Workshop Miscellaneous

A cupola gives your house or garage more elegance and architectural interest. You can construct the project solely for cosmetic purposes or you can carve a hole in the roof to allow ventilation, which can lower cooling expenses. This woodworking design includes instructions, exploded view diagrams, and full-size drawings for the projects.

Whether you are machining long stock or simply looking for a place to rest your workpiece, you will find this versatile stand ready to help. With adjustable height and interchangeable glide, roller, and platform tops, it is a perfect match for any number of tasks.

Tired of muscling your tools around the shop when you need to use them or clean around them? If so, try this money and back-saving solutionâa four-wheeled tool base for moving heavy woodworking machin...

Sheet goods often present a real challenge when it comes to cutting them down into project-sized pieces. Even if you have the room in your shop to maneuver a full sheet of plywood, single-handedly bal...

You will sand your projects fast and effectively with this easy-to-build, stow-out-of-the-way cart. It features a PVC arm that keeps the sanders power cord and vac hose out of your way. A tool-triggered switch powers on and off a low-dough vac stored on board. To make the project as easy to build as it is to use, and to save time, build the no-nonsense drawers using metal sides with built-in slides sourced in this step-by-step plan.

Instead of fooling around with makeshift measuring and marking methods, count on this accurate, heirloom-quality gauge for layout help. Use it now, and eventually you can pass it on with pride.

The wobbly old string-and-a-nail technique for marking arcs and circles often leads to errors. But with our shop-built trammel, you can scribe perfect arcs or circles of all sizes, quickly and accurately.

Finally, the ultimate mitersaw center has arrived. This sturdy plywood unit rolls around and locks in place where needed. Fold-down table extensions let you manage long pieces for crosscutting. And th...

Airborne debris does not stand a chance with this device. Wood chips and sawdust will not stay around long when you hook up this clamp-down collector to your shop vacuum or dust collection system.

A built-in dust chute links it directly to your shop vacuum or dust collector. We designed this sanding table to fit a 10 inch Jet Contractors Saw. You will probably have to alter the tables size to f...

Apply finished in a dust-free enclosure that sets up or tears down in just 5 minutes. Deploy this handy tent any time you want to wipe or brush on a finish without having to shut down the rest of your shop. Best of all, you can build one in an afternoon with about $80 worth of materials from a home center.

Transform your drill press form a supporting actor in to a workshop star with this multifunction accessory. Although indispensable in a woodworking shop, most drill presses come equipped with a table ...

Elevate your benchtop scroll saw to new heights with this sturdy shop-made stand. It provides solid support directly beneath the saw to help minimize vibration. The top measures approximately 24 x 12 ...

Is time of the essence in your shop? Even the precious few seconds wasted while holding an orbital sander until its pad quits spinning can add up. To remedy this, build this benchtop sander rest.

Here is a great use for those prized wood scraps you stashed away for just the right project. Our compass incorporates an ingenious clamping system that holds a standard pencil (hexagonal or round) an...

Short on work space? Try this compact project. Spread the legs for a stable support when cutting bulky pieces of sheet goods. Then, simply fold it up and stow it away for use later.

When a project requires thin stock, our portable planer saves us the time and trouble of having to special-order material. But, having to lift it onto my workbench every time we need it can be a backb...

It is sad but true that the space beneath most tablesaws goes to waste. But that need not be the case, as you can see here. Our cabinet stores a plentiful supply of sawblades, router bits, and other w...

The two roomy drawers in this easy-to-build benchtop base keep your mini lathes centers and other accessories close at hand. When you are done with your turning session, just grab hold of the convenie...

Every time we visit the shop of a well-seasoned woodworker, we come away with fresh ideas for solving common workshop challenges. These ideas typically take the form of special jigs, storage projects, and problem-solving tips. This article includes projects like a super-simple router planing jig, a modular rack for loads of lumber and plywood, a sturdy auxiliary outfeed table, a small-part table saw sled jig, and a rail-and-stile mortising jig for loose-tenon joints. There are also handy tips including a quick fix for cracks and splits.

To take the strain out of moving the tool-bearing floor cabinets, we designed this simple rolling base. It features a 3/4 inch thick MDF platform on a sturdy frame, and heavy-duty casters that swivel for unlimited mobility, but lock to keep any tool firmly planted while in use. This adaptable platform combines stout construction and smooth mobility.

If ever a sanding block was a work of art, this is it. Supple to the touch and easy on the eyes, it will serve you well for many years to come.

Whenever a project calls for accurate layout lines and precisely marked measurements, lots of experienced woodworkers put away the pencil and reach for a scratch awl. Somehow, you just feel more like ...

You are not likely to misplace this shop heirloom. Use if for measuring dadoes, mortises, and other recesses where precision is critical.

A beveled wall cleat system works great for supporting more than cabinets and tool racks. This easy-to-build light support fits and locks onto the same cleat, and can be located near any number of machine operations.

Attention all tablesaw owners! Now is your chance to make some big improvements in your equipment for just a few dollars. By investing as few as a couple of evenings, you can enclose the base, add an ...

Keep reference material close at hand with this two-project setup. Simply swing the table up when you need to make notes. The upper cabinet has a drop-down door. Just pull up a stool and you have crea...

With both single and paired marking points, this great-looking hand tool helps you lay out rabbets, tenons, and mortises with hairline precision. Even with the availability of pencils, craftsmen still scribe the most accurate layout lines on wood with the sharp points of a gauge. Now you can make your own version and experience the difference firsthand.

For thousands of years, architects and artists have followed the principle of the Golden Mean to make designs look just right. With this simple invention you can, too, but without all the math. Let us show you how to make a Fibonacci gauge and put it to use for your next woodworking design.

Looking to add even more functionality to your drill-press table? Consider this dust-collecting system that channels fine dust to a vacuum hose during sanding-drum operations.