Sometimes the most useful woodworking shop accessories aren't designed for woodworking at all. A little creativity can turn an inexpensive household item into a handy solution for organizing supplies or making everyday tasks easier.
In this collection of Woodsmith Quick Tips, three readers share clever ways to store sandpaper, keep project plans within reach, and improve their grip on workpieces at the jointer, router table, and table saw.
1. Repurpose a Document Organizer for Sandpaper Storage
Keeping sandpaper organized can be a challenge, especially when you have a mix of full sheets, adhesive-backed paper, sanding discs, and belts. If they're all piled together in a drawer, finding the right abrasive can take longer than it should.
Claire Doyle of Ankeny, Iowa, found an inexpensive solution at a thrift store. She picked up a document organizer designed for papers, letters, and receipts and put it to work in her shop.
The organizer's compartments are just the right size for separating different types of sandpaper. She uses them to store everything from ordinary sheets to sanding discs and belts. The top even provides a convenient spot for keeping sanding drums within reach.
It's a simple way to organize your abrasives without building a dedicated storage cabinet. You can also label the compartments by grit to make it easier to find exactly what you need.
Shop tip submitted by Claire Doyle, Ankeny, Iowa.
2. Make a Clothespin Clip for Hanging Plans on Pegboard
I like to keep project plans close by while I'm working, but leaving them on the bench means they can quickly get buried under tools, parts, and sawdust.
Jerry Smith of Bagley, Michigan, came up with a clever way to hang plans and other documents directly on his shop's pegboard wall. All it takes is a wood clothespin and a short length of 1/4"-diameter joinery dowel.
He cuts the clothespin to suit the application, then drills a hole in one side to accept the dowel. The dowel fits snugly into a pegboard hole, allowing him to position the clip wherever it's needed.
The clothespin securely grips a plan sheet, cut list, or reminder while keeping it off the workbench. And because the clip isn't permanently attached to the wall, you can easily move it as your project changes.
It's a quick shop-made accessory that puts unused pegboard space to work.
Shop tip submitted by Jerry Smith, Bagley, Michigan.
3. Use a Grout Float as a Woodworking Push Pad
A good push pad helps you maintain control of a workpiece while keeping your hands away from the cutter. But depending on the size of the board, some conventional woodworking push pads can feel a little small.
Ben Strano of Southbury, Connecticut, found an alternative in the tile-setting aisle. He uses a large grout float as a push pad when working at the jointer, router table, and table saw.
Grout floats are generally larger than typical woodworking push pads, giving you a broad contact area. Ben prefers floats with red rubber pads because they provide a useful combination of grip and softness.
The large handle and rubber surface make the float comfortable to hold and help it maintain contact with the workpiece as you guide it through a cut.
Woodsmith Tip: A grout float can provide extra grip, but it isn't a substitute for purpose-made safety equipment in every operation. Use appropriate push blocks, push sticks, guards, and workholding for the machine and cut. In particular, keep your hands and the float clear of exposed cutters and blades.
Shop tip submitted by Ben Strano, Southbury, Connecticut.
Simple Shop Improvements That Don't Cost Much
These three tips show that improving your woodworking shop doesn't always require a new tool or an elaborate storage project. A secondhand document organizer keeps abrasives sorted, a modified clothespin puts plans right where you need them, and a grout float offers another option for gripping workpieces.
The next time you run into a small shop frustration, take a look at the everyday items around you. You may already have the makings of a simple solution.
