Tricks of the Trade
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CD Towers Become Dust-free Tape Storage
If you buy blank CDs or DVDs in bulk, don’t throw away those empty plastic spindle towers.
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Put a Lid on Your Dust Collector
In a busy shop, dust settles on every horizontal surface, including the top bag of your dust collector.
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For Blade Lube, Check the Pantry
Ordinary cooking spray does a lot more than keep food from sticking. I spray some on a rag and wipe down my band saw blade between uses.
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Soft-touch Finishing Board
Here’s a good way to elevate small panels or projects while applying finish.
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Quick Curves with Sockets
Sockets not only keep your machine bolts tight, they also make handy templates for drawing small arcs and circles.
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Oblique Drawings in a Flash
I’m not a whiz at the drafting table, but here’s my secret for making oblique perspective drawings without a T-square and triangles.
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Rosin Up that Workbench
A good workbench should last a lifetime, so it’s worth the effort to keep it clean. Here’s how I protect mine during finishing and glue-ups.
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Rake in the Shavings
Cleaning up a big pile of fluffy or wet shavings after an evening of turning can give your shop broom a real workout.
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Good Helpers are Easy to Find
When I’m face-gluing wide panels together or mounting veneer to substrate, it’s easy to clamp the perimeter but harder to make sure the center area is pressed flat.
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T-track Toilet Bolts
The 1/4″ brass T-bolts, sold at any hardware store for mounting a toilet to the floor, are perfect for attaching featherboards and jigs to T-track fence extrusions.
