Member Tips

Cavatelli Pasta-Making Paddle – Revisited

January 3, 2013 By Reader Submitted & filed under Blog, Last Minute Woodworking Gifts, Member Tips, Plans and Projects, Woodworking Projects.

WWGOA reader Henry Kay took Paul Mayer’s cavatelli paddle to another level. He owns a CNC (computer numerical controlled) router system and programmed it to make the paddle and engrave the recipe on the reverse side. In an effort to make the text easier to see, Henry darkened it with coffee. The entire paddle was…

Miter Gauge Used as a Square

September 19, 2011 By Reader Submitted & filed under Blog, Member Tips, Skill Building, Stationary Power Tools, Table Saw.

I have a tendency to misplace my squares, which often results in me reaching for a scrap of wood for an approximate angle. I’ve found what works far better though, is to take my miter gauge, and flip it upside down with the face of the gauge along the edge of the board. The bar…

Secure Work Without a Vise

April 15, 2011 By Reader Submitted & filed under Blog, Member Tips, Shop Tips, Skill Building.

Not all workbenches have the perfect vise for holding stock, so I often use this cool trick. Tighten a hand screw clamp onto the bottom edge of the material, then clamp the hand screw clamp to the bench. You’ll be amazed at just how much holding power this provides. Enough for me to easily hand…

Shop-Built Dust Port

March 7, 2011 By Reader Submitted & filed under Blog, Member Tips, Plans and Projects, Woodshop Projects, Woodworking Projects.

Here’s how to make a dust port for any jig or power tool in your shop. It’s easy to build, uses parts readily available from your local hardware store, and best of all, it really works! I’ll show you how to make two kinds, one for your 2 1/2″ shop vac hose, and the other…

Pizza Points for Finishing

March 7, 2011 By Reader Submitted & filed under Blog, Member Tips, Sanding, Shop Tips, Skill Building.

I had a real “Ah Ha” moment. Looking at a pizza we ordered I realized that the plastic thing in the middle of the pizza that keeps the box from touching the pizza (it looks like a little table) would serve a similar purpose when I’m finishing. I started saving them, and found they work…

Table Saw Plug Shop Tip

September 30, 2010 By Reader Submitted & filed under Blog, Member Tips, Shop Tips, Skill Building.

I have had the bad habit of not unplugging the table saw to change blades.To make it convenient, I mounted a 4 outlet box, on the rear corner of the saw. Right where I stand to change blades. The saw is plugged into one of the outlets, and I use the others for sanders, etc.Right…

Table Saw Fence Setup Jig Tip

August 11, 2010 By Reader Submitted & filed under Blog, Member Tips, Power Tool Woodworking, Skill Building, Stationary Power Tools, Table Saw.

Many times I need to rip some pieces, and may need to rip the same size pieces later, after moving the fence. I came up with the setup in the picture. Just slide the setup jig against the fence, and tighten the knob enough to lock the sliding arm to the piece in the miter…

Attach Templates for Easier Removal

January 6, 2010 By Reader Submitted & filed under Blog, Member Tips, Shop Tips, Skill Building.

My wife saw me struggling to remove double face tape from an aluminum pattern I used for cutting a wood part. She suggested I place painter’s masking tape on both surfaces first, then use the double-face tape to attach the two pieces. When finished cutting the part, simply separate both pieces, remove the painter’s tape…

Wax Coating Screws to Prevent Wood Splitting

October 2, 2009 By Reader Submitted & filed under Blog, Member Tips, Shop Tips, Skill Building.

When driving a wood screw into wood without a pilot hole, I like to wax my screws to help prevent splitting. I found it time consuming to sit and rub bee’s wax or candle wax on each screw, so I came up with this idea. Take a toilet seal wax ring (around $2.00 at any…

Easy Identification of Router Wrenches

June 10, 2009 By Reader Submitted & filed under Blog, Member Tips, Shop Tips, Skill Building.

I have a problem which, admittedly, is a good problem to have. After a few years of woodworking (and thoughtful gifts from family and friends), I’ve got more than one router. The problem comes up when I reach for wrenches. Since the routers aren’t all the same brand, the wrenches aren’t interchangeable. Seems like I…