Abstract: A pad sander skirt which flares out over the periphery of the sanding pad and which is coupled to a lower housing so that it swivels about the body of the sander. The skirt and lower housing can be selectively swivelled in a rotational manner to a position desired by the user. A further sander improvement disclosed relates to the protection of a user's hand. Palm-grip random orbit sanders are sometimes configured so that the sanding pad may begin spinning at high speed when the sander is lifted off of the work. To this end, the present application discloses a protective skirt which flares out over the periphery of the pad in a palm-grip random orbit sander. Also disclosed is an improved dust collection system comprising a filter housing formed of a rigid porous material for entrapping dust.

Abstract: An in-line sander comprising a sander body which houses a motor coupled to an in-line oscillating mechanism, configured to move a sanding pad in a linear oscillating motion.A corner or detail pad has a substantially flat lower surface and a substantially pointed front portion bounded laterally by two substantially-linear corner-sanding edges having an included angle of less than 90 degrees. A forward end of this substantially pointed front portion of the preferred corner or detail pad protrudes ahead of a front end of the sander body throughout the linear oscillating motion of the pad. The front portion of the preferred corner or detail pad has particular application for sanding into corners of a carcase.A preferred embodiment of the present corner or detail pad has at least one substantially linear side edge which is aligned substantially parallel to the linear oscillating motion of the sander.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sanding system which can be configured into many highly-versatile configurations. The present sanding system is arranged and configured to alternatively and selectably accept for use a corner or detail pad, a shutter pad, and a wide variety of profiled pads. Such versatility is found in no other sander.

Abstract: Improved corrosion, wear and fatigue resistance is provided for pieces formed of medium alloy, low carbon steel by subjecting the piece to a treatment process which includes a step of carburizing, followed by nitriding. The process is especially useful for producing durable and low-cost steel parts, for example for certain automotive and marine applications, pumps (especially positive displacement pumps), chemical or food processing equipment, power tools, and the like. The blade-carrying reciprocating shaft for a reciprocating power saw is a specific example.

Abstract: A motorized rotary tool having a drive motor mounted on a distal end of a tubular wand is provided. A drive shaft is operatively coupled to the drive motor and extends along the length of the tubular wand. A head is mounted by a pivotal joint to a proximal end of the tubular wand. The head includes a rotary pad operatively coupled to the flexible drive shaft such that the rotary pad can be driven rotably by the drive shaft. The pivotal joint has a first and a second flexible joint. The first joint is configured to pivot about a first axis which is different from a second axis about which the second joint pivots.

Abstract: A sander vacuum housing and pad frame system is provided for generating unique, continuous air flow for dust collection in a sander coupled to a dust collection system, while providing the versatility of a pad frame system. The system has particular application to a pad frame system for supporting sanding pads having varying characteristics, but is not limited to such a system. The system comprises a vacuum housing configured to be coupled to a motorized sanding mechanism of a sander for moving the vacuum housing in a sanding motion. The vacuum housing defines the upper portion of a dust channel. The dust channel in the vacuum housing is configured for connection to a dust collection system. The system further comprises a pad frame configured to be coupled under the vacuum housing for moving the lower surface of an attached frame in a sanding motion. The pad frame comprises a sanding pad for supporting sandpaper.

Abstract: A clamping system for attaching a saw blade to a blade carrier of a reciprocating saw includes a clamp member having a tubular body and a hollow interior. The clamp member is mounted on the free end of a blade carrier which has a longitudinal slot for receiving the shank of a saw blade. The free end of the blade carrier has an aperture in its side wall. In a preferred embodiment a ball is received within the aperture and freely movable therein. The inner surface of the clamp member has an eccentric groove which defines a camming surface engaging the ball. Upon rotation of the clamp member to a locking position the ball engages an aperture in the shank of the blade to hold the blade in place. The clamp system is designed to accept saw blades having standard universal designs. In another preferred embodiment a pin is received within the aperture in the blade carrier. The pin has a first end which is adapted to be received within the aperture in the shank portion of the saw blade.

Abstract: A motorized sander having a drive motor mounted on a distal end of a tubular wand is provided. A flexible drive shaft is operatively coupled to the drive motor and extends along the length of the tubular wand. A sanding head is mounted by a pivotal joint to a proximal end of the tubular wand. The sanding head includes a sanding pad operatively coupled to the flexible drive shaft. The pivotal joint has a first and a second flexible joint. The first joint is configured to pivot about a first axis which is different from a second axis about which the second joint pivots.

Abstract: A pad sander skirt which flares out over the periphery of the sanding pad and which is coupled to a lower housing so that it swivels about the body of the sander. The skirt and lower housing can be selectively swivelled in a rotational manner to a position desired by the user. A further sander improvement disclosed relates to the protection of a user's hand. Palm-grip random orbit sanders are sometimes configured so that the sanding pad may begin spinning at high speed when the sander is lifted off of the work. To this end, the present application discloses a protective skirt which flares out over the periphery of the pad in a palm-grip random orbit sander. Also disclosed is an improved dust collection system comprising a filter housing formed of a rigid porous material for entrapping dust.

Abstract: A circular power saw includes a housing enclosing a motor and a circular saw blade rotatably driven by the motor. The housing is pivotally mounted to a base so that the saw blade may be positioned in a plurality of cutting planes. An adjustment member is mounted to the base and connected to the housing to releasably retain the housing in a plurality of positions corresponding to the different cutting planes. The adjustment member has first and second stops that correspond to first and second planar positions of the cutting blade and a stop engagement member is adapted to engage the first and second stops. The stop engagement member has a first configuration wherein the first and second positions planar positions define the limits of the planar positioning of the blade. The stop engagement member has a second configuration where at least one planar position different than the first and second planar positions defines a limit of planar positioning of the blade.

Abstract: A pad sander skirt which flares out over the periphery of the sanding pad and which is coupled to a lower housing so that it swivels about the body of the sander. The skirt and lower housing can be selectively swivelled in a rotational manner to a position desired by the user. A further sander improvement disclosed relates to the protection of a user's hand. Palm-grip random orbit sanders are sometimes configured so that the sanding pad may begin spinning at high speed when the sander is lifted off of the work. To this end, the present application discloses a protective skirt which flares out over the periphery of the pad in a palm-grip random orbit sander. Also disclosed is an improved dust collection system comprising a filter housing formed of a rigid porous material for entrapping dust, as well as a braking system for use with random-orbit sanders.

Abstract: A pocket joint cutter system for forming a pocket cut and fastener bore into a workpiece. The pocket cut and fastener bore receives a fastener such as a self-tapping screw which passes through the bore and into a second workpiece for forming a Joint between the two workpieces. The head of the fastener is held within the pocket cut in order to secure the joint. In one preferred form of the present invention, a workpiece system secures the workpiece in a predetermined position and forms the pocket cut and fastener bore into the workpiece. This preferred embodiment further comprises a bench-mounting system coupled to the workpiece system for securing the system to a bench. Using this embodiment of the present invention, the system can be mounted to a bench, and the workpiece can be brought to the system and held in position while the user forms the pocket cut and fastener bore.

Abstract: An optical system for projecting an alignment marker on to a workpiece relative to the circular blade of a power saw. The light projection system projects a planar beam of light along a plane defined by one side of the blade to designate the location at which that side of the blade will enter the workpiece. An adjustment mechanism may be included to allow movement of the light projection system so that the planar beam of light can be selectively located parallel to the plane defined by either side of the blade.

Abstract: A miter saw with an optical system for projecting an optical alignment marker onto a workpiece. The miter saw has a base, a turntable rotatably supported by the base, a fence disposed above the base for supporting the orientation of the workpiece located on the base, a support coupled to the rear portion of the turntable, and a cutting apparatus including a blade for cutting the workpiece. The cutting apparatus is pivotally coupled to the support for positioning the blade from a raised position above the workpiece to an operational position for engagement with the workpiece. The light projection system is attached to the cutting apparatus for projecting an optical alignment marker onto the workpiece so that the location at which the blade engages the workpiece is in a selectably adjustable relationship with respect to the position of the optical alignment marker on the workpiece.