WOODWORKING TIPS AND TRICKS – Boost Your Efficiency We asked our favorite woodworkers to share
some of their favorite shop tips. Check out these great pieces of advice to
help you work faster and smarter in your own shop. Make your own reusable sanding block
Here s how to make your own reusable sanding blocks. Cut six blocks from scrap 3/4-in.plywood for
each sandpaper grit you commonly use. Make them 2-1/2 in. x 4-3/4 in. Spray adhesive on both a square of cork tile
and each block. Stick a block to the cork and cut the cork
flush with a utility knife. Then spray adhesive on a sheet of sandpaper
and stick it on each block cork side down as shown.
Cut the sandpaper flush with the cork, and
label each block. Important table saw safety
When you re crosscutting on a table saw, set the cut length with a block clamped to the
fence. Don t ever use the fence directly to avoid
getting a board kicked back right at you. Instead, clamp a block of wood to the fence
before the blade. Then the end of the board will be free of
the fence during and after the cut. If you make a block that s exactly 1 in. thick, you can set the fence scale at 1 in. greater than the length you re after. No tricky fractions involved. Use stair gauges as a crosscut guide
Stair gauges are usually used to lay out stair jacks. You clamp them to a carpenter s square to
match the rise and run of a stair jack and then mark the notches. But if you put them both on the same tongue
of a carpenter s square, the combination makes a great crosscut guide for circular saws. Use a drafting square for more accuracy
When you need an accurate square in the 2- to 3-ft.
Range, your options are limited. Drywall squares are notoriously inaccurate
and cumbersome. Carpenter squares involve that nagging hassle
of having to hook them onto the edge of your workpiece. If you have a drafting square lying around,
drag it out to the shop. Or, go to an art supply store and pick one
up ($5 or more). They re very accurate and you ll find yourself
grabbing it nearly as often as you do the tape measure. Woodworking Tips to Boost Your Efficiency Prevent excess glue stains To eliminate stains caused by oozing glue
along joints, clamp the pieces together without glue.
Apply masking tape over the joint and then
cut it with a utility knife. Next, separate the pieces, apply the glue,
and clamp them together again. The glue will ooze onto the tape, not the
wood. Remove the tape before the glue dries. Measure with a drafting square Make accurate measuring and marking layouts
on boards faster and easier with a drafting square available at any art supply store. When you need an accurate square in the 2-
to 3-foot range, drafting squares beat the cumbersome drywall squares for accuracy and
eliminate the hassle of hooking up a carpenter square. Keep your blades sharp Dull tools such as chisels, blades, planes,
scrapers and gouges don t cut cleanly. They tear at the wood fibers resulting in
a fuzzy, uneven, unprofessional look. Tools that have been chipped or nicked require
grinding. A bench grinder, wet grinder, or even a belt
sander can be used. Avoid letting your tool get too hot when using
a bench grinder or belt sander to prevent it from losing temper.
Dipping it in a pan of cool water every few
seconds will help. After grinding, proceed to honing using either
a flat wet stone or oil stone. A wet stone is preferred when doing fine woodworking. The final step is polishing using a fine wet
stone, a stropping wheel or leather. Tools with sharper blades make woodworking
easier, more efficient, and safer.