Abstract: A pump, such as a vacuum pump, includes at least one housing and a motor and oil reservoir disposed within the housing. The pump housing can include a bottom exterior surface and one or more side and/or front exterior surfaces that extend generally up from the bottom exterior surface. An oil drain port can be positioned at or near the intersection of the bottom exterior surface and the side or front exterior surface. The housing can include an interior bottom surface that defines at least a portion of a drain passageway for the pump and can be fluidicly coupled to the oil reservoir. At least a portion of the interior bottom surface can be angled downward at an acute angle to the horizontal towards the oil drain port to improve the draining and replacement of oil in the pump.

Abstract: A hole cutter can include a cylindrical blade body with a cutting edge and one or more axially-elongated apertures. Each axially-elongated aperture can include a first fulcrum axially spaced from the cutting edge, and a second fulcrum axially spaced further away from the cutting edge than the first fulcrum. The blade body can also include a third fulcrum defined by a second aperture different from the one or more axially-elongated apertures. The third fulcrum may be spaced closer to the cutting than the first and second fulcrums. A lever, such as a screw driver, can be inserted into the apertures and placed against each of the fulcrums to lever slugs out of the interior of the blade body. The third fulcrum may alternatively be defined by another axially-elongated aperture that is located a different distance from the cutting edge than the axially-elongated aperture containing the first and second fulcrums.

Abstract: A recip blade has a blade body including a cutting edge and a tang located at one end of the blade body. The tang defines an arcuate cross-sectional shape or is laminated to increase the overall thickness of the tang and, in turn, enhance the rigidity of the blade and/or reduce oscillation or whipping of the blade during cutting.

Abstract: A reciprocating saw blade that includes an elongated blade body defining an inner end and a distal end, a cutting edge located on one side of the blade body and extending between the inner and distal ends thereof and a tang located at the inner end of the blade body. The tang projects from the blade body at an acute angle of at least about 3° relative to a line tangent to an inner end of the cutting edge. The cutting edge includes a portion defining a substantially curved contour and optionally can include at least one further portion defining a non-curved contour.

Abstract: A hole cutter has a substantially cylindrical blade body defining a blade body circumference, a cutting edge formed on one end of the blade body, and an axially-elongated slot formed through the substantially cylindrical blade body. The axially-elongated slot is configured to receive chips flowing from the cutting edge within the interior of the blade body and (i) into the slot, and/or (ii) through the slot, to prevent the collection of such chips within the interior of the blade body and/or at an interface between the blade body and work piece. The axially-elongated slot defines a first end adjacent to the cutting edge, a second end axially spaced further from the cutting edge, and a slot area. The hole cutter further defines a total slot area to blade body circumference ratio within the range of about 0.1 to about 0.3 depending on the size of the hole cutter.

Abstract: A saw blade includes a plate with teeth. A tip pocket is formed in each of the teeth where the tip pocket has a first end and a second end and a continuously curved surface between the first end and the second end. A tip has a back face shaped to match the continuously curved surface. A joint joins the tip to the plate where the joint extends for substantially the length of the surface of the tip pocket and the back face. The continuously curved surface may have a wave profile. A top face of the tip and a peripheral face of the tooth may be coplanar.

Abstract: A hole cutter has a substantially cylindrical blade body defining a blade body circumference, a cutting edge formed on one end of the blade body, and an axially-elongated slot formed through the substantially cylindrical blade body. The axially-elongated slot is configured to receive chips flowing from the cutting edge within the interior of the blade body and (i) into the slot, and/or (ii) through the slot, to prevent the collection of such chips within the interior of the blade body and/or at an interface between the blade body and work piece. The axially-elongated slot defines a first end adjacent to the cutting edge, a second end axially spaced further from the cutting edge, and a slot area. The hole cutter further defines a total slot area to blade body circumference ratio within the range of about 0.1 to about 0.3 depending on the size of the hole cutter.

Abstract: A hole cutter can include a cylindrical blade body with a cutting edge and one or more axially-elongated apertures. Each axially-elongated aperture can include a first fulcrum axially spaced from the cutting edge, and a second fulcrum axially spaced further away from the cutting edge than the first fulcrum. The blade body can also include a third fulcrum defined by a second aperture different from the one or more axially-elongated apertures. The third fulcrum may be spaced closer to the cutting than the first and second fulcrums. A lever, such as a screw driver, can be inserted into the apertures and placed against each of the fulcrums to lever slugs out of the interior of the blade body. The third fulcrum may alternatively be defined by another axially-elongated aperture that is located a different distance from the cutting edge than the axially-elongated aperture containing the first and second fulcrums.

Abstract: A step drill bit has a cutting head defining a longitudinal axis and having a plurality of steps having different effective diameters. First and second cutting edges are formed in the cutting head. The first cutting edge and the second cutting edge are arranged such that the bit is asymmetric in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis relative to a plane containing the longitudinal axis. A rubbing surface is formed on each step where the rubbing surface extends to approximately the effective diameter of that step such that the first cutting edge, second cutting edge and the rubbing surface forms three points of contact with the side wall of the hole being cut.

Abstract: A chalk line is disclosed herein. The chalk line may include a housing, a track, and a door. The housing may define a chalk chamber and an opening in communication with the chalk chamber. The track may be disposed adjacent the opening and may include a curved section. The door may be movable between a closed position preventing access to the chalk chamber through the opening and an open position allowing access to the chalk chamber through the opening, and the door may include one or more door segments pivotably connected to one another by one or more hinges.

Abstract: A reciprocating saw blade that includes an elongated blade body defining an inner end and a distal end, a cutting edge located on one side of the blade body and extending between the inner and distal ends thereof and a tang located at the inner end of the blade body. The tang projects from the blade body at an acute angle of at least about 3° relative to a line tangent to an inner end of the cutting edge. The cutting edge includes a portion defining a substantially curved contour and optionally can include at least one further portion defining a non-curved contour.

Abstract: A hacksaw with an improved mechanism for applying and adjusting the tension on a blade mounted to a blade mount on a front arm and a blade mount on a rocker arm. The rocker arm is pivotally coupled to a handle and is spring biased to place an initial tension on a blade held by the rocker arm and the front arm. A rotatably mounted lever is positioned on the handle for vertically displacing a nut captured in the rocker arm to pivot the rocker arm and adjust the tension on the rocker arm-held blade. An elongate top frame bar of the hacksaw defines a hollow I-beam cross-section accessible from the face of the front handle and is capable of storing saw blades. A bale screw is positioned in the front member for securing the blades in a position extending past the front handle.

Abstract: A reciprocating saw blade has a first end with a first tang and a second end with a second tang. The first and second tangs are alternatively engageable with the chuck of a reciprocating saw. The reciprocating saw blade defines a substantially uniform cutting edge extending from approximately the first end to approximately the second end of the blade. The first tang is engageable with the chuck of the reciprocating saw for fixedly securing the first end of the blade to the reciprocating saw and forming with the second tang the free end of the saw blade. Alternatively, the second tang is engageable with the chuck of the reciprocating saw for fixedly securing the second end of the blade to the reciprocating saw and forming with the first tang the free end of the reciprocating saw blade drivable in a reciprocating motion by the reciprocating saw.

Abstract: A saw blade, such as a metal-cutting band saw blade, has a cutting edge including a plurality of teeth. A plurality of the teeth include a tip, a clearance surface located on one side of the tip, a rake face located on an opposite side of the tip relative to the clearance surface, a gullet, and a substantially flat, linear, or non-curvilinear projection formed between the rake face and the gullet and projecting outwardly relative to the rake face. The projection is inclined at an acute angle relative to a plane extending between the tips of consecutive unset teeth. The projection defines an inner end adjacent to the rake face and an outer end adjacent to the gullet. The inner end is located at a depth below the tip of at least about 25/1000 inch, and the distance between the inner end and the outer end of the projection in a direction substantially parallel to the plane extending between the tips of at least two teeth is less than about 65/1000 inch.

Abstract: A hole cutter has a cylindrical blade body including a cutting edge and one or more axially-elongated apertures formed within a side wall of the blade body. The axially-elongated aperture is configured to receive a lever, such as a screwdriver, therethrough. Each axially-elongated aperture includes a first fulcrum axially spaced adjacent to the cutting edge, a second fulcrum axially spaced further away from the cutting edge than the first fulcrum, and optionally a third fulcrum axially spaced between the first and second fulcrums. A lever, such as a screwdriver, can be inserted into the aperture and placed against each of the fulcrums to lever slugs out of the interior of the blade body.

Abstract: A chalk reel has a housing defining a chalk chamber and an opening for accessing the chamber. A door is movable between an open position for allowing access through the opening to the chalk chamber and a closed position preventing access to the chamber. A lock assembly is provided on the door and is movable with the door. The lock assembly rotates relative to the door between a locked position and an unlocked position and reciprocates to secure and release a lock member.

Abstract: A drill head is provided with three main cutting edges each having a straight direction of extension with a predominant radial direction component. The directions of extension limit two adjacent main bore dust discharge sectors, each spanning a main sector angle. Three drill head cutting legs each forming a main cutting edge where the three main cutting edges have different lengths along their directions of extension. Concentric ring shaped removal areas overlap at least partially such that a triple removal area coverage is provided in an outer ring zone and a double removal area coverage is provided in an inner ring zone.

Abstract: A step drill bit has a cutting head defining a longitudinal axis and having a plurality of steps having different effective diameters. First and second cutting edges are formed in the cutting head. The first cutting edge and the second cutting edge are arranged such that the bit is asymmetric in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis relative to a plane containing the longitudinal axis. A rubbing surface is formed on each step where the rubbing surface extends to approximately the effective diameter of that step such that the first cutting edge, second cutting edge and the rubbing surface forms three points of contact with the side wall of the hole being cut.

Abstract: A coated hole cutter including an ink-based colored coating applied only to the external surface of the cylindrical blade body of the hole cutter, but not to the surfaces of a circumferentially-extending cutting edge or to the interior surface of the blade body. The ink-based color coating is an ultraviolet activated ink that cures when the coating is exposed to a specific ultraviolet light intensity and wavelength. At least the surfaces of the cutting edge and the internal surface of the blade body, which do not include the coating, have a steam tempered oxide finish that imparts a color that contrasts with the color imparted by the coating.