Sometimes a small modification can make a familiar woodworking tool much easier to use. A bicycle handlebar grip, a strip of painter's tape, or a tiny bubble level can solve problems that come up again and again in the shop.
In this collection of Woodsmith Quick Tips, three readers share clever ideas for improving clamp handles, removing paper patterns from workpieces, and keeping a handheld drill aligned for straight holes.
1. Improve Your F-Clamp Grip with Bicycle Handlebar Grips
Wood-handled F-clamps are reliable workhorses in the shop, but their smooth handles aren't always easy to grip. That can become especially noticeable when you're tightening a clamp repeatedly during a large glue-up.
John Finger of Chesterfield, Virginia, had gotten years of use from his wood-handled F-clamps, but he found that getting a firm grip on them had become more difficult.
His solution was to add bicycle handlebar grips.
The grips provide a larger, more comfortable surface to hold while tightening the clamps. Their textured material also makes the handles easier to grasp.
It's a simple modification that can give an old set of clamps a more comfortable feel without replacing them.
Woodsmith Tip: Choose grips that fit snugly over your clamp handles. Make sure they can't slip or rotate when you apply pressure, and avoid overtightening the clamp.
Shop tip submitted by John Finger, Chesterfield, Virginia.
2. Remove Paper Woodworking Patterns Easily with Painter's Tape
Attaching a paper pattern to a workpiece is a convenient way to lay out curved shapes, decorative details, or parts that need to be cut to a specific profile.
Spray adhesive makes it easy to hold the pattern in place, but removing the paper afterward can be frustrating. The adhesive may leave residue behind, and scraping off the pattern can take extra time.
Dan Martin of Galena, Ohio, uses a simple trick to make pattern removal easier.
Before attaching the pattern, he covers the wood with painter's tape. Then he applies spray adhesive to the taped surface and presses the paper pattern into place.
Once the cutting or shaping is complete, he peels away the painter's tape, taking the paper pattern and adhesive with it.
This eliminates much of the scraping and cleanup that would otherwise be required.
Woodsmith Tip: Use a tape that adheres securely enough to hold the pattern during cutting. Test it first on delicate surfaces or existing finishes, and remove it carefully to avoid lifting wood fibers or damaging the finish.
Shop tip submitted by Dan Martin, Galena, Ohio.
3. Add a Bubble Level to a Hand Drill for Plumb Holes
Drilling a straight, vertical hole with a handheld drill can be challenging. Even when the drill looks upright, it's easy to tilt it slightly forward, backward, or sideways.
Charles Mak of Calgary, Alberta, came up with a clever way to check his drill's alignment by attaching a small bubble level to it.
He uses a little CA glue to secure the level to the drill after carefully checking its position. With the workbench level, the bubble provides a quick visual reference for holding the drill plumb.
How to Align the Bubble Level
Before gluing the level in place, Charles uses a square to check the drill's position from multiple sides.
Once the drill is aligned vertically, he positions the bubble level so it reads level and secures it with CA glue.
With the level installed, he can quickly check the bubble while drilling to help maintain a vertical drilling angle.
It's a handy addition when a drill press isn't practical or when you're working on a large assembly that can't easily be moved.
Woodsmith Tip: This method depends on the work surface being level. A single bubble level also won't necessarily reveal tilt in every direction, so verify the drill's alignment on both axes before attaching it. For holes requiring very tight tolerances, use a drill guide or drill press.
Shop tip submitted by Charles Mak, Calgary, Alberta.
Small Upgrades That Make Everyday Woodworking Easier
These three reader-submitted tips show how simple materials can improve tools and techniques you already use. Bicycle handlebar grips make F-clamps more comfortable, painter's tape simplifies pattern removal, and a bubble level helps keep a handheld drill aligned.
None requires an elaborate jig or a major investment. They're practical ideas you can put to work the next time you're clamping, cutting a pattern, or drilling holes in your shop.
