welcome back to Cool Tools I've been doing a handful of these tool Show and Tell episodes each year for the better part of a decade now this is the 44th Edition and even though it seems like a lot of other channels are trying to copy the show's success Cool Tools remains one of the longest running and I think the best woodworking tool show on the internet because everything here is something I actually use in my shop and I'm convinced that you're going to find something in every episode that will make your shop time better I'm also able to get special discounts for you that nobody else can get in fact I've put a link to each of the seven tools that are going to be in this video below you'll find it by expanding the video description or just look at the pinned comment at the top of the comment section some of these have significant discounts that expire in just a few days so use the links or miss out now let's get started my love for Milescraft tools goes back over a decade in fact here I am a dozen years ago talking about their clever turn lock system put simply they invented a router base that can quickly accept attachments both in its Center like bushings and on its outside like this circle cutting jig the whole system is genius but today I'm cutting a big 41in circle and I want you to see how easy this is I simply loosen the knob on the beam and I align it with the a 41 in mark on the scale you might notice that the limit on the scale is 42 in but you can actually cut a circle as large as 52 in with this thing you'll also notice that the scale reads in both Inches and millimeters and there are separate cursors for inside and outside Cuts since I'm cutting a 42in circle rather than a 42-in hole I'm using the outside diameter cursor next I bore a small pilot hole at the center of my circle and I screw the pivot flange at that point that tiny hole can be on the bottom side where it won't be visible on something like a tabletop or you could use Hot Melt glue to attach the pivot flange in place without a hole the jig's beam slips onto the flange and my router pops onto the jig's head where the turn lock system holds it in place I'm using a quarin rotter bit which comes with the set I'm cutting the circle out in three revolutions going a little deeper with each pass that's it for the big circle but I also want to cut a smaller hole in the center this long beam works for circles from 10 in to 52 in in diameter but the jig also comes with another beam that goes all the way down to an inch and a half with this one I don't need the center flange I simply screw the end down to the wood itself this time I'm cutting a hole not a circle so I want the inside diameter to be 4 in even relatively large routers like this one pivot smoothly as I cut my hole in another three revolutions there are other circle jigs out there but the Milescraft version is an incredible value because they not only give you these small and large beams but they also give you a router bit a drill bit for your pilot holes a bushing which you can use for all sorts of other tasks a centering cone for precisely mounting plates on any router a full-size base plate and a bonus offset router base that's handy for stabilizing your tool when you're cutting profiles on edges and it might just become your go-to router base for all Cuts that's a lot of stuff in one kit and all of it is based on that smart turn lock system which makes it easy to just swap things around without needing special tools like screwdrivers I've even used it to attach routers to homemade jigs over the years like I said I've been in love with this system for well over a decade so when I say that this system is worth owning I speak from a lot of experience you will love this setup not just for cutting circles but for so many other router tasks check it out at the link below the video some time ago I showed you the mow SPS sharpening system with its Three diamond Stone grits and three levels of leather straps all in a compact set that could be kept handy when you need it well now they have an even more compact version called the sb2 this one is just like the first only with one fewer Stone and one fewer stop making it more Compact and at a significantly lower price you get to customize your station with the Grits that best suit your needs any combination of 300 600 and 1200 I went with 300 for repairing and reshaping bevels and 1,200 for regular sharpening while I'm a decent freehand sharpener keep in mind that you can use a jig with this just like any other Stone after sharpening with the diamond grits the magnetic strap covers snap right on they utilize two grits of Polishing Compound 1,800 and 5,000 I love how quick and easy the sharpening process is because everything just works so well together from the integrated base that doesn't slide around on the benchtop to the stops snapping right on top of the stones and I especially love how it all goes into a single carrying case including the compound sticks lapping fluid and there's even room in here for a jig if you need one I can put it under my bench I can toss it on a shelf I can take it outside the shop maybe to the kitchen to sharpen knives and I know it will all stay together for the next time I need it the three grit SPS is still my favorite but the two grit s SP2 does the job as well for a significant price break I mean big in fact they're running a special right now that makes this a no-brainer you have to check it out the link below this video I've shown miter gauges on cool tools before including some really pricey versions that cost more than some table saws well this one is almost ridiculously inexpensive and it has unique features that solves the biggest complaints that I see in a lot of miter gauge reviews I'm referring to setting and returning to specific angles with precise accuracy and repeatability the ey gauging Easy Digital miter gauge solves the problem by eliminating the angle detents and cursors altogether instead it uses a digital redot that can be set to any angle even a fraction of a degree with ease let's see how accurate it is my first cut is at zero on the REO because it measures degrees of deviation from 90 so a square end will be 0 degrees and then I'll change angles from there the bar fits my miter slot well and the cut is as smooth as you would expect from any miter gauge I use my stere protractor to test angle Cuts because it's dead accurate and the dial is easy to read if an angle is off it'll be obvious with this thing and that cut is as close to square as I've seen with any other miter gauge but the real test is to move away from square and then try to get right back there with the same level of accuracy remember there are no angle detents to force this gauge back to a specific setting but my second Cut Is Dead on two so the settings are reliably repeatable let's try an angle since the read out displays to the 100th of a degree it takes a second to get it to 1
