A few months ago I reviewed Timberland’s Pro Helix work boot. Although they took some breaking in, the boots proved to be quite comfortable to wear. But not everyone needs a hard-toe protective boot, so I decided to review the soft-toe version of the boots.

Hard Toe vs. Soft Toe

These days many work boot and safety shoe makers have turned towards space-age alloys and composites to shed weight without compromising the level of protection a traditional steel toe cap provides.

Hard-toe boots provide more protection than soft-toe boots, but sometimes it’s not necessary. Maybe you just need a higher quality boot with no-slip grip and an anti-fatigue sole.

Timberland Pro Helix Soft Boots Summary

These soft-toe boots were tested in DIY and work situations where hard-toe boots were not needed. Like the hard-toe version I previously reviewed, this version required a short break-in period. Total wear time adds up to about 4-weeks.

The boots proved to be comfortable enough for all-day wear, and seem to be durable enough for long-term use. That’s one thing I’ve always liked about Timberland boots and footwear – they are extremely slow-to-wear. They can sometimes cost a little higher than other brands’, but they always deliver.

My only real complaint, other than the minorly inconvenient break-in period, is that the boots only come in brown. A little over 10 years ago, I bought a pair of nice blue Timberland 6-inch boots. And the following year I remember seeing green boots. While I’m not saying that there should be a line of pastel-colored work boots, today’s brown is as boring as yesterday’s tan.

Bottom line, these are nice boots if you’re looking for a soft-toe option. They’re a little pricey at ~$125, but if they follow the tendency I have experienced with other Timberland boots, the added cost is justified with added longevity.

Timberland Pro Helix Work Boots via Amazon
Timberland PRO Helix Work Boots via Timberland

Here are more details about the Timberland Pro Helix work boot lineup.

Thank you to Timberland PRO for unconditionally providing the review sample. Our policy for review samples is to donate or give them away, or to retain them for benchmark and comparison purposes.

These Israeli and Czech gas masks have always sold well as novelty items, but sales have been through the roof recently. So what can you actually use them for?

One thought is that people were buying them up to use as part of their Halloween costumes. There’s a also been a surge of people buying them as part of zombie-defense kits, which falls in with other novelty uses. We have also seen them as props in a few indie and amateur films.

After watching the news recently and seeing a few photos about what’s going on in California and New York, it appears that scores of Occupy Wall Street protesters are snatching these up to shield themselves against tear gas deployed by police.

We have also heard of some people buying these for paint and particle protection. Although these masks technically can be used for such purposes, we’re inclined to recommend 3M, AO Safety, and other brands’ respirators for such applications.

If you have ever bought one of these, what do you use it for? What would you use it for?

Buy Now(Israeli Gas Mask via Amazon)
Buy Now(Czech Gas Mask via Amazon)

Are you my mummy? (huh?)

Ansell quietly developed a new line of “do-it-yourself” and construction work gloves. The new ActiveArmr Projex series includes a range of glove designs, from light duty to heavy duty impact, with a couple of other styles mixed in between.

Although described as DIY gloves, it looks like these work gloves may be suitable for professional use as well. We’re not sure, though, because the marketing copy is a bit confusing. Looking at this pair of impact work gloves on Amazon, it says “extreme impact work gloves” and then the description says they’re suitable for demanding tasks such as demo work, roofing, power tool usage, and DIY masonry. DIY masonry?

Still, these Projex gloves look quite interesting. We have used Ansell’s Hyflex semi-disposable professional gloves in the past and like them a lot. The Hyflex are a different type of glove that offers minimal protection, but our experience with them nonetheless gave us a positive impression of Ansell as a company.

When we’re ready to replace our non-DIY-grade Mechanix gloves, we might give Ansell Projex a try. At the very least, they’re definitely attractively priced.

Buy now(via Amazon)
More info (via Ansell)

I am as picky about the disposable nitrile gloves I use as I am about the tools in my toolbox. For some applications, ordinary off-the-shelf gloves suffice. But when dealing with harsh or hazardous chemicals, I’m definitely a name-brand glove kind of guy.

The first thing I noticed about Microflex’s MidKnight gloves is that they definitely look more bad-ass compared to ordinary run of the mill gloves. Not only do they look good, these gloves offer better-than-usual specs. The glove material is 5.5 mil thick at the fingers, and 4.7 mil thick at the palm, offering high tear resistance. At 9.6″ long (on average across the sizes?), MidKnight gloves are also a tad longer than generic branded gloves.

Not only does the glove’s color give it a unique look, in my experience they offer improved contrast that helps small tears or rips stand out better, compared to blue, silver, or purple gloves.

You can find these gloves for $12-16 plus shipping for packs of 100, or if you go through gloves quickly, a case of 1000 will run you $120 or so.

Microflex MidKnight Gloves via Amazon
Product Details via Microflex

If only these had come out a month sooner, I likely would have ordered them over this pair of JessEm featherboards.

The Woodpeckers featherboards are compatible with 1/4″ track, and can be used with 3/4″ x 3/8″ miter channels with optional hardware.

The new featherboards are priced at $33-36.

Woodpeckers Featherboards via Woodpeck

Timberland’s PRO Helix work boots are said to offer heavy-duty features with a lightweight and comfortable design. Curious to see if the boots were truly as lightweight and comfortable as claimed, I put a pair of the new Helix boots, non-waterproof safety toe version, to the test.

First, let me just say that I am extremely critical of both casual and safety footwear, and don’t accept any compromises. I expect boots to be comfortable all day long, and I expect them to provide years of use.

Comfort

Although the boots required a short break-in period, I found them to be exceptionally comfortable. They are as lightweight as advertised, and I had no problem wearing them for full days straight, even in warmer weather.

The sole is comfortable as well, slightly springy, but not spongy. I had my doubts about the anti-fatigue “energy boosting” shock absorption, but it proved to be effective.

For the most part, the boots did not feel bulky or heavy – they were just as comfortable as my favorite 10-year old 6″ boots are.

Protection

The entire PRO Helix lineup features a full complement of safety features, and I was especially curious about the non-slip outsole. I wore the boots through mud, rocks, smooth wet floors, oily floors, sawdust, and icy pavement (thanks to an early April snowstorm). The Helix boots provided exceptional gripping power in each case.

Durability

I am a fan of Timberland’s non-safety casual boots and have managed to wear quite a few pairs down to the last 1/8″ of outsole, so my expectations are pretty high these days. The Helix boots are made from thicker leather than I expected, so they should be able to endure a lot of use and abuse. The outsole is pretty thick as well, and seems to wear evenly and slowly.

Conclusion

Overall, I definitely find these boots to be recommendable. Aside from a bit of heel discomfort due to the boot’s initial rigidity and my wearing of too-thin socks, the boots broke in nice and quickly. I found that the boots provided adequate support and impressive outsole grip in any situation I could devise testing them on.

Timberland PRO Helix work boots range in price from $130 to $160 and are available at a number of an online retailers.

Timberland PRO Helix Work Boots via Timberland
Timberland PRO Helix Work Boots via Amazon

Due to the personal nature of the review sample, I will add it to my work boot rotation to see if my opinion changes over time. But after quite a few days and many hours putting the Helix through its paces thus far, I can’t really find any flaws.

Thank you to Timberland for unconditionally providing the review sample. Our policy for review samples is to donate or give them away, or to retain them for benchmark and comparison purposes.

Rubbermaid’s industrial polyethylene tote boxes are darn near indestructible! They’re great utility trays and can be used for all kinds of applications – tool storage and short-range transport, chemical secondary spill containment, parts cleaning, and the list goes on.

The size I recently purchased for home use is 20″L x 15″W x 5″H, with a 4.6 gallon capacity, and I’ve used various other sizes at work.

This particular size is available via Amazon and MSC Industrial Suppyl Co, with other sizes available from these and other industrial suppliers.

We recently posted about Timberland PRO’s new Helix work boot, but additional details warranted a follow-up. The new Helix lineup actually includes several boot styles, not just the one flagship model we initally discussed.

Timberland PRO Helix: 6” Waterproof Safety Toe

• Style 85594, Brown Full-Grain Leather, MSRP $160
• Anti-Fatigue Technology with conical midsole geometry, featuring polyurethane material
• TiTAN alloy safety toe for lightweight protection and a roomy fit
• Rugged full-grain waterproof leather
• Slip, oil and abrasion resistant outsole, featuring a Ladder Lock outsole radius
• Mesh lining with Agion antimicrobial treatment
• Electrical Hazard Protection
• 30-Day Comfort Guarantee

Timberland PRO Helix: 6” Safety Toe

• Style 86518, Brown Full-Grain Leather (darker than 85594), MSRP $140
• Same as above but not waterproof

Timberland PRO Helix: 6” Soft Toe

• Style 85593
• Same as above, but no safety toe, no electrical hazard protection

Timberland PRO Helix Hiker*: Safety Toe

• Style 87515, Brown Nubuck Leather, MSRP $130
• *Note: like all Timberland PRO boots, this boot is intended and designed only for work purposes. Its hiker name refers only to the overall look and style
• Similar anti-fatigue technology, TiTan safety toe, mesh lining with Agion treatment, slip and oil resistant outsole, electrical hazard protection, as the other safety toe boots
•  Ever-Guard leather toe bumper and heel foxing for durability
• Nubuck Leather

Timberland Helix Pro Safety Boot via Zappos
Timberland Helix Pro Hiker Safety Toe via Zappos

The Shop Fox W1746 Fine Air Filter features a 0.3 micron filter to clean the air of smaller particles that many woodworking dust collection and air filtration systems might miss. The air cleaner has 3 fan settings (100, 140 and 200 CFM), 4 fan-off delay settings, an automatic shut-off and a rather small footprint.

At $100-$150 the Shop Fox W1746 is reasonably modestly, and replacement filters are about $11 each.

I’ve been on the lookout for a decent compact air cleaner setup, and the Shop Fox looked to fit the bill. The unit I ordered from Amazon should be arriving in a few days, so a review is imminent.

Shop Fox Fine Air Woodworking Filter via Amazon

One Project Closer recently put up a few table saw safety tips that are definitely worth reviewing. Most of these tips are common sense, but then again many woodworking accidents are avoidable.

There’s also a rather comprehensive list of safety tips over at Woodcraft that covers everything from proper attire to saw and accessory setup and use.

Timberland just announced a new leather workboot, the PRO Helix. Described as a hybrid work boot, the Pro Helix features heavy-duty features in a comfortable and lightweight design.

Features:

• Anti-Fatigue Technology – an “energy boosting” midsole absorbs shock and returns energy for greater comfort
• Lightweight Safety Toe - TiTAN Safety Toe is made of alloy (instead of steel), and is built asymmetrically to offer lightweight protection and a roomier, more comfortable fit.
• Slip-Resistant Outsole – Aggressive lugs for maximum surface contact and enhanced traction

I’ve been a fan of Timberland boots for some time, and while I haven’t tried their PRO workboot lineup yet, I’ve heard good things about them.

We’re working on availability & pricing information, but expect the new boots to be listed on Timberland’s website soon.

Workboots via Timberland PRO

The CPSC and DeVilbiss have issued a voluntary recall of a a slew of smaller air compressors manufactured between 2000 and 2005. If you bought a new compressor a few years ago or an old compressor that could date back a few years, check to see if it’s on the list below.

The air compressor motor of these units can overheat, posing a fire hazard. There were 9 reports of motors overheating, with 3 reports of fire damage to surrounding property, with no injuries reported.

Affected products: several Craftsman 15 gal., Porter Cable 4 & 6 gal., Delta Shopmaster 12 gal., DeVilbiss 3 gal. and Husky 25 gal. compressors. If you have a compressor that meets these descriptions, check their model numbers and manufacturing dates to see if they’re included in the recall.

More details can be found via the CPSC website.
Heads-up via Pro Tool Reviews

There is actually little to be said about these Peltor earmuffs – they’re earmuffs, they provide a high level of hearing protection (29dB) for under $20, they’re incredibly comfortable, tough and durable, and… that’s about it.

It’s really surprising how many people will use loud power tools without hearing protection. It’s not as if these are a one-trick pony – they are just as handy in the kitchen when operating a blender or food processor or when I forget my wedding anniversary**.

I also have a box of disposable earplugs for when earmuffs are too bulky, and even occasionally combine them when I feel the need for extra protection. Peltor also makes child-sized earmuffs, although they offer slightly lower protection.

When I ordered my Peltor H10A Optime earmuff roughly 3-1/2 years ago, it was made in Sweden. I’m not sure where these earmuffs are made these days, but if their quality hasn’t changed (and judging by Amazon reviews it hasn’t), then I still strongly recommend ‘em!

Peltor H10A Optime Earmuff via Amazon
Product Info via Peltor

** Just kidding, that’ll never happen unless I also forget my own birthday!

A few months ago we briefly discussed a great tutorial on how to make a 5 gallon fine particle dust separator. The tutorial has since been taken down from the now-defunct ShopNGarage forum, but luckily Goodfellow was able to post it up at the new Garage Gazette forum.

The great thing about this simple design is that it can be adapted for use on sawdust and other types of debris, not just blasting media. Without a layer of water at the bottom, the trap will separate out larger debris before it takes up space in the shop vacuum.

This separator probably won’t function as well for sawdust applications as a cyclone separator, but it should hold its own against other conventional separator designs.

Fine Particle Dust Collection Separator via the Garage Gazette

Photo Credit: Goodfellow

About two weeks ago I was working on a project with someone close to me, whose name I won’t mention (yet). They broke just about every single one of my safety rules! Here’s a list of the violations that everyone should keep in mind to avoid when working on their own projects:

Insufficient Personal Protection Equipment

No safety glasses or goggles, and no hearing protection. Corrective lenses do not provide enough coverage to protect against stray drilling and cutting debris and projectiles.

Did Not Read a Power Tool’s User Manual

This is obvious by the fact that the circular saw blade was installed OVER the washer. The bolt by itself does not provide enough support to use the saw safely, and the blade was too close to the guard. It looks like the blade likely damaged or warped, and the inner surface of the blade guard appears to be slightly physically damaged as well.

Insisted on Rushing

Rushing with power tools is not a good idea. At the very least it can result in mistakes (as we later witnessed), at worse injury or grave bodily harm. You kept saying “we need to work faster”, but I tried to take my time.

Insufficient Clamping

The workpiece was not securely clamped down to a surface. We didn’t need to go out and buy a JawHorse, but we could have come up with a better arrangement, especially for when we used the jigsaw.

Cutting Towards a Body Part

NEVER EVER cut towards a body part. If the workpiece slipped and you were not quick enough, where do you think the saw would have been lunged into. If you absolutely have to cross an arm or hand in front of a jigsaw or any saw, take proper precuations and reduce the forward-force placed on the tool. Don’t let me see you holding a workpiece and using a power saw cutting towards your arm or hand, I won’t ever allow that again.

Using Dull Blades

News flash – that spade bit you were using was DULL – that’s why you had so much difficulty with it. A sharp bit would not have jammed up like that.

Back with the circular saw blade – I’m fairly certain that you warped or damaged the teeth by rubbing them against the metal blade guard. That blade should have been discarded and certainly not used for additional cuts.

Never Use a Hole Saw Without the Pilot Bit Engaged

Once a hole is drilled with a hole saw, you cannot widen it by cutting an arch with the saw. Without material for the pilot bit to engage, the cutting is going to be erratic and uncontrolled at best, dangerous at worst.

Cockiness

This wasn’t a safety violation, but a precation. New tool users unfamiliar with the use of the power tools are prone to injury. But so are pros who know the ins and outs of their tools. The more familiar you are with a power tool, the more you let your guard down. Don’t be cocky – just because you’ve used a particular tool for decades doesn’t mean you should feel comfortable enough with it to neglect common safety practices.

Well, that’s about it for now, although I’m sure I’ll remember additional safety violations once I think about it more.