Small workshop improvements can make a big difference in how you use your tools. A simple reminder can help you remember to tension your band saw blade, while inexpensive pipe insulation can protect delicate workpieces from metal vise jaws.
These two Woodsmith reader-submitted tips are easy to put to work in your own shop.
1. Make a Band Saw Blade Tension Reminder
Some woodworkers release the tension on their band saw blade when the saw won't be used for an extended period. But there's an easy mistake to make afterward: forgetting to restore the proper blade tension before turning on the saw.
Steve French of Lakeland, Florida, uses a simple visual reminder to avoid this problem.
Steve cuts a small, stop sign-shaped piece of plywood and places it directly on the band saw table whenever he releases the blade tension.
The sign serves as a reminder to check and restore the blade tension before using the saw again. Its location makes it difficult to overlook when returning to the machine.
Woodsmith Tip: Follow your band saw manufacturer's recommendations for blade tension and storage. Before starting the saw, remove the reminder, set the proper tension, and check that the blade is tracking correctly.
Shop tip submitted by Steve French, Lakeland, Florida.
2. Protect Workpieces with Soft Machinist’s Vise Pads
A machinist's vise provides a firm grip, but its metal jaws can leave marks on wood and other delicate materials. For occasional light-duty clamping, a pair of soft jaw pads can help protect the workpiece.
Serge Duclos of Delson, Quebec, makes inexpensive vise pads from foam pipe insulation.
The insulation is already slit along its length, so Serge simply cuts two sections to fit the vise jaws and slips them into place.
The foam creates a soft barrier between the metal jaws and the workpiece, helping prevent dents and other surface damage. When he no longer needs the padding, he can remove it just as easily.
Woodsmith Tip: Foam pipe insulation is best suited to light-duty clamping. For tasks requiring substantial clamping pressure or a particularly secure grip, use properly fitted vise jaw liners appropriate for the workpiece.
Shop tip submitted by Serge Duclos, Delson, Quebec.
Simple Shop Improvements Worth Trying
These two woodworking tips show how a little preparation can make familiar tools more convenient to use. A plywood reminder helps you remember to restore band saw blade tension, while scrap pipe insulation provides a quick way to protect delicate workpieces in a machinist's vise.
Both ideas are inexpensive, easy to make, and simple to adapt to your workshop.
