Sometimes a woodworking problem pops up in the middle of a project and the solution is already sitting somewhere in your shop—or even in your pocket.
These three Woodsmith reader-submitted tips offer clever solutions for keeping a band saw kerf open while resawing, clamping edging to a shelf, and working with tall parts at an oscillating spindle sander.
1. Keep a Band Saw Resaw Kerf from Pinching the Blade
While resawing stock on his band saw, Roger Page of Columbia, Missouri, noticed the kerf beginning to close behind the blade. Without a thin piece of scrap handy to use as a spacer, he found another solution in his pocket: a nickel.
The coin happened to fit the width of his saw kerf.
By placing a couple of coins in the kerf behind the blade, Roger can help prevent the freshly cut faces from pinching back together as the cut progresses.
Woodsmith Tip: Keep any spacer safely behind the blade and well away from the cutting area. Never reach near a moving band saw blade to insert or reposition a spacer. If the kerf begins closing where you can't safely address it, shut off the saw and wait for the blade to stop completely.
Shop tip submitted by Roger Page, Columbia, Missouri.
2. Turn Spring Clamps into Edge Clamps
Gluing narrow edging to the edge of a shelf or panel presents a clamping challenge. A standard clamp applies pressure across the thickness of the workpiece, but you also need pressure that holds the edging firmly against the edge.
When Dennis Volz of Denver, Colorado, needed edge clamps for a project, he made his own using spring clamps and strips cut from a bicycle inner tube.
Dennis slips a strip of inner tube over the clamp. Once the spring clamp is attached to the workpiece, the stretched rubber pulls the edging tightly against the edge of the shelf.
It's an inexpensive way to adapt ordinary spring clamps for another clamping task without buying a set of specialized edge clamps.
Woodsmith Tip: Position the rubber so it applies pressure directly against the edging without pulling it out of alignment. A dry run before applying glue makes it easier to determine the best clamp spacing and tension.
Shop tip submitted by Dennis Volz, Denver, Colorado.
3. Sand Tall Workpieces on a Spindle Sander
While sanding a tall workpiece on his oscillating spindle sander, Riley Onofrio of Saint Paul, Minnesota, ran into a clearance problem. The retaining knob at the top of the sanding spindle interfered with the workpiece as the spindle oscillated.
His solution was to remove the knob and use several wraps of painter's tape around the shaft to provide enough friction to keep the sanding sleeve from moving.
This gave Riley the additional clearance he needed for his particular sanding operation.
Woodsmith Tip: Check your spindle sander's owner's manual before trying this technique. The retaining hardware is part of the machine's sanding-drum assembly, and removing or substituting it may not be appropriate for every spindle sander. Don't operate the machine unless the sanding sleeve and drum can be secured according to the manufacturer's requirements.
Shop tip submitted by Riley Onofrio, Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Simple Solutions for Common Woodshop Problems
These three woodworking tips show how ordinary items can solve unexpected problems. A few coins can serve as temporary resaw spacers, bicycle inner tube transforms spring clamps into edge clamps, and a simple workaround helped solve a clearance problem when sanding a tall workpiece.
The key is finding a solution that makes the job easier without compromising control or safety.
