Robert McDonald is the founder and president of Skookum Tools Ltd. and the driving force behind Online Supply, a premier e-commerce destination for industrial supplies, located at www.onlinesupply.ca. With over three decades of experience in the tooling and supply industry, Robert has cultivated a deep understanding of the unique needs of manufacturers, tradespeople, and hobbyists alike.
A passionate advocate for quality craftsmanship, Robert's journey began with a commitment to delivering top-tier tools and supplies to empower his customers to achieve exceptional results. From bandsaw blades and abrasives to router bits and end mills, Robert's expertise ensures that Online Supply offers a curated selection of reliable, high-performance products.
Robert enjoys sharing insights on efficiency, innovation, and industry trends. His writing reflects his dedication to helping customers succeed, whether they’re tackling DIY projects or managing large-scale industrial operations.
If you're searching for the ideal gift for the woodworker, metalworker, or craftsman in your life, Skookum Tools has you covered. Whether they’re a seasoned professional or a DIY enthusiast, Skookum offers a range of high-quality tools and accessories designed to elevate their craft. Here’s a curated list of top Skookum Tools products that make fantastic gifts for any occasion.
Whether its Christmas, a birthday, anniversary or any other occasion, Skookum Tools is here to help make that day special!
1. Bandsaw Blades
A high-quality bandsaw blade is essential for any wo..
Skookum High Performance and Ultra High Performance Carbide End Mills: Revolutionizing Metal Cutting
In the world of CNC machining, choosing the right tool for the job has always been crucial for efficiency, precision, and cost-effectiveness. Traditionally, roughing end mills have been the go-to choice for removing material quickly, with finishing tools stepping in for the final touches. However, the introduction of Skookum High Performance (HP) and Ultra High Performance (UHP) carbide end mills has shifted the paradigm, making roughing end mills a thing of the past.
The Evolution o..
The Benefits of Sharpening Woodworking and Metalworking Tools vs. Replacing Them
In both woodworking and metalworking, sharp tools are essential for achieving precision and efficiency. However, with regular use, even the finest tools inevitably become dull. At that point, many craftsmen face a crucial decision: should they sharpen their tools or replace them entirely? While replacing tools might seem like a quick fix, sharpening offers numerous benefits that are both economical and practical.
1. Cost Efficiency
One of the most significant advantages of sharpening tools rather than rep..
Why Choose Skookum Carbide End Mills?
Superior Carbide Quality
Precision Engineering
Innovative Coatings
Longer Tools Life
Cost-Effective
Attentive Customer Service
If you're looking to elevate your machining capabilities,
consider Skookum Carbide End Mills – the smart choice for precision, durability, and efficiency.
In the world of machining and manufacturing, the tools you choose can significantly impact the efficiency, quality, and overall success of your operations. Among the various tools available, solid carbide end mills are a critical componen..
Bring Your Tools Back To Life With Original Factory Sharpening!
For those of our clients that are within driving distance of our warehouse in Langford B.C., we offer a service where we can send your dull tools back to a Canadian manufacturer for sharpening, repair and reconditioning. Our goal is to return your cutting tools to a “like new” condition.
We can service anyone in the lower Vancouver Island area or Gulf Islands. So whether you live in Victoria, Saanich, Oak Bay, Central Saanich, Sidney, Salt Spring Island, Metchosin, Langford, Colwood, Sooke, Duncan or the surrounding area thi..
Bonded Sorbent Pads
Construction: Bonded sorbent pads are made by bonding multiple layers of material together. This bonding process typically involves heat or chemical bonding.
Durability: These pads are generally more durable and can withstand rough handling without falling apart.
Absorption Capacity: They have a high absorption capacity due to the multiple layers, which can hold more liquid.
Applications: Suitable for use in areas requiring durable, high-capacity absorbent material, such as industrial settings and spill response situations.
Cost: Typ..
If you own a drum sander, you know how crucial it is to have the right abrasive strips. However, finding the exact size can sometimes be a challenge. One effective solution is to order custom-made sanding belts and then cut the joint to turn them back into strips. This method ensures you get high-quality abrasives tailored to your drum sander's specifications. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process.
Step 1: Measure Your Drum Sander
First, you need to know the precise dimensions required for your drum sander. The best method is to measure a strip that you know fits on..
Carbide Tipped Band Saw Blades
Now for Woodworking as Well!
In the world of woodworking, precision and efficiency are paramount. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a hobbyist, the choice of bandsaw blade can significantly impact your results. Among the myriad options available, carbide-tipped bandsaw blades stand out for their exceptional performance and durability. In this article, we'll explore the benefits of carbide-tipped bandsaw blades, with a focus on the popular sizes of 1/2" x 3TPI, 3/4" x 3TPI, and 1" x 3TPI.
Extended Lifespan: Carbide-tipped bandsaw ..
Enhancing End Mill Performance: The Power of Coatings
In the world of machining, precision is paramount. Engineers and machinists are continually seeking ways to optimize tools and processes to achieve higher efficiency, accuracy, and durability. Carbide end mills, the workhorses of machining, play a crucial role in this pursuit. However, even the toughest carbide can benefit from a little extra armor. Enter coatings – the secret weapon that can elevate end mill performance to new heights.
Coatings on carbide end mills serve as a protective shield, enhancing tool life, cutting speed, and..
Fast Track Sanding Belts – Any Size – Any Configuration!
The “Fast Track” Custom Sanding Belt program offers:
Quicker lead times than standard custom belt manufacturing
Smaller minimum quantities on some sizes of sanding belts
Instant pricing and quantity minimums (as soon as you fill in the form)
Premium quality abrasive materials from European and North American manufacturers only!
Having a tough time finding the exact sanding belt you need? Whether you have an older model belt sander where the belts are not easily available, or you have an application where ..
What are Forstner Bits and why/where are they used?
When you are looking for a clean, splinter free hole in hardwood, softwood, plywood or other man-made materials like MDF, forstner bits are often your best choice.
Most forstner style bits feature these common features;
Smooth cutting exterior “knife edge”. Some versions of forstners also have teeth cut into the outside edge and/or side clearance relief ground into the outside of the cutting surface.
Centering point – so that you can place the hole accuratly in the workpiece.
Chipper blades – these are the 1 or ..
How to identify and solve the most common problems with bandsaw blades.
Having troubles with your bandsaw blades can be frustrating and costly. By identifying specificaly what the issue you are having is, and working through these suggestions, you will be able to quickly resolve most, if not all issues. If after going through this guide you are still having troubles, please feel free to give us a call at 1-888-665-6936 or click on the “Chat with us here” for further assistance.
The following information comes from one of the best bandsaw blade manufacturers in the USA – M.K. Morse
..
What is Back Gouging?
Back gouging is the removal of weld and base metal by arc gouging or grinding from the other side of a partially welded joint to assure complete fusion and penetration upon subsequent welding from that side. Aluminum miller blades can be used for milling, cleaning up and grooving, and cutting out welding tacks. These blades are made to industry standards and can be sharpened many times.
Welding aluminum without making a back gouge before welding the backside of the material can cause you problems. The lack of a back gouge can cause voids and overall lack of material..
Choosing and Caring for Carbide Tipped Saw Blades
When it comes to your saw blades, finding the right one for the job is important. You also want to make sure that you are keeping it in the best shape possible to ensure it lasts. Here are some ideas for choosing which blades are right for you and ways you can extend their life:
· Royce Proline. Canadian-made to industry specifications, these blades were created for high-end hobby and contractor use, and they have become extremely popular.
· Royce Industrial. Designed for use in commercial shops, these Canadian-made bl..
Panel Saw Main and Scoring Blades by Machine Make & Model
For optimal performance on your sliding table or verticle panel saw, it is important to have the correct, matching set of main and scoring blades. You can refer to this list to find your specific machine, and then the part number is a direct link to the matching blade. Just click on the part number to start your order!
Panel Saw
Diameter
Kerf
Bore
Teeth
Machine
Scoring Saw
Diameter
Kerf
Bore
Teeth
05400724460U
400mm
4.4mm
60mm
72
Anthon LN
0718..
Have you ever overtightened a bolt and ruined the threads inside? How about ruining the threads on a bolt? Need to make threads in a newly drilled hole? Well, Taps and Dies are the tools to solve these issues and more!
What Are Taps & Dies?
A tap is a tool that you use to cut a thread into the material surrounding a hole, while a die is used for cutting threads into a rod that will mate with that hole. Dies are also used to cut new threads on new bolts, or repair threads on existing screws and bolts. There are several different types of taps and dies:
Taps
A tap is a tool that..
Purchasing a high-quality knife will yield you much better results and last a lot longer.
The knives that are included in your stationary or portable power planes are good for getting started out of the box, but they won’t produce the best results and will ultimately fail the test of time. There are a few different types of knives you can find on the market for your power planer:
TCT (Tungsten Carbide Tipped) or HM (Hard Metal)
The TCT blades are tipped with a tungsten carbide insert to increase the longevity of the blade. The blades will last the longest when compared to steel blades..
What exactly is an End Mill?
At first glance, you might think that end mills are just different types of drill bits. As the name suggests, however, end mills are used in milling applications and are a type of cutting tool. There are several categories available, and they may be further divided by the application, such as slotting, side milling, tapering, or pocket milling.
What is Milling?
To have a better understanding of end mills and their uses, one needs to know what milling is. In basic terms, milling is a technique that uses a rotating cutting tool to carve out 3-dimensional s..
Things to Consider When Choosing Grinding Wheels for Metalworking
Choosing the right abrasive for your metalworking is an important step. Not only will it provide the best results, but it will also help to improve your productivity and cut costs. Making that choice can be difficult at times, due to the sheer number of abrasives available, so here are things to consider when choosing abrasives.
Which Type of Abrasive?
There are several types of abrasive, but some of the most popular ones include:
Ceramic is one of the more rugged abrasives and is used in heavy metal removal.
Zi..
What Makes the Fein Multimaster Power Tool So Special?
If you are looking for high-end power tools, you are likely already familiar with Fein. Founded in 1867 by brothers Wilhelm and Carl Fein, this company was responsible for the creation of the electric drill back in 1895 and has gone on to create a variety of other innovations. Today, the company is known for a host of tools, including the Fein Multimaster, the standard of excellence in oscillating power tools.
What makes the Multimaster so special?
The Fein Multimaster is the top choice for interior construction and renovation pow..
Not sure how to choose the best sanding belt for your machine and application?
This guide is here to help you make the best choice possible!
Picking sanding belts can be somewhat of a daunting task with the combination of all the different grit sizes as well as the types of grain and backing materials on the belts. Let’s start with what type of grain material works best for each application and then we will help you with grit size and backing material.
There are 4 major categories of abrasive sanding belt material that are most common. These are; Aluminum Oxide, Zirconia (sometimes re..
How To Sand Like A Pro
It seems that many people find sanding to be something difficult and annoying that they would prefer not to have to do. Consequently, they end up doing it quickly (and often, poorly) without realizing that the job would be faster and less difficult if they took the time to do it properly.
A common error is to start off with too fine a grit. They will then sand for what seems like forever, becoming frustrated and tired. Fortunately, there are some things to do—and some things to avoid—making life much easier.
Slow Down
It is a fairly logical thought that ..
Whether you are upgrading from a router table or dusting off that big ‘ol behemoth in the corner, getting started with a shaper can seem like a daunting task. This guide will help you narrow down exactly what type of shaper cutter may be suitable for your needs.
Corrugated Knife Head
This is a head that accepts corrugated back HSS knives that can be custom ground into just about any profile. These are great for short runs where you need to match a particular profile. Since these are steel they can be honed at home but if you take a nick out of them or they get too dull you will need to h..
Picking the correct sandpaper
If you have not worked much with wood and have not had much use for sandpaper in the past, you probably think that there isn’t much to it. You know that you would use it to smooth edges after a cut, and you may have been told to sand between coats of paint, but when you head out to buy some, you might be faced with more kinds than you could have imagined.
Which one do you need? What is the right kind for the job?
There’re a few things that you should know, such as the right size of sandpaper grit and the appropriate coarseness, so let’s take a look at the..
Band saw blades from Online Supply are all custom made to your specific requirements, so you can get the best possible blade for your particular application. If you already know what you need, then head on over to our Custom Welded Bandsaws page and fill out the custom blade form. If you are not sure, then the list below may help. If your machine is not listed, head over to our article on “How to Choose the Best Band Saw Blade” and we will help you figure out what would work best for you!
We have compiled a list below of make & model numbers along with the length of ba..
Carbide Burrs (also known as Rotary Burrs) are used for cutting, shaping, grinding and for the removal of sharp edges, burrs and excess material (deburring).
1. What material can Carbide Burrs be used on?
Carbide burrs can be used on many materials. Metals including steel, aluminum and cast iron, all types of wood, acrylics, fibreglass and plastics. When used on soft metals such as gold, platinum and silver, carbide burrs are ideal as they will last a long time with no chipping or breaking.
Steel, Carbon Steel & Stainless Steel
Cast Iron
Aluminium
Titanium
Cobalt
Nickel
..
High-Gloss Polyurethane Finishes
Are you looking for the best possible sanding abrasive product for finishing high-gloss polyurethane finishes? Klingspor's PS73 sanding discs and sheets are specially formulated with a "double stearate" coating to perform exceptionally well in this application.
Technical data: Grain Annealed Aluminium Oxide Coating Semi-open Bonding agent Resin Backing C-paper (P40-120) B-paper (P150-1500) Coating with stearate
Application: Rough to fine sanding of flat and curved surfaces with hand sanders
Material: Paint, varnish, filler, plastics, composit..
Band saw blades from Online Supply are custom made to your specific requirements, so you can get the best possible blade for your particular application.
If you already know what you need, then head on over to our Custom Welded Bandsaws page and fill out the custom blade form. If you are not sure, then keep reading and we will help you figure out what would work best for you!
Note on 3 Wheel Bandsaws and Bench Top “Hobby” Saws – These hobby saws typically have wheels that are 10” or less in diameter and require a special thin guage, flexible bandsaw blade. We do not recommend ordering..
The codes on the back of a sanding belt are the way abrasive manufacturures designate their different sanding belt materials
Here is a guide to the codes you will find on OnlineSupply and how to choose the best one for your application.
PS22F
This paper backed aluminum oxide belt is for hardwood sanding in wide belt sanders and stroke sanders. The ACT coating helps resist clogging
Aluminum Oxide – Close Coat – F Weight paper – ACT Coating
PS29F
Our most popular paper backed material. Excellent in both softwood and hardwood appplications on wide belt sanders and stroke sander..
What kind of sandpaper should I be using?
From grinding, flattening, cleaning, finishing, or smoothing surfaces, abrasives have been used since the stone ages. Back then, a handful of sand was the only option available to get the job done. But these days, there are a dizzying array of sanding products to choose from. With so many choices, it can be confusing to find the right abrasive for the right job. To help clear up some of the guesswork, here are some handy tips on how to track down the best sanding abrasives to use.
Garnet sandpaper
Garnet sandpaper might not be as..
Choosing the best carbide tipped saw blade
It can be quite a daunting task, but once you break it down and understand what each difference makes, you can select a great blade for your specific cutting job.
Determine the correct diameter of saw blade needed.
This will usually be listed somewhere on your saw and could be indicated in SAE (inches) or Metric (millimeters). So a 10” saw may be listed as 250mm and these are in most cases interchangeable. The outside diameter of a saw does not in most cases need to match exactly but should not be over the specified diameter for th..
How did OnlineSupply come to be?
After spending almost 15 years working in a local industrial supply store, Rob McDonald was ready for a change spurred by a strong entrepreneurial itch. His first choice was to attempt to purchase the company he was working for. This seemed to be progressing until the current owner of that store had a change of heart, wanting to maintain majority control over the company.
This put Rob in an awkward position as he had already made clear the desire to become an owner and to step back into the “same-old – same old” just did not feel right. Now, during the ti..
