Sometimes it is the simplest ideas that really catch my attention ... one of these you will see later in this article. I am often guilty of making things a bit too complicated and I can take a lesson from those who have easier ideas that are equally effective.
Watch it on Youtube: https://youtu.be/k7TTkaAtLXQ
First off is a tip I should be using more often, and now that I have a stronger magnet hook, maybe it will work for me.
This tip is from Jim in Columbia who suggests using your dust collector and rigging a portable hose to it by using hooks with magnets that will attach to anything metal, and we have lots of that in the workshop. You can use it on the drill press and even on the workbench to pick up messes before they happen from planing wood, metal, or even sanding ... lots of applications and easy to set up ... thanks, Jim.
Here is one of the simplest tips I have seen and it comes from Joseph who says that many people make elaborate landing pads and holders for random-orbital sanders. When you turn these off it takes a while for them to spin down and I am one who went out and bought one of those commercial landing pads, which I felt only work OK. Joseph says you can get an excellent result by just folding over a layer or 2 of old towels and use that as a landing pad. As you can see in the video this works excellent. So easy and doesn't much if anything because you are using an old towel - rags ... very good tip Joseph ... thanks.
Here's a tip from Walther, who says if you have a corded tool that seems to get "damaged" (in my case often stepped on) you can save these plugs from further damage by plugging them into a plug adapter which then takes the brunt of the abuse and saves the original plug from further damage. You can get these at any hardware store they cost MUCH less than buying new outlet plugs that you have to replace the original plugs with when they get so damaged they are dangerous to use ... thanks, Walter.
Here is a great tip from Peter to help stop all chisels from rolling off the workshop bench and onto the floor where they almost always land tip down and then require significant sharpening to get them back in usable shape. Peter says, just put a cable-tie around the base of the chisel, snip off the end, and now that chisel can't roll off the workbench any longer ...
This tip comes from Peter, who suggests using a cable tie around the handle of your chisels to stop them from rolling off the workbench. I wish I had thought of this many years ago ... would have saved me a bunch of needless sharpening ...
As I mentioned in the video a PSA (Public Service Announcement for Woodworkers) for those of you who are NOT on M-Power Tools mailing list, are currently (Oct. 2021) having a significant, 40% off sale on their Chisel Sharpener ($99.95 USD) you can order direct from the website https://www.mpower-tools.com/ and use the Code FTS40, or you could email them, they are good people, knowledgeable and helpful and if you are struggling with chisel or even some plane blade sharpening, this might the unit to help you along.
Here is a link to an article I did on this some time ago ... Fasttrack Sharpener
Here's a tip from Timothy who reminds us that you can use Plexiglass or clear plastic sheeting for table saw throat plates ... sometimes called zero clearance inserts. Plastic, though fairly hard, is easily cut with bits and blades that have carbide tips and can be filed, sanded, and ground to fit neatly. I used this material with my last table saw as the plastic was the perfect thickness but with my current saw, the plastic is too thin so I have gone back to plywood. But either way, use what works best for you ... just stay away from that old laminate flooring.
A lot more great ideas ... thanks everyone for taking the time to send these in.
Copyright Colin Knecht
woodworkweb
