LETTERS
Comments on Tools and Tool Reviews
Many of my jobs include designs by a structural engineer, since I’m in California and we build for earthquakes. The engineer that I often work with requires that there be two working concrete vibrators on the job for every concrete pour, in case one fails. Recently, I decided that I’d had enough of the $55 to $75 rental fee per vibrator and decided to look into buying used ones. Without too much effort, I found one for $130 and another for $105 (80 miles round-trip travel) on Craig’s List (craigslist.com). If a tool is used too infrequently to justify the price of a new one, used is an affordable option.
As a West Coast builder, I am aware of, but could never understand, the East Coast disdain for the Skil 77. I still have the all-metal one that I bought in 1978. Skil has rebuilt it a few times, and I don’t know about using it in the rain anymore, but it’s a capable backup. I had seen the “3rd Hand” (see Tool Kit, March/April 2010; free at deckmagazine.com) at a lumberyard and wondered about buying one. Now I think that I’ll try it and stop pinning back the guard with my pencil.
By the way, you guys complained about the weight. I noticed that your example was a “Mag 77,” which is, I think, 1 1/2 pounds lighter than the base model. You should try the 8 1/4-inch saw, which is at least that much heavier. I bought it for deck work, since it will cut a 60-degree bevel and it’s nice for cutting miters in fascia that come together at less than 90 degrees. I know that your corded sidewinders are stronger than the one in my DeWalt 18V kit, but I can’t imagine not having the torque of a 77 when framing.
George Hamilton
Crockett, Calif.
Poor Construction Threatens Lives
I just heard that one of my competitors’ decks failed catastrophically within two months of the build and sent several people to the hospital.
I haven’t been a deck builder forever, but I have taken this job as seriously as any other I have done. I know the code. I know a good build when I see one. If the code is the bare minimum, why in the world would I stop there? Why not take the extra steps and build this thing right?
For the life of me, I cannot understand why any decent builder would build a deck that fails. How many accidents happen every single year in the United States due to faulty construction? Too many.
You are not just making money here. You could actually have the life of a child in your hands. If you can’t do it right, maybe you should go back to painting or laying sod, or whatever it is that you did before you decided you could be a “deck builder.”
Ben Graver
Via e-mail
Building Inspector Chimes In
As a building inspector, I deal with builders that have lots of trouble with properly attaching decks to the house. So I say just make it a free-standing deck with posts on all corners. This works a lot better for most.
And thanks to Glenn Mathewson for writing his new book. I’m ordering one.
Bob Cart
Newton County, Ga.
Correction: In Products in the May/June issue, we listed the wrong phone number for Gulf Synthetics. The correct number is 770/382-7399. We regret the error.
