Tricks of the Trade
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Instant Edging Clamps
Edging clamps are a useful item, but I need them so seldom I’m reluctant to give them shop space.
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Glue Applicators
Next time you spread glue with a flux (acid) brush, first trim the bristles to a point with scissors.
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Fail-proof Knot Finder
I often use knotty pine and have more than once misjudged the position of a knot on the reverse side of the board and had to start over.
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Precision Gauge Blocks
I never had much luck returning my planer to the precise depth setting of a previous cut.
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Pencil Sharpener Shaper
I’ve discovered that the rotary cutters in pencil sharpeners have many uses around the shop.
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Improvised T-bolts
Needing some T-bolts in a hurry, I found them at the local plumbing store.
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Sandpaper Roll Storage
I often buy end-rolls of sandpaper, either locally or from a catalog supplier.
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Gluing Perfect Miters
I make a lot of trays, boxes and frames, and gluing them up can be tricky.
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Taming the Thumbscrew
The guide blocks on my 14″ JET band saw have thumbscrews (wing nuts) that can be hard to get at – especially the lower ones.
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Shop-made Logs
Even a benchtop planer produces more shavings than one knows what to do with.
