The Amazing, �Mind Blowing �Extra Ordinary Woodworking Tips�.(maybe 1 or 2 )

1:Corner Clamping Blocks

• Use with any clamp
• Block 4”x 4” x ¾
• Hole helps jig fit in corner
• Hole also allow glue squeeze out.
• Use jig to cut

90 degrees

2: Cord Cleat

• Mange unplugged cords
• Make out of scrap wood
• Drill slotted hole for plug
• Bolt to machine

3: Safe Cutting Dowels

• Drill a slight over size hole in a wood block.
• Cut dowel to length, not going through block.
• Push dowel to knock out the cut.
• Cut next piece to length

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4: Cut Small Parts Safely� on a Chop Saw

• Cut a groove in a block of wood to fit the part
• Place part in groove
• Cut the part to length, not going through block.
• Make sure small cut area is backed
• Push part forward to knock out the cut.
• Cut next piece to length

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5: Drawer Countersink

• Use when drill won’t fit in drawer to countersink knob hole
• Reverse countersink cutter on drill bit
• Insert bit thru pilot hole
• Chuck in drill
• Reverse drill direction and pull

6: Avoid Breaking Brass Screws When Installing Hinges

• To test door hinge fit use steel screws which are less likely to break than brass
• Fit using only one screw per leaf hinge
• On finally install, run steel screws in and out to cut treads for softer brass screws

7: Glue Squeeze-Out Removal

• Let glue dry

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• For corners, use a bevel down chisel to “pop” the glue out the glue

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• For edge joints use a chisel vertical, like a scraper, and pull it along the glue line

8: Removing Sanding Marks

• Hand sand on the diagonal

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• Reverse

direction

with each

grit change

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• Sand until prior sanding marks are gone

9: Easy Router Trammel

• Use router’s bars for the edge guide

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• Replace guide with a wood bar and locking screws

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• Drill hole in the guide’s center for inserting a nail for a trammel point

10: Avoiding Pin Nailer Curl Outs

• Pin nails tend to curl to the front or back and not left or right
• Place the nailer so it’s parallel to the wood being nailed.
• If the nail curls forward or backward the is plenty of wood to avoid a blow out

wrong

right

11: Drill Press Table w/o a Lift

• Go to a auto junk yard and purchase a used car jack.

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• Affix it to the drill press shaft.

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• Add a handle to easily raise or lower the table.

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12: Making Odd Sized Dowels

• Dill holes in a ¼” metal plate.
• Cut a long squares blank, bigger that the desired dowel.
• Round over the edges and taper one end to fit into a hole.
• Use a mallet and pound the blank thru the hole.
• Repeat with a smaller hole until the desired diameter is achieved.
• Sides of the dowel will be smooth

13: Alternative Dowel Plate

• Make a dowel plate as shown previously.
• Use a triangle metal file to file a notch in the side of each hole.
• Rather than pounding the blank thru the hole, put the blank in a drill and drill it thru the hole..
• Repeat with a smaller hole until the desired diameter is achieved.
• Sides of the dowel will not be smooth due to rotation of the blank.
• For a smooth side, stop prior to reaching the desired size and pound it thru the hole.

14: Magnetize Your Screwdriver

• Purchase a demagnetizer device (3 for $12).
• Rub screwdriver thru the magnetizer hole.
• Now screws hang from screwdriver tip and can be easily inserted into tight spaces.
• When done, rub screwdrive thru demagnetizer hole and it’s no longer magnetized.

15: Repair Mistakes in Wood

• Fixes in wood show up because of differences in color and grain.
• Chisel out slot from mistake to edge of wood (if possible)
• Cut a matching section of wood and tapered sides
• Press patch into slot.
• Use acrylic paint to add grain lines.
• Sand lightly forcing wood dust into any small areas

16: Getting a Straight Edge From Rough Cut Lumber

• Option 1: Draw straight line on edge and free hand on band saw. Finish on jointer.
• Option 2: Secure straight edge to board and run thru table saw with straight edge on fence.
• Option 3: No table or band saw, no problem. Approximate straight edge with circular, saber or any other saw. Finish on jointer.

Always cut board to shorter lengths (easier and safer to handle)

17: Use Playing Cards as Shims

• Use as protector when flush cutting dowels

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• Use to create equal space reveal around drawers

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• Flatten twisted board on a thickness planer by shiming opposite corners.

Each paying card is 1/128” thick

18: Better Table Saw Pusher

• Forward leaning handle keep downward on wood to offset lift of the saw blade.

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• Hook on the back is replicable

19: Table Saw Pusher for Thin Cuts�

• Rides on the fence. Small birds beak drop down to push stock

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20: Clean Files and Burrs w Fire

• File and burs are high speed harden steel and hold and edge when heated (not yellow hot)

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• Use a propane torch to clean files and burs.

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• Heat file or bur to burn the embedded wood.

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• Use a wire brush to clean up the burnt wood carbon dust.

21: Mak a Better Sanding Block

• Shop Made to use ¼ of a sheet of sandpaper.

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• Bolt glued into the bottom for a wing nut hold-down

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• Inner tube rubber adds just little cushion

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• When lid goes on, it pulls the sandpaper tight

21: Build in a lid stop

• Add a tapper at the back of a box bottom and lid back edge.

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• The tapper should be slightly greater than 45 degrees to insure the lid stays open.

22: Make Your Own Knobs

• Use a hole saw to cut out disks
• Make a jig with holles to fit the disk
• Drill 6 small hole around the outside of the center hole
• Secure the disk with a screw to keep it in place during drilling
• Drill the parameter holes
• Drill a center hole about ¼” and slightly smaller than the bolt head being used.
• Glue and press in the bolt into the center hole
• Place in a drill and ease the edges on a belt sander

23: Make Your Own Thumb Nuts

• Use a carriage bolt

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• Find a washer that fits the bolt head slot

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• Flatten the bottom of the washer

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• Epoxy the washer into the carriage bolt slot

24: The Value of Bar Clamps

• Bar clamps can exert more clamping pressure than most clamps.

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• Every clamp can be extended in length by using a coupler and new pipe, so 1 clamp can handle any length

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• Pipe clamps cost about the same as Jorgenson’s Bessey or Irwin Quick clamps

25: Inventive Clamp Pads

• Two of the three spoke act as leg to keep the clamp level

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• The third spoke automatically aliens to act as a clamp pad.

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• All hands free to focus on actually clamping

26: Keep Jar Lids From Sticking

• Glass jars work well for storing liquids

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• Reopening the jars can be difficult or dangerous.

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• The liquid sometimes seals the lid to the jar.

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• Wipe the lid and apply plumbers Teflon tape to the jar thread, going the same directions as the threads.

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27: Remove Broken Screws

• Use a 5” length of ¼” steel brake line tube.
• Use a 3 corner file to teeth in the end of the tube.
• To use, chuck the tube in a drill and drill around the broken screw in a reverse direction.
• Redrill the hole for a matching 3/8” wood plug.

28: Sliding Dovetail Key

• Make a dovetail key out of stable hardwood.
• Mil both the grove and tail in the same piece of wood.
• Use the key to set the fence and bit height.
• Make one for each size dovetail bit.

29: Shortcut to Centerlining Dovetail Key

• Place a ruler on the board with the inch marks on the board.
• Rotate the ruler until 2 numbers that are easy to divided in half are on both edges
• In this example 6” and 10” making the middle8”

30: Table Saw Alignment Jig

• Place the jig in the miter slot.
• Set the head of the bolt so it just touches the front of the blade (as close to the teeth as possible)
• Move the the rear of the blade and check if any minor alignment is needed.

31: Recycle Old Bandsaw Blades

• Break old bandsaw blades (bend and hammer) into 1’ or 2’ lengths.
• Cut slots in some wood and glue blade into slot.
• You now have a great drying rack.
• Placing a wet piece on the blade tips will let it dry and will not show marks on the dried piece.