AWFS Fair Tool Tour 2025 Part 2: Expanding the Bench with Practical Innovation

Held July 22–25 in Las Vegas, the 2025 AWFS Fair continued to spotlight hands-on innovation through its Tool Tour, a curated path through small-footprint, high-impact equipment designed for the real-world demands of woodworking production. This second installment in our review series focuses on products aimed at increasing safety, improving dust control, and delivering layout or finishing precision—all with a close eye on affordability and ease of use. From edge banding and abrasive systems to brake controllers and chamfer tools, the featured equipment reflects a shared objective: make shop processes safer, faster, and more dependable without requiring large-scale investments.

Make Safe Tools
Make Safe Tools focuses on retrofitting stationary equipment with modern motor controls that reduce injury risk without requiring equipment replacement. The company’s products are designed to plug directly into tools powered by AC induction motors, offering features such as electronic braking and emergency stop functionality. Each system is built for ease of use in real-world environments, including small production shops, educational settings, and mobile workstations.

Featured Product: Power Tool Brake (120V, Single Phase)
On display during the Tool Tour, Make Safe Tools’ Power Tool Brake offers an aftermarket electronic braking solution for benchtop machines such as disc sanders, grinders, and small bandsaws. Built for 120V single-phase tools up to 15 amps, the unit connects between the power source and the motor, adding an emergency stop function that rapidly halts tool motion. This reduces dangerous coasting time that can otherwise extend for minutes after shutdown.

The system also includes anti-restart protection, preventing automatic reactivation following a power interruption. A reset button must be pressed manually, satisfying OSHA 1910.213(b) compliance for stationary equipment. Designed as a plug-and-play solution, the Power Tool Brake requires no internal rewiring and supports flexible installation. It provides an accessible, safety-focused upgrade path for smaller machines commonly found in compact or multipurpose shops.

Mirka Ltd.
Headquartered in Finland, Mirka has been developing abrasives since the mid-20th century and entered the U.S. woodworking market in 1985. Known for pioneering dust-free sanding systems, the company introduced the original net abrasive—Abranet—and has continued refining its dust-extraction performance over multiple product generations. Mirka’s net and paper-backed abrasives are widely used in woodworking, automotive, and industrial finishing, with a strong focus on surface quality, tool integration, and health-conscious operation.

Featured Product: Ultimax Ligno Abrasive Discs
Making its North American debut at AWFS Fair, Ultimax Ligno is Mirka’s first abrasive developed specifically for wood. While earlier net abrasives like Abranet were multi-purpose, Ligno is engineered for the fiber characteristics and dust behavior of wood surfaces. Its signature hourglass-shaped hole pattern—developed after testing more than 60 variations—offers optimized dust extraction and a consistently fine finish across species and grain types.

The film-backed disc supports grit sizes from 80 to 400 and fits any standard sander, providing flexibility for both aggressive stock removal and fine sanding. The design reduces dust loading and minimizes scratch visibility between coats, making it especially effective for sealer sanding and finish prep. Ultimax Ligno reflects Mirka’s continued push toward cleaner, more efficient wood surface processing.

The Morgan Square
Launched from a personal need and refined through direct experience in framing and cabinetry, The Morgan Square is a multi-use aluminum layout tool designed to simplify marking tasks across construction and woodworking applications. Machined from a single piece of anodized aluminum with laser-etched markings, it avoids the wear and structural weaknesses common to welded or riveted tools. The company emphasizes durability and intuitive accuracy, with added appeal for professionals and DIY users alike.

Featured Product: Morgan Square (12-inch Aluminum Layout Tool)
The Morgan Square was originally conceived for framing layout, offering inch-and-a-half offset markings that simplify stud placement and door opening layout. Its design accommodates centerline marking at 16-inch intervals with built-in edge references, reducing the risk of misalignment due to measurement error or offset misplacement.

While designed with framing in mind, the tool has found crossover uses in cabinetry, face-frame layout, and tall cabinet hinge placement. The square’s rigid fence provides a reliable reference surface for consistent vertical and horizontal alignment—valuable in both installation and material prep. It also offers stability for cutting vinyl tile or fabric, leading to unexpected adoption by makers in quilting and flooring.

The Morgan Square retails through its website, Amazon, and with pending availability on HomeDepot.com. Versions include a 12-inch aluminum model, an 8-inch variant, and a lower-cost plastic edition for light-duty or hobbyist use.

Mullet Tools
Headquartered just west of Austin, Texas, Mullet Tools was founded to address common frustrations in small-shop dust collection. The company focuses on portable, user-friendly systems that provide high-efficiency collection, simplified hose compatibility, and flexible installation. With a background in rugged consumer goods—through connections to Yeti’s founding team—Mullet emphasizes durability and functionality for makers, hobbyists, and professional woodworkers alike.

Featured Product: High-Speed Cyclone Dust Collector
On the show floor, Mullet Tools featured its flagship High-Speed Cyclone Dust Collector, engineered for compact workspaces. The rotomolded polyethylene cyclone body—manufactured in Arkansas using the same process as Yeti coolers—offers high airflow efficiency while withstanding shop wear and tear. Designed for use with a standard shop vacuum, the system captures heavy chips and dust before they reach the vacuum filter, reducing clogs and extending filter life.

A key differentiator is Mullet’s guaranteed-fit hose system. Each unit includes a 10-foot hose and eight interchangeable bushings that adapt to most major tool brands, including non-standard or hard-to-fit ports. For rare cases, the company offers 3D-printed custom adapters. The collector is also compatible with workbench and wall-mounted setups, and integrates with Mullet’s boom arms for enhanced hose control.

Oneida Air Systems
Founded in Syracuse, New York, Oneida Air Systems was established to bring industrial-grade dust collection technology to small shops and independent professionals. The company continues to manufacture all of its products in the U.S., offering systems that merge the high airflow of traditional collectors with the focused suction needed for modern, compact tool ports. Oneida is recognized for its long-standing commitment to innovation in high-efficiency cyclone separation and pressure-responsive collection systems.

Featured Product: Supercell High-Pressure Dust Collector
Designed for small shops and garage workspaces, the Supercell bridges the gap between standard dust collectors and shop vacuums. While traditional collectors rely on high volume and low pressure, the Supercell delivers up to 97 inches of static pressure—far exceeding conventional models—to support multiple small-diameter ports simultaneously. It can maintain suction across 100 feet of 4-inch hose and operate effectively on 2.5-inch tool connections, making it especially useful for miter saw stations, benchtop planers, and router tables.

Oneida also featured its 5HP Dust Gorilla Pro with SmartBoost technology, which automatically adjusts fan speed to maintain performance when port sizes vary. For larger operations, the company highlighted its industrial airlock system designed to maintain sealed discharge under high-throughput cyclones. Canadian buyers can access products through a network of authorized resellers listed on Oneida’s website.

Outlaw Tool Co.
Founded in 2002 and recently relaunched, Outlaw Tool Co. offers specialty tools designed to simplify complex trim carpentry tasks. Based in Lincoln, New Mexico, the company is best known for its patented jig system for crown molding, which eliminates the need for compound miter adjustments. Developed by founder Sheldon Smith, the product line reflects decades of hands-on carpentry experience, with a focus on reducing errors, waste, and frustration during finish work.

Featured Product: Outlaw Crown Molding Cutting System
Demonstrated at the show, the Outlaw system is a three-step process that enables users—regardless of experience level—to make precise crown molding cuts without rotating the saw back and forth. The process begins with identifying the crown’s spring angle to select the appropriate jig. A dedicated protractor is then used to measure the corner angle and determine the correct saw setting. A visual guide on the jig itself simplifies part orientation, eliminating the need to think in “upside down and backward” terms.

The crown is placed into the jig and cut in position. For the opposing cut, the user simply reverses the crown and jig, while the saw remains untouched. This mirror-cutting process reduces alignment errors and speeds up installation by two to three times. For longer crown pieces, an optional roller support system secures the molding in place without tipping, enhancing accuracy and control during extended cuts.

Canadian buyers can order directly via OutlawToolCo.com, with show appearances resuming as the company expands back into the North American market.

Phantom CNC Systems
Founded in Vanceboro, North Carolina, Phantom CNC Systems entered the market with a clear goal: to offer pro-grade CNC solutions at a price point accessible to small shops and independent makers. The company was launched by a 23-year law enforcement veteran who identified the cost barriers facing new CNC users and sought to build dependable machines without the inflated markups common in the industry. Phantom designs, assembles, and ships all systems from its U.S. facility, maintaining a lean, service-focused team committed to customer support.

Featured Product: S-Series Pneumatic Chamfering Tool
Compact and easy to handle, the S-Series Pneumatic Chamfering Tool was featured at AWFS as a simple, cost-effective way to produce clean, consistent 45° chamfers on wood or metal edges. Designed for edge-breaking, easing, or decorative bevels, the tool eliminates the need to set up a router table for light chamfering tasks. It offers a fast, efficient alternative for shops managing smaller parts or quick finish work. At a price point under $100, it presents a budget-friendly option for shops seeking versatility without added setup time.

Phantom also highlighted its Composite Nailer, engineered to allow fast workpiece hold-down without damaging CNC tooling. The nails are non-metallic and won’t harm router bits when cut through during machining, solving a common frustration in fixture setup.

Phantom sells direct to customers across North America, including Canada, and provides hands-on support for all machine and tool orders.

Richelieu Hardware
Founded in 1968 near Montreal, Richelieu has grown into one of North America’s largest distributors of hardware, fasteners, adhesives, tools, and shop supplies. Now a publicly traded company with over 117 distribution centers across Canada and the United States, Richelieu serves cabinetmakers, woodworkers, and fabricators with an extensive product range spanning functional hardware, materials, and machinery. With a mission to streamline the manufacturing process, Richelieu continues to develop and source tools that boost efficiency and reduce downtime in the shop.

Featured Product: Richelieu Portable Edgebander
Showcased as part of the Tool Tour, Richelieu’s Portable Edgebander is designed to meet the needs of small-scale cabinet shops and mobile installers. Compact and lightweight, this edge banding system offers a practical alternative to larger, industrial edgebanders, especially for operations that manage frequent changes in material type or color. The unit allows operators to apply adhesive and edge tape directly to panels in a single pass, accommodating various banding widths and finishes.

Ideal for shops with limited space or production volume, the portable edgebander delivers consistent pressure and clean application without the footprint or complexity of larger equipment. It suits on-site work, prototyping, and batch processing where flexibility is key.

Closing Notes on Part Two

The second leg of the Tool Tour offered a compelling range of products rooted in real shop needs—from retrofit safety upgrades and dust management systems to compact layout tools and fast, accessible finishing options. Common among all participants was an emphasis on performance without complexity: tools that integrate easily into existing workflows, reduce error, and offer measurable improvements in speed or consistency. Whether through simplified setup, adaptable design, or reduced physical footprint, each solution addresses a friction point that smaller operations often encounter.

Tyler Holt is the Editor of Wood Industry / Le monde du bois magazine. He has a master’s degree in literature and publication, and years of experience in the publishing and digital media industry. His main area of study is the effect of digital technologies on industrial and networked production.