With the help of several DJ-1 owners, most notably Roger Savatteri and Rutager West, Universal Jaws for the DJ-1 Drilling Jig are now a reality. Full details and pre-order information will be posted on our website by weeks end.

This is an exciting addition to the DJ-1 and allows for easy drilling of round, square and other shapes at any angle up to 45 degrees.  Here’s how it works;

Say you want to drill holes at 17 degrees in square or plank stock.  Using whatever protractor device you own, set a T-bevel to 17 degrees (or 73 degrees depending on how your protractor reads).  Set one of the orange jaws to this setting (using the purple jaw edge as a reference) and lock the jaw in place.  To get the other jaw precisely aligned to the first, simply clamp a dowel between the “V” grooves and the second jaw automatically is aligned and can be tightened. This is FAST and dead-on.

Our website will explain the full capabilities but I will share that we are really coming close to eliminating the need for a drill press in most shops. No, the DJ-1 will not hold single wing circle cutters (“knuckle busters” to most) but it will out perform a drill press in accuracy (not much beats the accuracy of bushed twist drill) and in speed.

If you own a DJ-1 these jaws dramatically increase functionality. They also serve as a nice foundation for whatever shop-made jaws you might require. These will be made on a pre-order basis and should be delivered by July. As mentioned earlier, our website will be updated later this week.

Speaking of the DJ-1 Drilling Jig, we just completed a run and we have a few extras (less than 20 I am told)  and they should be available on our website today or tomorrow. The next DJ-1 run will be either the last quarter of 2010 or the first quarter of 2011. FYI.

Now for Something Completely Different…

It looks like we will ship Commemorative Tool #16 next week (the Black Chrome Palm Brace). I think we shot ourselves in the foot making this a Commemorative Tool because not only is it completely sold out, we have a lengthy wait list for the overruns. I might rethink how we can remedy this down the road.

It’s a good thing we are shipping the 2008 Commemorative Tool soon because I just finished the design work on Commemorative Tool #17 for 2009 (yes, I am behind).  All I can spill at this point is the CT-17 is going to be tough to top.  You will get to be the judge sometime next week when this tool becomes available for pre-order.

The KerfMaker Inventory Update Report…

Did you know there are approximately 700,000 table saws in America?

Although I go to great lengths to keep our inventory to an absolute minimum, sometime in the next 4-5 days we will have a substantial inventory of KM-1’s available. (FYI: We made less than 700,000 units.)

If you are one of those 700,000 owners and do not have a KM-1, something is wrong with you. Seriously. OK, just kidding, but this tool will pay for itself many times over. Check our website later this week.

Speaking of Kerfmaker’s, we are in the process of making a movie to demonstrate the yet to be named “Tenonator“. This tool is awesome–gauge a mortise, cut the the tenon to fit PERFECTLY without once consulting with a ruler/caliper/tape measure/GPS device/or a pedometer.  How cool is that?

Lastly…
We mentioned a couple of weeks ago our intent to make 50 Stainless Steel Shoulder Planes. We are now accepting pre-orders for the remaining units (those that bought the larger version last year had first crack at this year’s run). I believe we have around 17 units left until we sell out. We know this tool is not for everybody, but it is awesome.

We will announce pre-orders for the skeletonized HP-7 soon.

Lastly Again…
I will post the syllabus for my Design/Creativity Workshop before weeks end for those of you on the fence or for those who may be able to get reimbursed as a continuing education expense.

I’m tired.

–John

For those of you who have been pestering me to renew my design/creativity classes, I will be teaching one the week of June 7 (M-F) at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking, 20 minutes outside of Indianapolis.

This is the class where you come in as you–and leave messed up like me.

I have been teaching this class on-and-off since the late ’70’s. It is structured to break through all of the barriers that keep you from your creative genius. The first two days are hard, the last three are incredible.

You will never look at a copy machine the same way again.

Or a mirror.

And just think, YOU learned about the Mongolian Death Worm here for FREE–imagine what happens when you pay!

It would be fun to do this with a bunch of Bridge Citizens–if this interests you, leave a note here, class is limited to the first twenty students with an extra $695 in their pocket.

Now, as someone with time on your hands (or you wouldn’t be wasting it here), the formal announcement to the MASW faithful will go out next week. As always, you heard it hear first.

–John

PS: I will not be talking about Megan Fox. She dumped me when she heard the dates for this class–we were supposed to go to Morocco together that week–I would rather watch C-Span for a week than go to Morocco again.

MASW: 317-535-4013

Last year we made 50 CT-14 Stainless Steel Planes that have turned out to be one of our most talked about tools.

So, what to do?

We gutted the original HP-7 design creating a new Fox Tail companion. Here’s a pic of the pair.

As of this post, we are discontinuing the original HP-7. We will introduce a “new” Fox Tail HP-7 with a brass body (identical to the plane on the right).  I think we have 2 or 3 original HP-7 Shoulder Planes remaining.

Prices and availability to follow.

For those of you who purchased one of the 50 limited editions of the plane on the left, details regarding the 50 stainless steel planes (plane on the right) should be arriving  in your mailbox soon–politically, (left/right), this is milk toast deal.

And for those of you who purchased the original HP-7? Well, it too has become a limited edition in a roundabout way.

Best-

John

PS: I played competitive hockey for over 20 years. Congratulations to our neighbors to the north–one of the greatest sporting events I have had the pleasure/pain of viewing. Considering our relationship (name two other countries on the planet with such friendliness), I am thrilled by your victory and proud of our team. Sunday was a great day for all with gold in their hearts–Congratulations from the BCTW team–wish we made hockey sticks…

This didn’t take very long.

Both Steve and Ray have convinced me that The Tool That Cannot Be Denied is in fact a tool to accurately size tenons without measurements.  And Steve, you will need to find something else to dislike, because I fixed your gripe. Thanks too. So Steve and Ray, drop me a line (john@bridgecitytools.com) to see what you have won!

Because inquiring minds want to know, the dimensions of the sample in the pic below are as follows;

The “foot” is 44mm in length and the overall height as shown is 95mm.  It is a don’t ask, don’t tell companion to the Kerfmaker.

Since most people make mortises first (and no, it doesn’t really matter) this little tool will allow you to gauge the mortise width (from 3.2mm up to 31.75mm) and then use the tool as flip stop to size the tenon cheek cuts PERFECTLY.

We will post videos in a couple of weeks.

Now we need a name…are you game?

You know you want it.

–John

PS: Received an email from Cooter Ditchman wondering if the hole was for a battery. “If this is not powered, it ain’t worth a bucket of spit.”   He then proposed a trade for one of his “gator paw” ashtrays.

Should I do it?

Well, here is a new fascinating gizmo, sure to peak your interest. Yes, it is functional… Yes Megan Fox has one pre-ordered–she’s no dummy but you might be if you can’t figure this out.

You know you want it.

This is… The Tool That Cannot Be Denied!

And the answer is?

Oh, and for all those anal retentive types; yes, this is 100% anatomically correct. Sad to say. Sorta.

–John

PS: Don’t you think it is cool to proffer an image of a woodworking tool that nobody ever thought of before or would ever want? Me too! And who would dare say such things without issues?

That would be me.

And I need to deal with it.

But then again, who cares.

Oh, that would be me…

–John

I am on my third week and final week of my annual work retreat and this is what I know…

I have a serious problem.

Well, I have many problems but this one is really serious and it will never get cured so I might as well talk about it. And if you are listening, this is one of those life lessons where you must do as I say, not as I do:

Stay away from Megan Fox and that is all there is to say about that.

OK, except for all the phone calls, the four day weekends every other week, and those moronic Hollywood types, she is kinda fun. However she is a Class 5 flibbertigibbet–at least with me anyway and I am going to end this thing sometime in the next seven years. But I digress…

Two years ago, I succumbed to a wild hair and bought my first RC electric helicopter. And my second. Third? You bet. Bought the sixth and eighth just the other night –I am definitely headed to debtor’s prison. Seriously, I am thinking about knocking off a bank to get my next bird and that is where this story becomes relevant to you.

(Disclaimer: The link below contains images that are highly addictive. Furthermore, I have no affiliation with this site other than it is ruining my 401K)

Look if you must. And DO NOT watch the movies.

Now I happen to be weird enough to share that the images in the above link are about as sexy as sexy gets and yes, I warned you this was a serious problem. HOWEVER, being a guy, and living in the guy’s world of gizmos, gadgets, and interesting contraptions, I have been keeping myself awake at night with those images crashing into my kitchen wall, falling into a steaming pot of bouillabaisse and my panic to order spare parts on whatever credit card is not maxed out…

Today I just finished the design of the most radical new tool that I can remember and I owe it all to the inspiration of the images on the website above. Yes, we will becoming out with a woodworking tool that has roots in the HM 4G6 and I suspect a good percentage of you will be gobsmacked when you see it.

And that is all I am going to say about that.

–John

John here, your favorite Tool Potentate reporting from his annual work retreat…

Each year I manage to ameliorate the exigent pressures of the BCTW staff, and the enmity of woodworking forums, by sequestering myself (and a PC) anywhere with 5-digit phone numbers. It is, in simple terms, the narcissistic diktat that keeps Bridge City alive.

“How important” you ask?

Right before I left a week ago, I received this phone call;

“John, we have never met, but I represent an international consortium of investors interested in purchasing Bridge City Tool Works—we believe you will find our offer, an all cash deal in the range of two and a half billion dollars, most attractive. Of course there is room for further negotiations should you disagree.”

“What the hell would I do with two and a half billion dollars?” And then I hung up—I get this crap all the time.  Am I the only person in the world to get acute anhedonia from large amounts of cash? Doubt it.

No less than three minutes later, Megan Fox called me—third time in two hours. What a pest.

Now you understand why it is imperative that I get out of town for three weeks of aberrant behavior–it’s boot camp for my brain.

During this effulgent time, all I do is think about creating yet more tools that nobody wants nor can afford.

Actually, that is an exaggeration.

I do take breaks. Why, just the other day I was enticed by an online ad that offered a breeding pair of Woolly Mammoth fleas for a ridiculous price. This was appealing because I often perform interesting experiments on Louie dog. Unfortunately this plan was ruined when I discovered (upon closer inspection of course) that some moron substituted Himalayan Yak fleas—I felt like a complete idiot.

Undeterred, tomorrow I expect a small vial of platypus venom to be delivered for an enjoyable eschatological experiment I am going to perform on myself.

Regarding new tools—oh my—on day four I was gobsmacked—and that is why I do this to myself. And this is how you too, could someday become a Tool Potentate.

Stay tuned.

–John

This is depressing.

One of the more popular holiday purchases here are gift cards. Unfortunately, we are finding ourselves on the losing end of an organized scam. Here’s how it works;

Evil guy has credit card numbers that are stolen and uses these cards to purchase gift cards from honest companies–of which we are one.  These cards are then immediately put on sale on eBay and other auction sites.

Woodworkers buy discounted cards and make what appear to be legitimate purchases from us.

People are just now receiving their credit card statements reflecting (in many cases) their last minute holiday purchases. When the legitimate owner of the stolen credit card receives their bill they deservedly get upset, both at the charge and at us–nice.

The charge is easily reversed as it is fraudulent and we are stuck with the financial and reputation damages, and right now I don’t know which is worse.

We are working on it but we are asking for your help by resisting the temptation to purchase discounted Bridge City gift cards on auction sites, particularly eBay. Actually, and I don’t have the right to speak for others, but we have data that suggests the vast majority of gift cards on auction sites are either employee theft or organized frauds and we think this is something you should know.

We will modify our site and continue to sell gift cards but will do so via phone orders only.

Thanks for listening.

–John

Last weekend I hopped on down to Austin to participate in a Lie-Nielson Handtool Event for the purposes of meeting with customers and escaping the dreary Portland weather…repeat after me; John is a Bozo. John is a Bozo, John is a Bozo…

Saturday, Austin recorded the lowest temperature EVER (16 degrees Fahrenheit).  Big deal you say? Well, we were exhibiting in a lumberyard where it appeared one wall was missing.

So while I was questioning my sanity, I lost all sense of selfish misery when I looked over and saw one of the TLN staff demonstrating how to sharpen on water stones. Ouch.

However I am pleased to report that the new rails for the Jointmaker Pro work down to 16 degrees. Perfectly.

On a personal note, I went to a sports bar to watch the Texas-Alabama game Thursday evening. This was a real experience (because I was there) and the greatest practical joke ever perpetuated by a concierge–I was the only person who was not a transvestite–whatever pre-op means I look like it–or so I was told.

Now for Something Completely Different;

For whatever reason, and there must be one, I have been asked several times recently (twice in Austin), when am I going to teach my Creativity Workshop again?  Every time I teach this class I swear I will never do it again–it’s like force feeding a big ol’ live snapping turtle to a Mongolian Death Worm–or maybe the other way around. Whatever.

This is the class where on day one the students burn through a bottle of Advil and then, as stated by one student on day five–and I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP–” This was the most fun I have had without Tequila!”

So, with the snapping turtle/Mongolian Death Worm visual in mind, if this is something that may be of personal interest (this coming summer), vote here. If there are enough idea-starved Bridge Citizens who want to discover what it feels like to be 14 again, maybe even 11, we could make a great week together. The most likely venue would be at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking–only because of the food and lack of police.

Did I mention that we always offer di$counts on our tools at these things?

–John

It is always fun to look backwards, particularly when you have this overwhelming sense of not accomplishing much.  So, for those who are tired of most of my prose, I offer the following pictorial of 2009 (in no particular order).

CS-2 CenterScribe

I have an engineer friend who suggested a closed loop cable design as I was bitching about backlash in rack and pinion gears. The result when applied to the CS-2 is fantastic…

CS-12 v2

The number one selling initial offer in our history was the CS-12 Combination Square.  As part of our 25th Anniversary, we conspired to make a line of tools called the “Bridge City Essentials” which we will make at minimum once a year moving forward.  The choice of stainless steel is what makes these tools unique. We dubbed this “The Tool Too Sexy for Mass Production” and it will go into production in early 2010.

The Tools of Bridge City Tool Works: 25 Years through the Lens of Joesph Felzman

In progress, this is the only AUTHORIZED version of our past 25 years. All the others are fake. Available sometime in late 2010.

HP-6v2 Surface Cove Kit

It was one of two additions to the HP6v2 line in 2009. We have more planned for 2010.

Commemorative Tool #16

Currently in production, this little tool is sure to become one of the most cherished little tools we have produced. It is just plain cool.

The JMP SW

When we introduced the JMP in 2008, the internet made us out to be fools. Well, they were wrong but we do understand the current economic climate and we will deliver the JMP SW for $795 in 2010. When you consider that some handsaws today are selling for $300, this tool makes sense in many ways.

HP-6v2 Face Bead Kit

It is one of the most versatile HP-6v2 sole iron combos to date. Did we mention no electricity, hearing protection or dust collection?

The MG-5 Marking Gage

The MG-5 made our “Bridge City Essentials” list. Black chrome and stainless steel, this little tool is simply a joy to use.

The KM-1 Kerfmaker: aka “The Tool You Will Want Real Bad!”

The KM-1 will, sometime in the next year or two, be the single best selling tool in our history. What made this fun is that although I take my design work seriously, me? Not so much. We had a lot of fun putting “fun” into the marketing of this little tool.

The Biggest Surprise of the Year

We made 50 of these and at $2500 apiece (worth every penny) they sold out in about 5-6 weeks in an economy that…sucked–this was a very pleasant surprise.  Gives us lots of ideas…

The DJ-1 Drilling Jig

We are on a quest to allow woodworkers to do high-level work in confined spaces without the need for dust-collection. The DJ-1 when put to the test will exceed the benefits of a drill press (production work excepted) in both accuracy and capability.

The JMPv2

The next version of the JMP which will hit customer’s doorsteps around May, 2010 features linear ball bearing rails. We were happy that we could adapt this technology for existing JMP owners if they choose.

The DSS-6 Double Square, a “Bridge City Essential”

One of the coolest squares in decades. Oh forget that…EVER! Solid stainless steel and a tour-de-force of craftsmanship.

In addition to these products, most of you can attribute your Google search for the Mongolian Death Worm to me, John Economaki.

Next year promises to be better than 2009–if I can figure out a way to deal with Cooter Ditchman and his sidekick, “Bleeder” Dirtsmith.

After reviewing this post for edits, I now understand why I feel so tired.

So, on behalf of all of us here at Bridge City, THANK YOU for making all of our jobs possible and your continued support during difficult times. There is not a day that goes by that we are not truly thankful (except for the crap on the internet…).

Happy New Year Bridge Citizens!

Warm regards,

John and crew.