Some of my favorite shop tips solve an annoying problem with something simple you may already have around the house. There’s no complicated jig to build and usually very little money involved.
These four Woodsmith reader tips are perfect examples. They offer simple solutions for accurately measuring epoxy, making a shop vacuum easier to use, taming extension cords, and keeping small bench dogs from disappearing.
1. Use Syringes for Precise Epoxy Mixing
Getting the correct ratio of resin to hardener is an important part of working with two-part epoxy. When you only need a small amount, however, measuring both components accurately can be a challenge.
Bill Wells of Olympia, Washington, uses two dedicated syringes to make the job easier. He purchased the syringes from a local medical supply house and uses one for the epoxy resin and the other for the hardener.
The graduations on the syringes make it easy to dispense controlled amounts of each component according to the epoxy manufacturer’s specified mixing ratio. And because each syringe is dedicated to only one component, the setup stays organized and ready for the next job.
There’s another benefit: dispensing epoxy this way helps keep drips and spills to a minimum.
Woodsmith Tip: Clearly label the syringes RESIN and HARDENER and keep them dedicated to those components. Never interchange them, since contaminating one component with the other can cause problems in storage.
Tip submitted by Bill Wells, Olympia, Washington.
2. Add Wheels to a Shop Vacuum Nozzle
If you’ve ever tried vacuuming a smooth shop floor with a powerful shop vacuum, you’ve probably encountered this problem: The suction pulls the nozzle tightly against the floor and makes it difficult to move.
Edward Wargo of Burlington, New Jersey, came up with a simple modification that keeps the nozzle moving freely.
He installed a set of small shower-door replacement wheels on the vacuum nozzle. The wheels hold the nozzle slightly above the floor so it doesn’t get sucked tightly against the surface.
There’s still enough airflow to pick up sawdust and debris, but the nozzle rolls across the floor instead of fighting you every step of the way.
It’s an inexpensive upgrade that can make cleaning up the shop a lot less frustrating.
RELATED ARTICLE: Best Shop Vac
Tip submitted by Edward Wargo, Burlington, New Jersey.
3. Turn an Old Pet Collar Into an Extension Cord Holder
Extension cords have a habit of turning into a tangled mess when they aren’t properly stored. You can buy cord organizers, but Dana Myers of Des Moines, Iowa, found a solution that didn’t cost anything.
As his puppy outgrew its collars, Dana started putting the old collars to work in the shop.
After coiling an extension cord, he wraps a collar around the bundle and buckles it closed. The collar keeps the cord neatly contained and also provides a convenient way to hang it for storage.
Adjustable collars can accommodate different-size bundles, and the buckle makes them quick to open when you need a cord.
It’s a clever example of repurposing something that might otherwise end up in the trash.
RELATED ARTICLE: Best Extension Cord Reels
Tip submitted by Dana Myers, Des Moines, Iowa.
4. Keep Workmate Bench Dogs From Getting Lost
A portable Workmate-style workbench is handy because you can use it in the shop, garage, driveway, or just about anywhere around the house. The problem is that its small plastic bench dogs are just as portable — and surprisingly easy to lose.
Dennis Rowe of Canoga Park, California, came up with a simple way to keep his together.
He drilled a small hole in each bench dog and connected them with a length of beaded chain. When the dogs aren’t being used, the chain keeps them together and makes them much easier to spot.
When it’s time to use the bench, simply disconnect the dogs from the chain and install them as usual.
It’s a small modification, but it eliminates the familiar search for a bench dog that wandered off sometime during the last project.
Tip submitted by Dennis Rowe, Canoga Park, California.
Simple Solutions to Common Workshop Problems
You don’t always need a specialized woodworking accessory to make your shop work better. Sometimes an inexpensive item designed for an entirely different purpose is exactly what you need.
Dedicated syringes make measuring epoxy cleaner and more precise. A few small wheels make a shop vacuum nozzle easier to maneuver. An old pet collar becomes an instant extension cord organizer. And a short piece of beaded chain keeps those easy-to-lose bench dogs together.
Keep an eye out for these kinds of simple solutions. A good woodworking shop tip isn’t necessarily complicated — it just needs to solve a problem.
