Small adjustments to your woodworking routine can save time and frustration. Whether you're cutting a batch of wood plugs or changing router bits in the middle of a project, a little preparation can make the job easier.
These two Woodsmith reader-submitted tips use painter's tape and ordinary clamps to solve common workshop problems.
1. Use Painter’s Tape to Keep Cut Wood Plugs Together
Wood plugs are useful for concealing screw heads and adding a decorative detail to woodworking projects. But cutting a batch of plugs free at the band saw can be frustrating when the small pieces roll around—or off—the saw table.
Max Doyle of Hazelton, Iowa, uses painter's tape to keep the plugs together.
Before cutting the plugs free, Max applies a strip of painter's tape across their exposed faces. The tape holds the plugs together as he cuts them from the stock, preventing the individual pieces from scattering across the table.
Once the plugs are cut, Max can peel back the tape and remove them one at a time as he needs them.
It's an easy way to keep a batch of small plugs organized during cutting and assembly.
Woodsmith Tip: Keep your fingers clear of the band saw blade and use an appropriate push stick or workholding aid when cutting small pieces. Wait until the blade stops completely before retrieving any loose plugs.
Shop tip submitted by Max Doyle, Hazelton, Iowa.
2. Save Your Router Table Fence Setting with Two Clamps
Sometimes a woodworking project requires changing router bits while keeping the fence in exactly the same position. If you move the fence to access the bit, returning it to its original setting can take extra time.
William Aulick of Cincinnati, Ohio, uses two clamps to register the fence location before moving it.
He positions the clamps against the fence to create stops that mark its current setting. Then he moves the fence out of the way and changes the router bit.
Once the new bit is installed, William slides the fence back against the clamps. The stops make it easy to return the fence to its previous position without measuring and setting it again from scratch.
Woodsmith Tip: Disconnect the router from power before changing bits. After repositioning the fence, check its alignment and clearance with the new bit before making a cut. Returning the fence to the same location doesn't guarantee that a different bit will produce the same cutting depth or profile.
Shop tip submitted by William Aulick, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Simple Woodworking Tricks That Save Time
These two shop tips demonstrate how a little preparation can make routine woodworking tasks easier. Painter's tape keeps freshly cut wood plugs together, while a pair of clamps helps preserve a router table fence setting during bit changes.
Both ideas use supplies you probably already have in your shop and can be put to work on your next project.
