Some of the most useful woodworking tips come from finding a new way to use something you already have in the shop. A scrap of plywood, a binder clip, a few nails, or an open-end wrench can make a surprisingly big difference in how you work.
These four reader-submitted tips from Woodsmith Issue 275 tackle common frustrations at the table saw, workbench, and lathe. Whether you're trying to control sawdust, keep a clamp from slipping, or turn several identical parts, each solution is simple enough to put to work right away.
1. Reduce Table Saw Dust When Trimming Board Edges
When trimming the edge of a board at the table saw, you've probably noticed that dust and chips don't always make their way into the dust-collection shroud below the table. Instead, much of the debris can shoot back toward you, creating a mess and sending fine dust into the air.
Charles Mak of Calgary, Alberta, came up with a simple way to help direct more of that debris below the table. His solution is a narrow strip of plywood positioned on the opposite side of the blade from the rip fence. The strip acts as a barrier, helping channel dust and chips down through the blade opening, where the saw's dust collection can capture them.
Hold the Dust-Control Strip in Place with Magnets
Rather than using clamps or double-sided tape, Charles embeds a pair of rare-earth magnets in the bottom face of the plywood strip. The magnets hold it against the cast-iron saw table, making the strip easy to position and remove.
Set the strip parallel to the blade without allowing it to touch the teeth. Make sure it stays clear of the blade throughout the cut and doesn't interfere with the workpiece or any guards. With the strip properly positioned, you can trim the board's edge while directing more debris toward the saw's dust-collection system.
Shop tip submitted by Charles Mak, Calgary, Alberta.
2. Use a Binder Clip as a Dovetail Clamp Stop
Dovetail-style clamps are handy for securing workpieces to compatible jigs and workholding fixtures. But when you loosen or reposition a clamp, the clamp head can slide down its bar, making it awkward to move the assembly or swap out a workpiece.
Bill Cassaday of Woodstown, New Jersey, solves this problem with an ordinary binder clip. After lowering the clamp into position, he attaches the clip to the clamp bar above the head. The clip acts as a stop, preventing the head from dropping when the clamp is loosened or moved.
It's a quick modification that requires no drilling or permanent changes to the clamp. And because the clip can be repositioned, you can adjust the stop to suit different workpieces and setups.
Shop tip submitted by Bill Cassaday, Woodstown, New Jersey.
3. Make a Lathe Story Stick for Matching Turnings
Turning a single spindle or other project part at the lathe is straightforward enough. But when you need to make several identical pieces, repeatedly measuring and marking every blank can slow down the process. Even small layout differences can make matching turnings more difficult.
Logan Wittmer of Runnells, Iowa, uses a simple story stick to speed up the layout and improve consistency. His version is made from a strip of plywood with nails installed along one edge. Each nail marks a key location on the finished turning, such as a shoulder, bead, or other profile detail.
Use the Story Stick to Mark Each Turning Blank
After positioning the nails to match the turning's layout, clip off their heads to create sharp marking points. With the blank spinning at the lathe, carefully bring the story stick into position so the nail points score the wood at the predetermined locations.
The resulting marks provide a consistent reference for shaping each part. Instead of measuring and laying out every blank individually, you can quickly transfer the same set of reference points to all your turnings.
Woodsmith Tip: Use a secure, controlled setup and keep the story stick clear of the tool rest and other obstructions. The points should make light layout marks rather than cut deeply into the spinning blank.
Shop tip submitted by Logan Wittmer, Runnells, Iowa.
4. Size Lathe Tenons with an Open-End Wrench
When turning a tenon to fit a matching hole or socket, getting the diameter just right is important. You can stop the lathe and check the tenon with calipers, but there's another simple option that may already be sitting in your tool chest.
Logan Wittmer uses an open-end wrench as a sizing gauge. Choose a wrench with an opening that matches the desired tenon diameter. Then, while working with a parting tool, use the wrench to check the tenon's size as you gradually reduce its diameter.
When the wrench fits over the tenon, you've reached the target size. This technique is especially handy when you're making multiple matching parts and want a quick, repeatable reference.
Woodsmith Tip: Use the wrench only as a light gauge, not as a cutting or scraping tool. Keep it from catching on the spinning workpiece, and check the final fit against the actual mating part.
Shop tip submitted by Logan Wittmer, Runnells, Iowa.
Simple Solutions for Everyday Woodworking Problems
These four shop tips show how a little ingenuity can make common woodworking tasks easier. A magnetic plywood strip can help control table saw debris, a binder clip keeps a clamp head where you want it, and two simple lathe accessories make repetitive turning work more consistent.
Before buying a specialized accessory to solve your next shop problem, take a look at the materials and tools you already have. Sometimes a small modification is all it takes to improve your workflow.
Originally published in Woodsmith Issue 275.
