New products

VERITAS BEVEL-UP BENCH PLANES consist of a bevel-up jointer plane, a low-angle jack plane and a bevel-up smoother plane. The bevel-up jointer plane measures 22" x 2-7/8" and weighs 7.5 lbs. The 12-degree bed angle, coupled with the 25-degree blade bevel, creates an effective cutting angle of 37 degrees. Suited for jointing edges and smoothing large surfaces, the jointer plane sells for $225. The low-angle jack plane is designed for shooting miters, working end grain and initial smoothing, and sells for $189. The smoother plane has an effective cutting angle of 50 degrees (York pitch) and is priced at $185. Contact: Lee Valley Tools Ltd., P.O. Box 1780, Ogdensburg, NY 13669-6780. Tel: 800-871-8158. www.leevalley.com

NORWOOD INDUSTRIES PORTAMILL allows the user to mill their own lumber, beams, and boards, provided they have a chainsaw and household ladder. The PortaMill operates like a sawmill, with a hand-push feed system. The cutting depth is set with a turn of the saw-head adjusting crank handle. The mill can handle logs up to 14" in diameter and as long as the ladder permits. Dimensional lumber such as 2x4's, 4x4's, 2x6's and 6x6's can be cut accurately with this mill, according to the manufacturer. The Norwood product is portable and retails for $995. Contact: Norwood Industries Inc., 252 Sonwil Drive, Buffalo, NY 14225. Tel: 800-567-0404. www.norwoodindustries.com

FIRESTORM DRILL/DRIVERS from Black & Decker is a new line of cordless high-torque drills that offer power, runtime and the performance of professional tools, according to the company. The line consists of four drills — 12 volt, 14.4 volt, 18 volt, and 24 volt — and features the company's "fast drive" removable chuck that allows one to quickly change from drill to drive. Applications include drilling into concrete, driving screws into decking, drilling wide holes into open framing to run electric or plumbing, and driving long, thick lag bolts. Each drill comes with two extended-run batteries and a dual-port charger. The drill/drivers have a stated torque range of 200 to 400 in. lbs. and are priced from $69.97 to $129.97. Contact: Black & Decker. Tel: 800-544-6986. www.firestormtools.com

FORREST WOODWORKER I SAW BLADES are intended for crosscutting and ripping material up to 2" thick, and leaving scratch-free polished cuts. Designed for table saws and radial arm saws, the blades have a 30-degree alternate top bevel that eliminates all top and bottom splintering on ply veneers, according to the company. Blades with 10" diameters and smaller have a 30-degree ATB. Blades with 12" diameters and larger have a 20-degree ATB. All blades have 60 teeth and a 5-degree face hook. Forrest states the Woodworker I blades are manufactured with a blend of corrosion-resistant C-4 micrograin carbide and the thin-kerf design saves up to 25 percent wood loss on each cut. Prices range from $83.70 for the 7-1/4" blade up to $144.90 for the 14" blade. Contact: Forrest Manufacturing Co., 457 River Road, Clifton, NJ 07014. Tel: 800-733-7111. www.forrestblades.com

CONNY TABLETOP CONNECTOR from Peter Meier Inc. is hardware for adjoining tabletops to create larger, more useful workspaces. The connection is made by screwing the two identical components to the underside of the table tops, and then twisting and locking them into place. The connector remains hidden beneath the table tops and can be used to create multiple configurations. The PMI Conny tabletop connectors sell for about $27 each. Contact: Peter Meier Inc., 1255 S. Park Dr., Kernersville, NC 27284. Tel: 800-222-6941. www.petermeier.com