Small improvements can make everyday woodworking more convenient. And sometimes the solution is as simple as repurposing an inexpensive item you may already have around the house.
These Woodsmith reader tips offer simple solutions for improving table saw dust collection, spreading glue, and adding task lighting to your woodworking tools.
1. Improve Table Saw Dust Collection With a Sheet Magnet
Good dust collection depends on controlling airflow. If your table saw cabinet has a large opening around the blade-tilt mechanism, that opening can allow air to enter instead of concentrating suction where sawdust is being produced.
John Cusimano of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, came up with an easy way to seal the slot on the front of his table saw: a flexible sheet magnet.
The magnetic sheet attaches directly to the metal cabinet and covers the opening. This helps seal the cabinet so the dust collector can work more efficiently.
The nice thing about using a sheet magnet is that the modification isn't permanent. It can be removed or repositioned whenever you need access to the controls.
It's a simple table saw dust-collection upgrade that doesn't require drilling holes or permanently modifying the saw.
Tip submitted by John Cusimano, Lansdale, Pennsylvania.
2. Use a Silicone Spatula as a Wood Glue Spreader
For a strong glue joint, you want an even layer of glue across the mating surfaces. You can buy dedicated glue applicators, but John Cusimano found an inexpensive alternative in the kitchen aisle.
Silicone spatulas make excellent woodworking glue spreaders.
They're inexpensive, flexible, and available in a range of sizes. John keeps several sizes in his shop so he can choose the right spreader for the gluing task at hand.
The flexible edge makes it easy to distribute glue over a surface and work it toward the edges.
They're also handy to keep around specifically for woodworking rather than borrowing one from the kitchen. Once you've designated a spatula for shop use, keep it there.
Tip submitted by John Cusimano, Lansdale, Pennsylvania.
3. Make a Magnetic LED Task Light for Your Tools
Better lighting can make layout lines easier to see and help you keep a close eye on what's happening at a woodworking machine. But getting a light into exactly the right position isn't always easy.
Bill Wells of Olympia, Washington, came up with a compact solution using a small metal flashlight and a pair of 1/4"-diameter rare-earth magnets.
The magnets hold the flashlight directly to a suitable steel surface on the tool. Because the light is small, it can be positioned close to the work area without a bulky lamp or stand getting in the way.
The magnetic mounting also makes the light portable. Move it from one machine to another whenever you need a little extra illumination.
It's a simple way to create a small task light for the drill press, band saw, or other tools with an appropriate steel mounting surface.
Tip submitted by Bill Wells, Olympia, Washington.
Small Shop Upgrades That Make a Difference
None of these woodworking shop improvements requires an elaborate jig or expensive accessory. A sheet magnet can help control airflow for better table saw dust collection, a silicone spatula makes an inexpensive glue spreader, and a couple of rare-earth magnets can turn a small flashlight into a movable task light.
They’re simple solutions to everyday shop problems — and exactly the kind of tips worth keeping in mind when you’re looking for an easier way to get something done.
