Some of the handiest workshop accessories aren't sold as woodworking tools. A pair of disposable chopsticks can become a mixing stick, a drink koozie can keep ratchet straps tidy, and a piece of painter's tape can save you from searching the floor for a tiny part.
In this collection of Woodsmith Quick Tips, four readers share inventive ways to repurpose everyday items for finishing, shop organization, and woodworking projects.
1. Use Chopsticks to Mix Finishes and Epoxy
A couple of years ago, my wife and I hosted a holiday party. The catered Chinese food left us with great leftovers—and hundreds of sets of disposable chopsticks.
I tossed the extra chopsticks into a shop drawer, figuring I'd eventually find a use for them. It turns out they're surprisingly handy.
For starters, a chopstick makes a great stir stick for a quart-sized can of finish. It's long enough to reach into the can and easy to discard when I'm done.
I also use chopsticks to mix epoxy. The square end where the pair is connected provides a useful shape for stirring the resin and hardener together. Once the epoxy is mixed, I can use the same stick to spread it where it's needed.
And because the chopsticks are disposable, there's no need to clean a mixing tool afterward.
Woodsmith Tip: Follow the epoxy manufacturer's mixing ratio and instructions. Scrape the sides and bottom of the mixing container thoroughly to combine both components.
Shop tip submitted by Logan Wittmer, Runnells, Iowa.
2. Keep Ratchet Straps Organized with a Can Koozie
Ratchet straps are useful for securing lumber and other materials during transport, but they have a frustrating habit of tangling when they're tossed into a truck or storage bin.
I found an easy way to keep mine organized: a foam can koozie.
After using a ratchet strap, I roll it up and slip the bundle into the koozie. The snug fit keeps the strap together, so it stays tidy until the next trip to the lumber yard.
It's a simple storage solution that makes the straps easier to grab and use.
Woodsmith Tip: Make sure the straps are clean and dry before storing them. Inspect the webbing and ratchet mechanism for wear or damage before using them to secure a load.
Shop tip submitted by Becky Kralicek, Des Moines, Iowa.
3. Flag Small Parts with Painter's Tape
Cutting small dowels, brass pins, and other tiny parts can be frustrating. One slip and a piece can roll off the bench, disappear onto the floor, or end up underneath a cabinet.
Charles Vogan of Grottoes, Virginia, makes these parts easier to keep track of with a small piece of painter's tape.
He wraps the tape around the part, leaving a short section sticking out like a flag. The bright flag makes the piece easier to see and locate if it rolls away.
This is especially handy when working with small parts that would otherwise blend into the shop floor.
Woodsmith Tip: Position the tape so it won't interfere with the cut or contact a blade or bit. Keep your fingers clear of the cutting area, and use appropriate workholding for small parts.
Shop tip submitted by Charles Vogan, Grottoes, Virginia.
4. Keep Extension Cord Plugs Connected with a Reusable Twist Tie
An extension cord that pulls apart in the middle of a job can be a nuisance, especially when you're moving a portable tool around the shop.
Ken Marciniak of Rolling Prairie, Indiana, uses a large rubber twist tie to help keep connected plugs from separating.
After joining the plugs, he wraps the twist tie around the connection and gives it a couple of twists. The tie helps hold the plugs together while he works.
Because the tie is reusable, he can remove it and use it again whenever he needs to connect another cord.
Woodsmith Tip: Use this method only with plugs and cords in good condition, and don't wrap the connection so tightly that it bends or strains the cord. Keep connections dry and avoid pulling tools by their cords. A twist tie is not a substitute for a proper locking connector where one is required.
Shop tip submitted by Ken Marciniak, Rolling Prairie, Indiana.
Everyday Items, Handy Woodworking Solutions
These four reader-submitted tips show how useful shop accessories can come from unexpected places. Disposable chopsticks simplify mixing and spreading, a can koozie keeps ratchet straps under control, painter's tape makes tiny parts easier to find, and a rubber twist tie helps prevent accidental cord disconnections.
Before throwing away an everyday item, it's worth considering whether it might have a second life in the workshop.
