lithium-ion series, and the 3.0-amp-hour batteries provide long runtime. The Makita BDF451 has three speeds compared with two on the 15.6-volt Panasonic EY6432GQKW (*est. $190), and carries a longer warranty. The Makita uses lithium-ion batteries, which hold their charge much longer between uses, are expected to last longer and run at full capacity even while the battery fades. The main drawback is price.

Best Cordless Screwdriver: Bosch PS20-2 Pocket Driver

Reviews say the 10.8-volt lithium-ion Bosch PS20-2 Pocket Driver clearly leads the pack of “mini drivers,” outperforming other small drivers and cordless screwdrivers. Its lithium-ion batteries fit up into the handle so it’s very compact; reviews say its 1.6-pound weight makes it a delight to use for most assembly and fastening tasks. It’s designed to handle 85 percent of the driving tasks for which people usually use a much heavier cordless drill. Bosch also makes a budget cordless screwdriver, the 3.6-volt Skil iXO2 (*est. $50), but reviews say that if you can afford it, the Pocket Driver is more versatile because of its greater power.

Best Cordless Impact Driver: Panasonic EY7540LN2L

The 14.4-volt lithium-ion Panasonic EY7540 cordless impact driver gets top ranking in the most recent comparison tests, with praise for both comfort and performance. This is a pro-level, high-end cordless impact driver, but it’s also suited for homeowner use since lithium-ion batteries keep their charge well between uses. The variable-speed Panasonic impact driver isn’t the most powerful model available, but reviews say it can handle tasks ranging from small delicate screws to huge six-inch lag bolts. If you don’t specifically need an impact driver (which lessens hand fatigue for big projects), the 15.6-volt NiMH Panasonic EY6432GQKW (*est. $190) is a regular cordless drill that gets top ratings.

Best 10-inch Sliding Miter Saw: Makita LS1013FL

Though more expensive, a sliding feature adds more capacity; this Makita miter saw can make very smooth cuts on up to a 2×12. Admittedly this Makita saw doesn’t have quite the precision and features of the new Festool Kapex (*est. $1,300), but recent comparison tests find this Makita sliding miter saw close behind in performance and ease of use, and it’s far less expensive. The Makita saw has a soft-start motor with electronic speed control, and reviews say it handles thick hardwoods well. The adjustable laser guide has a separate switch.

Recent comparison tests rank the Makita LS1013FL miter saw close behind the much more expensive Kapex (*est. $1,300) for both performance and ease of use. The Makita miter saw can make very smooth cuts on boards up to 12 inches wide, and the soft-start motor with electronic speed control lets it handle even thick hardwoods well. The adjustable laser guide has a separate switch. The main drawbacks are the short one-year warranty and the 45-degree limit to the bevel. The Bosch 4410L (*est. $500) bevels further, but the laser guide and blade changes aren’t as convenient.

Best Heavy-Duty Plunge Router: Bosch 1619EVS

Reviewers praise the 3.25-horsepower Bosch 1619EVS as the best wood router for heavy-duty work — even on hardwoods. As a plunge router, it can start grooves or cuts safely in the middle of a board, so it’s versatile. Reviewers like its soft-start variable-speed motor, dust control, two-stage adjustment and self-releasing collets. Despite its 13.2-pound weight, reviewers say the Bosch 1619EVS maneuvers well for handheld use, yet also works well mounted in a router table. The large base opening and 2.56-inch maximum depth make it usable with large bits. The warranty is for one year. If you don’t need this much power, reviews suggest the 2.25-hp Bosch 1617EVSPK router combo kit (*est. $250), which comes with a plunge base (for cutting grooves in the middle of a work piece) plus a fixed base.

Best Fixed-Base Wood Router: Milwaukee Body Grip 5615-21

Reviewers recommend the Milwaukee Body Grip 5615-21 as an excellent first router — easy to learn to use. It’s designed so you can hold it with one hand, and it’s lighter than most routers at just 8.8 pounds. This single-speed 1.75-hp Milwaukee wood router lacks dust control, but does have self-releasing collets, so bits are easily changed. Reviewers say height adjustment is easy even when the router is table-mounted. Like most Milwaukee tools, it comes with a five-year warranty. For more versatility, consider the more powerful variable-speed Bosch 1617EVSPK router combo kit (*est. $250), which includes a plunge base as well as a fixed base.

Best Router Combo Kit: Bosch 1617EVSPK

The 2.25-horsepower Bosch 1617EVSPK woodworking router combo kit earns top ranking in more comparison reviews than any other model, leading the pack by a wide margin. (Woodworking router combo kits combine one motor with two bases: a fixed base for table-mounted and trimming work and a plunge base for cutting grooves in the middle of a work piece.) Reviews say the Bosch scales are easy to read, bit changes and depth adjustments are easy and the router excels in overall comfort. The newest version of this model lets you adjust bit height from above a router table, a major convenience. If you don’t need both bases, you can spend less on the Milwaukee Body Grip 5615-21 (*est. $150), which has a fixed base only.

Best-value Corded Jigsaw: Bosch 1590EVSK

Reviews say this top-of-the-line Bosch jigsaw comes close to the $295 Festool Trion jigsaw for precise cutting, yet it costs much less and offers tool-free bevel adjustment. The blade-changing system even pops out hot blades, a nice convenience and safety feature. Like the Festool jigsaw, the Bosch 1590EVSK has a soft-start electronic motor and a lock-on button to avoid trigg
er-finger fatigue. The Bosch jigsaw has a dust blower, but it lacks the superb dust control, light weight and extra capacity offered by the Festool.

All of these top-rated power tools are available for prices substantially below the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) from Woodworking Tips and Tools. If you are interested a tool not listed above, or a tool in a different price range you will also be able to find it there.

Merry Christmas, and enjoy the giving of a gift that will be used and appreciated for many years to come. Maybe next Christmas you will lucky enough to receive a gift made especially for you with the tools you gave this year.

About the Author

The writer operates an online store, Woodworking Tips and Tools, featuring woodworking tools for substantially reduced prices. Visit the store at http://www.woodworkingtipsandtools.com

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Yarns are made up of a number of plies, each ply being a single spun yarn. These single plies of yarn are twisted in the opposite direction (plied) together to make a thicker yarn. The thread will also actually distinguish what should be the hook to use so you can generate the best stitches. If the yarn is thick, the hook you choose should also be large.

One well known manufacturer of yarns is Lion Brand Yarn. Throughout its history, Lion Brand Yarn has been at the forefront of yarn trends while consistently providing its customers with the highest quality product, service and inspiration. Founded in 1878, this company began operation in New York and has been a leading supplier of quality hand knitting and crochet yarns ever since.

There are many types of yarn available today. They each have a different characteristic that makes them suitable or unsuitable, as the case may be, for the particular project you are contemplating.

Cotton yarn, for instance, has minimal elasticity unless blended with other fibers. Pure cotton is useful for projects that require structure such as purses and tote bags, placemats, and other utilitarian items.

One unusual product that is used to make rope but can also be made into yarn is hemp. Like rope, hemp yarn is very strong but softens with every wash.

One very popular type of yarn is made from animal fur, specifically the alpaca. Alpaca yarn is the most commonly available animal fiber yarn and probably the most popular type, and it comes in every yarn weight from very fine fingering or lace weight to bulky. But animal fiber yarns can also be itchy and allergenic, making them unusable for items worn directly on the skin and for people with allergies or sensitive skin, such as newborn babies. Unless specially treated, animal fiber yarns must be washed with great care or dry cleaned.

Yarns come in a multitude of sizes and types. Some of the names for the various weights of yarn from finest to thickest are called lace, fingering, sock, sport, double-knit (or DK), worsted, bulky, and super-bulky. This naming convention is more descriptive than precise; fiber artists disagree about where on the continuum each lies, and the precise relationships between the sizes.

One very good and inexpensive way to keep skeins and balls from getting tangled, is to keep you yarn in an empty plastic coffee container that you easily prepare by cutting a hole in the top and then melting the edges of the hole with a lighter or match to keep the wool from snagging. This is especially helpful if you have several projects going at the same time. Be sure to use labels or tape on the tops or sides of each container to write the project name and other important information.

Often times, crotchetier feel unappreciated by yarn stores that seem to only cater to people who knit. These yarn stores don’t typically carry crochet supplies including crochet needles or have staff that are familiar with the craft (and art) of crochet.

About the Author

We plan to post more articles about crocheting. We want to help the newbie in this craft to get started. Check our site for more information http://www.howtocrochetguide.com

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