A few simple shop tricks can make woodworking easier without requiring expensive tools or complicated jigs. Whether you're installing threaded inserts in plywood, organizing a pegboard, or using a hand plane with a shooting board, small adjustments can make a noticeable difference.
These four Woodsmith reader-submitted tips offer practical solutions using supplies and tools you may already have in your workshop.
1. Prevent Plywood from Splitting When Installing Threaded Inserts
Threaded inserts provide durable metal threads for bolts and machine screws. They're especially useful for knockdown woodworking projects, removable parts, and shop-made jigs.
But installing a threaded insert in the edge of plywood can be tricky. As the insert cuts into the material, it can put pressure on the surrounding layers and cause the plywood to split.
Henry Scotts of San Antonio, Texas, uses two simple tricks to help prevent this problem.
First, he applies wax to the outside threads of the insert. This reduces friction as the insert is driven into the plywood.
Next, Henry places a clamp across the edge of the workpiece near the insert location. The clamp helps support the plywood layers while the insert is installed.
Together, the wax and clamp make it easier to install threaded inserts without damaging the workpiece.
Woodsmith Tip: Use the pilot-hole diameter recommended for your specific threaded insert. An undersized hole can increase the risk of splitting, especially when working near the edge of plywood.
Shop tip submitted by Henry Scotts, San Antonio, Texas.
2. Make Loose Pegboard Hooks Fit Better
Pegboard is a convenient way to organize hand tools and shop accessories. However, not every pegboard hook fits every pegboard.
When Ryan Maurer of Marion, Massachusetts, switched to a different pegboard, he discovered that his old hooks fit loosely in the new holes.
Rather than replacing all his hooks, Ryan found a simple way to improve the fit.
He coats the hooks with plastic dip, adding a thin layer of material that increases their diameter.
Once the coating has dried, the hooks fit more snugly in the new pegboard.
It's an inexpensive way to reuse existing pegboard accessories and keep them from shifting as easily when tools are removed.
Woodsmith Tip: Apply the coating in thin layers and allow it to cure according to the manufacturer's instructions. Test the fit before adding more material so the hooks don't become too large for the holes.
Shop tip submitted by Ryan Maurer, Marion, Massachusetts.
3. Add a Temporary Grip to a Shooting Plane
A shooting board is a useful hand-tool accessory for trimming board ends square and fine-tuning joinery. A jack plane works well for the job, but holding it on its side can become uncomfortable during longer sessions.
Charles Mak of Calgary, Alberta, came up with a quick solution.
When he needs a more convenient grip for his jack plane, Charles attaches a C-clamp to the side of the plane. The clamp provides a temporary handle that makes the plane easier to hold while shooting.
When he's finished, he can remove the clamp and use the jack plane normally.
Woodsmith Tip: Position the clamp so it doesn't interfere with the shooting board, blade, or plane's moving parts. Use protective pads if necessary to avoid marking the plane, and make sure the clamp is secure before starting.
Shop tip submitted by Charles Mak, Calgary, Alberta.
4. Make Shop Pencil Holders with a Pocket-Hole Jig
A pencil is one of the most frequently used tools in a woodworking shop—and one of the easiest to misplace.
Terry Brecht of Marengo, Iowa, solved the problem by making several simple pencil holders from scrap wood.
Using a pocket-hole jig, Terry drills angled holes into small wood blocks. Each hole creates a convenient pocket for holding a pencil upright.
He places the blocks at different workstations around his shop so there's always a pencil nearby when he needs to mark a measurement or lay out a cut.
This quick project is a useful way to turn small scraps into practical shop accessories.
Woodsmith Tip: Make a few extra pencil holders for your workbench, table saw station, drill press, and assembly area. A wider block provides a more stable base if you prefer a freestanding holder.
Shop tip submitted by Terry Brecht, Marengo, Iowa.
Small Woodworking Tips That Make a Difference
These four ideas demonstrate how everyday workshop problems can often be solved with materials already on hand. A little wax and a clamp can help protect plywood, plastic dip can improve the fit of pegboard hooks, a C-clamp can serve as a temporary shooting plane grip, and a scrap wood block can keep pencils organized.
Try adapting these reader-submitted tips to the tools and workstations in your own shop.
