All around shop tips

[RandyG]

There are a lot of general shop tips found in build threads and here and there. I would like to see if we can gather them here.
I'm talking not just tear drop related; work bench builds, organization tips, glue storage, etc... I would love to see some new tricks and give others a place to explore as well. Please share!

For instance I use pantie hose for a shop-vac filter rather than buying new filters.

[CarlLaFong]

Doesn't all of that sawdust make them itchy???

[Greg M]

That's why you use your wife's panty hose, not your own

[les45]

Getting back on track, I keep an empty 2 qt Gatorade or juice bottle on my workbench for disposing of old nails, screws, razor blades, etc. Keeps them out of my tires plus it makes it easy for disposal when the bottle gets full. Screw on the lid and drop in the garbage can.

[aggie79]

Getting back on track, I keep an empty 2 qt Gatorade or juice bottle on my workbench for disposing of old nails, screws, razor blades, etc. Keeps them out of my tires plus it makes it easy for disposal when the bottle gets full. Screw on the lid and drop in the garbage can.

Larry,
I like your idea and will be implementing it immediately! It will save me trips to the local discount tire.
Take care,
Tom

[les45]

Here is another one: if you use a trash can in your shop, you can make this simple cover that gives you more work space while retaining its original purpose. Simply cut a piece of plywood slightly larger than the top of the trash can and cut a small hole in the middle. Most trash will fit in the small hole while you can use the extra space to hold things like power tool cases, paint cans, or anything you need to use temporarily while working on your main work bench. Simply pick it up to pull the trash bag for disposal.

[RandyG]

foam with the foil backing towards the door, makes the garage much cooler. It helps my garage is insulated but without the foam it would get over 100 deg. with the sun on the door.

[bobhenry]

I have used a giant table and my "flyswatter" router sled to cut side profiles and round table tops and the radiused trusses for the caboose. You can duplicate part after part with no variations in the items.

[les45]

More ideas:

For those rolls of things that get lost in the junk drawer (tape, wire, string, etc.), a little piece of peg board and some long hooks organize in plain sight.


Those padded furniture dollies (less than $10 on sale from HF) are great for organizing. I keep my camping gear on them and roll under the trailer out of the way. (they are also good for moving furniture)


Don't throw away those old plastic storage cups, tupperware, and butter dishes. Keep them in a box and have them available for all kinds of uses from organizing fasteners to mixing epoxy to cleaning bearings.

[mbstonegate]

Really liked the pegboard storage tip. I'll be setting that up this evening.

For those that hate tripping on extension cords in the shop this works great. Really handy when routing templates

Overhead Extension Cord.jpg (69.74 KiB) Viewed 1291 times

Can't remember where I scanned that, but it's much easier to see how it goes together in that image than the picture I tried to take of my setup. I used plastic rings rather than the metal ones shown and I used small zip ties to attach the cord to the rings.

[CarlLaFong]

I've seen a zillion shop tips over the years and most of them revolve around making a funnel from a milk jug or how to store sandpaper.
I gotta say, that is brilliant.^^^^^^^^^^^^
I'll be doing one this week. Actually, two. Two 25 foot cords, one from each end of the shop will both reach to the center and eliminate a bunch of tripping and fighting with tangled messes

[Roo Dog]

Yeah I like the peg board idea for the rolls of tape etc.
I can never find the damn tape when I want some and ending up toddling down to the hardware store to buy another.
I notice coat hangers in wardrobes breed but rolls of tape and similar things never do. Must be the dark.

Take it easy.

RD

[VijayGupta]

I built some shop boxes out of scrap plywood ripped to 4" wide strips. I built a box with sides of 24, 30, and 36". Makes a great adjustable height work table / sawhorse.

I built mine before I had a pocket hole jig, which I would use now, but mine was simply overlapped and nailed on the intersections.


Another is a 4x8 sheet of plywood cut into 2 4x4 sections. I got some 1.5" and 1.25" iron pipe in various lengths (these fit inside each other), floor flanges and I have a 4" square "turntable" for finishing or upholstery work.

[bobhenry]

Need a big assembly table in a small shop?

Here is a great knock down idea.....

[RandyG]

Thats a good one Bob, you can even make a tall table with taller slats.
I also like the cloths line/ power cord, I may add a spring to it so it zips up when not in use. May use it with the air hose as well.
Keep 'em comin'