By Mark Clement
The Final Cut
Here's one from my "Born on the Jobsite File" -- the Final Cut Saw Blade Solution.
It looks ingeniously simple to me, which usually means it'll stand the test of time -- and the laser beam eyes -- of conscientious carpenters. According to Final Cut Blades, their solution delivers installation-ready cross-and rip-cut pieces. To me this means it not only saves money, but can increase production and quality at the same time. This is the triumvirate that always triangulates to win the Clement Award.
The Final Cut solution is so simple too -- it's either the Final Cut Blade itself or Final Cut discs you can adhere to your own blades. And what it does, according to the company, is one of those "greater than the sum of its parts" situations.
When you install the Final Cut sandpaper on the blade plates you essentially add a disc sanding function to its cutting action. What this means, especially for woodworkers and higher-end carpenters, is that you no longer have to send a ripped piece through the jointer to clip off the saw-blade swirls -- which show up like a neon-lit loser-badge if you don't sand or joint them out. If you're book-matching plywoods or solid stock in a woodworking application, you just saved a lot of steps. Primo!
Final Cut Blades also says that miter cuts are also highly tuned and very easy to close. I double love it!
Here's something else: say you've cut a cabinet filler or door casing just a hair too long. Forget about trying to line up the piece in the saw and clip "half a blade" off. Leave the saw blade in the down position, turn it on, then press the work to the paper. This sands -- not cuts -- the 1/16 or 1/32 of an inch off. There's no tear out to worry about either.
And here's another thing: because the paper (its 100 grit) tunes the work so nicely, you don't need to use a hundred dollar plus blade (anybody who buys high quality blades for their tools feels that pinch in the pocket book). This means you can use a blade with fewer teeth, which creates less heat, which means the blade last longer. How great is that?
The Final Cut paper looks simple to install. And you can get various sizes for various saw blades. You can even get a Final Cut Blade with paper already loaded on. Nice.
www.FinalCutBlade.com
Mark Clement is a remodeler and author of The Carpenter's Notebook and The Kid's Carpenter's Workbook, Fun Family Projects! Check out his books and current projects at his new website.
| 
