A few inexpensive modifications can make familiar woodworking tools and shop-storage systems more convenient to use. These three reader-submitted Woodsmith tips improve the grip on clamp handles, create reusable labels for hardware bins, and put an old flush-cutting saw back to work.
1. Add More Grip to Woodworking Clamp Handles
Smooth wooden clamp handles can become difficult to grip when you're trying to tighten or release a stubborn clamp. Ramiro Salinas of Albuquerque, New Mexico, improves his clamps with rug traction tape from a home center.
Ramiro wraps the thick traction tape around each clamp handle. The textured surface provides a more secure grip, making the handle easier to turn without permanently altering the clamp.
The durable tape stays in place and can be replaced if it eventually becomes worn or damaged.
Woodsmith Tip: Extra grip can make a clamp easier to tighten, but that doesn't mean every glue joint needs more pressure. Apply enough pressure to bring the joint together securely without bowing the workpiece or squeezing excessive glue from the joint.
Shop tip submitted by Ramiro Salinas, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
2. Make Reusable Labels for Hardware Storage Bins
Plastic bins are a convenient way to organize screws, bolts, washers, and other small hardware. The challenge comes when the contents change and the old label no longer applies.
Bryan Nelson of Altoona, Iowa, makes reusable labels from small pieces of plastic laminate.
He cuts the laminate to fit the label slot on the front of each storage bin and writes the contents on the smooth surface with a marking pen.
When he reorganizes his hardware, Bryan can remove the old writing with a little denatured alcohol and use the laminate label again.
Woodsmith Tip: Test your marker and cleaner on a scrap of laminate first. When using denatured alcohol or another solvent, provide adequate ventilation, keep it away from ignition sources, and follow the product's handling instructions.
Shop tip submitted by Bryan Nelson, Altoona, Iowa.
3. Prevent a Flush-Cut Saw from Scratching the Workpiece
A flush-cut saw is designed to trim plugs, dowels, and other projections close to a finished surface. But after David Bragg of Ormond Beach, Florida, dropped his saw, several of the teeth became bent.
Rather than immediately replacing the saw, David carefully tapped the bent teeth back into alignment.
He then added another safeguard to help prevent the saw from scratching the surrounding wood.
David places a layer of tape on the underside of the blade. The tape acts as a thin spacer, keeping the metal blade slightly above the surrounding surface as he cuts.
The plug is left just a little proud, but only enough material remains to require a small amount of final sanding.
Woodsmith Tip: Inspect a dropped or damaged saw carefully before continuing to use it. If the blade is cracked, kinked, or the teeth are significantly damaged, replacement may be safer than attempting a repair. When trimming plugs, keep the blade flat and let the saw do the cutting rather than forcing it into the workpiece.
Shop tip submitted by David Bragg, Ormond Beach, Florida.
Simple Upgrades for Tools and Shop Storage
These three woodworking tips solve common shop frustrations without requiring specialized accessories. Traction tape makes smooth clamp handles easier to grip, plastic laminate creates reusable storage-bin labels, and a simple layer of tape helps protect a project when using a flush-cut saw.
They're small changes, but each can make frequently used tools and supplies easier to work with.
