Here are a few more woodworking tips that I have collected in the past month:

1. To remove construction adhesive try using baby oil. Pour it on and let it soak in then work it into the adhesive. Once the adhesive has been removed wash off the baby oil.

2. To get a quick and accurate 90 degrees on your miter gauge just turn it upside down in the miter slot and then butt the gauge face up against the table edge. Tighten the gauge head, turn it over and use.

3. To get other accurate angles on your miter gauge use an electronic tilt angle tool. First, loosen the gauge head from the arm and then hang the miter gauge over the table edge with the gauge face on the table. Zero the tilt tool on the table top and then attach it to the side of the hanging gauge arm. Swing the arm until the desired angle is achieved. Then tighten the gauge head and use.

4. To straighten out a bowed board tape a piece of angled aluminum the full length of the concave edge and run it through your tablesaw with the flat edge of the aluminum against the fence. Then remove the aluminum, flip the board and run it through the table saw with the new straight edge against the fence.

5. When drilling a hole in a ceiling you can use an empty coffee cup to protect you from falling debris. Just drill through the bottom of an empty coffee cup and then drill your hole in the ceiling. The coffee cup will catch the falling debris.

These are just a few tips that I picked up lately. They come from a variety of sources including books, magazines, newsletters, online and personal experience.

There are more Woodworking Tips and Tidbits located here.

Got a woodworking tip that you want to share? Let me know and I’ll add it in a future issue of Tips and Tidbits!

Back to the shop…

Here’s the latest collection of woodworking tips and tricks:

1. To stop raised panel doors from rattling place a couple of dabs of silicon caulk in the grooves of the rail and stiles and allow it to dry prior to door assembly. The caulk will cushion the panel.

2. If you are concerned about the red or blue stains left by a chalk line try using baby powder or talcum powder instead. It leaves a bright white line and easily washes off.

3. Try using a rotary cutter, like the ones sold in fabric stores, to cut veneer. They cut straight and clean with or across the grain.

4. If you still have some of those older tool batteries that you shouldn’t overcharge get a home security timer like the ones that turn your lights on and off when you are away. Set the timer for the amount of time to charge your battery, plug it in and go. No more overcharge.

5. If you are having trouble inserting dowels in a hole it’s likely because air or glue is preventing it from sliding in easily. You can cut a slit in the side of the dowel to allow the air or glue to escape.

These are just a few tips that I picked up lately. They come from a variety of sources including books, magazines, newsletters, online and personal experience.

There are more Woodworking Tips and Tidbits located here.

Got a woodworking tip that you want to share? Let me know and I’ll add it in a future issue of Tips and Tidbits!

Back to the shop…

Here’s a few woodworking tips related to clamping, setting workbench heights and one for getting accurate chopsaw cuts. Read on:

1. Have a project that needs a lot of small clamps? Use clothespins! They don’t have much clamping power but you can use a lot of them. They come in handy for a lot of situations.

2. When setting the proper height for a lathe use different thicknesses of plywood on the floor or under the lathe and try each height for a while to determine the most comfortable position to use.

3. Consider the height of rubber fatigue mats in your calculations for work bench and lathe heights. These mats really reduce back and leg strain but can add 1/2″ or more to your height.

4. You can ‘sneak up’ on a cut using your chop saw by butting the end of the workpiece against the body of the blade (not the teeth), while the blade in NOT running. Then hold the piece in position, and raise the blade. Now power up the saw and make the cut to remove just a sliver of material.

5. When clamping something on an angle and the clamp slips try using a folded piece of sandpaper between the clamp face and workpiece to give the clamp some grip.

These are just a few tips that I picked up lately. They come from a variety of sources including books, magazines, newsletters, online and personal experience.

There are more Woodworking Tips and Tidbits located here.

Got a woodworking tip that you want to share? Let me know and I’ll add it in a future issue of Tips and Tidbits!

Back to the shop…

This issue of Woodworking Tips and Tidbits includes tips on scrollsawing patterns, measuring wheels accurately, a cure for swelling biscuits, ladder safety and another use for candle wax! Read on:

1. You can make reusable patterns for scrollsawing by using plastic stencil material that you get from a sewing supplies store. Cut a piece of this material the size of your project and glue it to the piece using a spray adhesive. Then glue your paper pattern to the top of the stencil material with the adhesive. Next, cut out the pattern with your scrollsaw and peel off the paper pattern and stencil material. The next time just place the stencil pattern on your wood and trace around it.

2. Rub the sides of your rolls of painter’s tape with candle wax to ensure that the edges don’t stick to your project.

3. To measure the true height of caster wheels clamp it in your workbench vise and then just measure the distance between the jaws.

4. If your plate-jointer biscuits have swollen due to moisture simply pop them in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds just before using them. This will shrink them back to their compressed size.

5. To ensure that a ladder is at a safe angle check it by placing your toes against the ladder rails and stretching out your arms so they are parallel to the ground. If your palms can rest on top of a rung, the ladder is at a safe angle.

These are just a few tips that I picked up lately. They come from a variety of sources including books, magazines, newsletters, online and personal experience.

There are more Woodworking Tips and Tidbits located here.

Got a woodworking tip that you want to share? Let me know and I’ll add it in a future issue of Tips and Tidbits!

Back to the shop…