Robert McDonald is the founder and president of Skookum Tools Ltd. and the driving force behind Skookum Tools and Online Supply, a premier e-commerce destination for industrial supplies. 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. Robert's expertise ensures that Skookum Tools 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.
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..
