Tricks of the Trade
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Mixing Epoxy
When mixing small quantities of a two-part glue (such as epoxy), I use the dish-shaped hollow at the bottom of an aluminum beverage can.
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Dual Caliper Board
With this “Caliper Board” close to your lathe, you’ll be able to quickly and accurately set distances on both inside and outside calipers.
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Two-stage Dust Collector for Under $20
This pre-separator picks up most of the chips which would otherwise end up in the collector bag.
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Japanese Saw Guards
Rather than invest in another box of adhesive bandages, I decided it was time to make proper protective sleeves for my Japanese saw blades.
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New Life for Foam Brushes
After removing the foam from a one-use brush, I discovered that it had a plastic plate to stiffen the foam.
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Making a Moveable Vise
From time to time, even a woodworker will find a use for a machinist’s vise.
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Drilling Compound Angles
Drilling holes in my first Windsor chair seat, freehand, seemed a recipe for disaster so I adapted my drill press.
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Cleaning Glue-ups
I used to have trouble removing all traces of glue from inside corners.
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Production Turning Aid
To gauge the accuracy of my cylinder turnings, I built a homemade jig that’s easier to use than calipers.
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Lights, Camera…
I like the idea of having lights on electric hand tools but don’t feel like trading mine in for the newer models.
