The Sandpaper Files

Category Archives: Workshop Tips

The Sandpaper Files

Tom Caspar AW153, Sanding, Sandpaper, Storage, Techniques, Tool Storage, Tricks of the Trade, Workshop Tips

This sandpaper storage system is about as simple as it gets. It’s just a stack of folded envelopes bound with a big rubber band. Each envelope is marked with a grit number. A thin piece of wood on the bottom …
Source

Comments Off tools

Goof-Proof Center Finder

John English AW153, Marking and Measuring, measuring tools, Precision, Techniques, Tricks of the Trade, Workshop Tips

To mark the exact center of a board, I measure an equal distance from both ends and make two marks. This distance is just an approximation—it doesn’t matter if it’s longer or shorter than exactly half the length of the …
Source

Comments Off

Picture Frame Glue-up

American Woodworker Editors AW147, Glue, Picture Frames, Techniques, Tricks of the Trade, Workshop Tips

Here’s a quick way to glue up a mitered frame of any size using only two clamps, with no worry that the frame will shift out of alignment. You’ll need two 1″ x 1″ hardwood bars (make them whatever length …
Source

Comments Off

Faster Cleaning

American Woodworker Editors AW149, Cleaning, Dust, Techniques, Tool Maintenance, Tricks of the Trade, Vacuum, Workshop Tips

Here’s a quick way to get all the dust out of your machine’s nooks and crannies. Most shop vacuums have one port for vacuuming and a second port for blowing. Hook up a hose to each port, then blow and …
Source

Comments Off