Workshop Miscellaneous

Very clever design for folding outfeed table for TS. Dimensioned in millimeters. DXF Format.

Since my workshop shares space in the garage with cars, my tools need to be mobile. So I made a simple base for each tool.

The knobs are made from hardwood scraps that I cut into round blanks with a wing cutter at the drill press...

Whenever I am working with long pieces, I often have a hard time supporting the end of the workpiece. So I came up with this adjustable-height work support stand. The nice thing about this stand is that it can be built in about an hour for around $20 in materials.

Organization is the key to making any shop work well, no matter what the size. And if your shop is like most, it could use some additional storage space. (I know mine could.) That is where this shop system comes in. It is obvious there is a lot of storage space packed into this wall system. What is not so apparent is its easy-to-build design. Each unit is assembled from standardized components. And it is made from inexpensive, easy-to-find construction lumber, MDF, and plywood. The cutting diagrams and materials list are available to download in this Online Extra.

This is a link to a Google 3D SketchUp drawing for a panel cart on casters for moving sheets of plywood. You will need the SketchUp software to download this drawing and its freely available online. We do not provide support for this software. Not all drawings have the measurements displayed but you can use the measurement tool in SketchUp to easily and accurately determine the dimensions of each lumber part. Most drawings do not have instructions, its assumed you can build it based on the completed drawing provided.

Since my workbench is in the middle of the shop, there is not an electrical outlet nearby to plug my power tools into. And trailing an extension cord across the floor is a safety hazard. So I decided to hang a strip of outlets above the bench.

Finally, I got the motivation to sort out my collection of nuts and bolts, screws and nails. And to make the job less tedious, I put together this sorting tray.

So I bought one of these... (benchtop planer) ...But my shop is not very big... So I decided I needed to build a fliptop stand (I read about these on various forums and other places.) to do this...

Build this work stool tote and it will do double duty. Use it as a stool or turn it over and carry tools in it. Here are the free plans.

I never seem to have enough storage space in my shop....So, to store these and other small items, I built a pull-out storage case, like you see in the photo. The case is large enough to hold a couple of small plastic storage cabinets with lots of drawers (the kind you find at hardware stores and home centers). I also added a few shelves to store other items.

Because shop space is nearly always limited and there are so many different types and sizes of nails and screws, the space-saving, low-cost hardware organizer, has been a real advantage in my shop. It lets me see at a glance what is in each can.

These slide out cabinet trays make finding things in the back of any cabinet easier. At the link there is a short video as well as free downloadable plans.

I have built a lot of storage cabinets for my tools and hardware, so I always know right where to find them. Unfortunately, that was not the case for my cleaning supplies. To solve this problem I built the heavy-duty cleanup center you see above. The cutting diagrams and materials list are available to download in this Online Extra.

With the cost of lumber, I am not crazy about throwing out short scrap pieces of wood. But planing short pieces (less than 12 inches long) in not recommended by most manufacturers. That is because the pieces can get caught between the feed rollers and chewed up by the blades.

Follow along at the link and build your own mallets. It is not as hard as you might think.

Build your own workshop broom by following along at the link. There is a video to help guide you through the process.

Besides holding a number of hand tools, the bar swings out from the wall. This provides easy access to additional tools mounted behind the tool bar.

Here is a look at a few simple homemade tools and jigs that can prove useful on all sorts of DIY projects. A jig is an accessory used in woodworking or metalworking that controls the movement or location of a tool.

I do not recall how, or when, I became curious about what I call the double-twisted dovetail. My interest was probably aroused by a discussion that centered on dovetailing in two directions at once, e.g., a drawer side to a front. For a long time I simply dismissed it as unworkable, without thinking it through. I was thinking idly about it one day, and realized that the joint was probably feasible. I experimented with pieces of pine and solved the conundrum...

I move my jointer around the shop thanks to its mobile base, but it seemed like wherever the jointer was, my pushpads were not. So, I came up with this solution.

Here is a great idea if you want your tools close at hand but still organized and off the workbench.

I had a lot of trouble finding any local stores that carried wood working supplies. One of the things I wanted but no one even knew what I was talking about when I asked, was a cabinet scraper. So I spent some time online and found that you can get them from online woodworking stores, but I am also very impatient.

This project is easy enough for almost anyone to tackle with confidence, and will produce a piece of equipment that will keep your workshop running smoothly for years. ...

A sharpening guide helps avoid gouging the surface.

This wall-mounted glue-up rack saves space, stores pipe clamps, and makes it easy to glue up panels.

At the link you can watch the video of how this marking gauge was made.

This is a link to a Google 3D SketchUp drawing for a cart for moving sheet goods and for infeed/outfeed for table saw. You will need the SketchUp software to download this drawing and its freely available online. We do not provide support for this software. Not all drawings have the measurements displayed but you can use the measurement tool in SketchUp to easily and accurately determine the dimensions of each lumber part. Most drawings do not have instructions, its assumed you can build it based on the completed drawing provided.

Inexpensive scraps of hardware cloth are ideal for making tool holders in a variety of shapes. These easily made racks are for use on a bench or as a wall mounted tool holder.

This tool rest is made up of three parts: a base, a platform that rotates, and another platform that moves in and out. Here is how to build it.