25 Best Innovations of the Past 25 Years
Imagine a woodworking world without portable planers, one-handed bar clamps, and Norm Abram. That was the landscape when WOOD® magazine made its debut in 1984. Looking back on the past quarter century, our editors came up with a list of the greatest breakthroughs since then. Agree or disagree, here it is.
Steps
Ryobi benchtop planer
Quick-Grip clamps
SawStop tablesaw
HTC mobile tool bases
Nova four-jaw lathe chuck
Titebond II & III glues
JessEm router lift
Leigh dovetail jig
Hitachi sliding compound mitersaw
Kreg pocket-hole jig
Festool Domino Joiner
SketchUp design software
Performax drum sander
Delta benchtop mortiser
Porter-Cable pneumatic nailers
Improved Asian-made tools
Porter-Cable biscuit joiner
Improved dust collection
Cordless tools
Carbide cutting edges
User-friendly finishes
Hyper-accurate rip fences and miter gauges
NORM! -- and various educational materials
Home center expansion
The Internet