Good shop tips don't have to be complicated. Sometimes an everyday item or an unexpected tool can solve a recurring woodworking problem with very little effort.
These three Woodsmith reader-submitted tips cover protecting shop equipment from sawdust, installing a router guide bushing, and making highly visible layout marks on dark wood.
1. Make a Simple Dust Cover for a Magnifying Light
Sawdust seems to settle on everything in a woodworking shop, including tools you may only use occasionally. Dan Martin of Galena, Ohio, was tired of cleaning his magnifying light every time he needed it.
His solution couldn't be much simpler: a gallon-size resealable plastic bag.
When the magnifying light isn't being used, Dan slips the bag over it. The clear plastic keeps dust off the lens and light while remaining easy to remove when it's time to work.
Woodsmith Tip: Only cover the light after it has been switched off and is completely cool. Remove the plastic bag before turning the light on.
Shop tip submitted by Dan Martin, Galena, Ohio.
2. Use a Pin Spanner to Tighten a Router Guide Bushing
Router guide bushings are useful for template routing, mortising jigs, dovetail jigs, and other operations where the router needs to accurately follow a pattern. Vince Milewski of San Jose, California, found an unusual tool that makes his guide bushing easier to install and tighten: a bicycle pin spanner.
Vince drilled two 5⁄32" holes in the guide bushing to match the pins on the spanner. With the pins engaged in the holes, the tool provides extra leverage for snugging the bushing in place.
It's a clever adaptation of a bicycle tool for a woodworking task.
Woodsmith Tip: Disconnect the router from power before installing or adjusting a guide bushing. Because this tip involves modifying the bushing, make sure the holes don't interfere with the bushing's mounting surfaces, threads, or ability to properly seat in the router base.
Shop tip submitted by Vince Milewski, San Jose, California.
3. Make Easy-to-See Layout Marks on Dark Wood
Pencil lines can practically disappear on dark woods, making accurate layout more difficult. Allen Bell of Marietta, Ohio, uses a correction-fluid pen when he needs a mark that's easier to see.
The bright white correction fluid provides strong contrast against dark-colored wood, making layout marks easy to spot while cutting, drilling, or shaping a workpiece.
Once the marks have served their purpose, the dried correction fluid can be scraped or sanded away.
Woodsmith Tip: Test the correction fluid on a scrap or inconspicuous area first, particularly on open-grained or porous woods. Make sure it's completely removed before applying stain or finish.
Shop tip submitted by Allen Bell, Marietta, Ohio.
Simple Solutions for Everyday Woodworking Problems
These three tips use inexpensive items in unexpected ways. A resealable bag keeps dust off a magnifying light, a bicycle pin spanner provides extra leverage for installing a router guide bushing, and correction fluid creates highly visible layout marks on dark wood.
They're small changes, but each one solves a recurring problem without adding another specialized woodworking accessory to the shop.
