Workshop Renovation Part VIII-Special Purpose Tool Storage Cabinets

The next phase of workshop renovation project was the building of cabinets to hold my Shopsmith Special Purpose Tools (SPTs), accessories, jigs and long items. The carcass and base of these cabinets are exactly the same as the miter bench cabinets, with the exception of the dimensions. Basically just a big box. However, inside I made fixtures to support pullout tool trays and store long saw guides.-Read More

Workshop Renovation Part VII-Shop Compressed Air

Any well outfitted shop has an air compressor for running pneumatic tools, nail guns, cleaning off saw dust, etc. How that system is arranged can be important to work flow and decide if you will be constantly tripping over hoses. Many shops have large compressors that are not easily moved, so they run air to several work stations via a manifold system using galvanized pipe. This works well, but can get expensive with the cost of pipe and mounts. It also limits changes and is usually permanent. Another way to accomplish this task in a cheaper and less permanent manner is to use regular pneumatic air hose. To illustrate one such method I'll explain my own shop setup.-Read More

Tool Review-Wixey Digital Planer Gauge

If you have ever tried precision planing you know how difficult it is. This is especially true if you have to later go back and mill more stock after you have moved the planer's height setting. The Wixey Digital Planer Gauge has made precision planing possible at an economical cost. This simple digital gauge is designed for use on moving table height planers and is flexible enough to adapt to various models-Read More

Tool Review-Eliminator Quick Change Router Chuck

Everyone knows the frustration of trying to use multiple wrenches to loosen a router chuck for bit changes. Finally a solution has arrived, the Eliminator Quick Change Chuck. This is one little accessory you'll be glad you bought. -Read More

Workshop Renovation Part VI-The Miter/Storage Bench is Finally Complete

After months of work I finally finished and installed my miter bench and storage system. The bench includes four cabinets that contain bench top tools (ie: drum sander, chop saw, belt sander and router table) a miter saw with feed ramps, sanding down draft table and central saw dust vacuum system. All bench modules mount tool lifts that raise a tool for usage, or store it and provide an open bench work area. Additionally there are numerous cabinets and drawers for tool storage. -Read More

Tool Review-Ryobi P521 Cordless Orbital Jig Saw

"Murphy's Law" was a live and well when my old Craftsman jig saw died right in the middle of making a cut for my cabinet project. Covered with saw dust I ran down to the local home center to buy a replacement. Unfortunately the price of the saw I wanted was substantially more than could be found on the internet. I didn't want to buy a cheap saw I'd never use again, so I started to look for a cordless one that would compliment my tool arsenal. -Read More

Workshop Renovation Part V-Miter Bench Construction

I have now reached the point in the garage renovation project, where I have moved from prototype to production. Although the volume of work required to make six more cabinet modules is daunting, good planning helped speed the process. Setting the tools carefully and using templates, made the many repetitive cuts go quickly. The real problem was finding places to stage the cabinet modules and parts during construction. I sometimes felt like I was "moving deck chairs around on the Titanic", as I moved tools and materials around the garage to make room. However, after all this work, I am finally freeing up floor space as my plan comes together.-Read More

Tool Review-GearWrench X Pliers

Have you have ever been faced with the annoying task of trying to get into a confined place with pliers, only to find you couldn't open up the jaws wide enough? GearWrench has found the solution. Their new Double X Pliers are double jointed allowing full opening of the jaws, with only minimal opening of the handles.-Read More

Enlarging a DVR Hard Drive

The DVR is a great invention, but like many other electronic devices, we soon exceed its capacity and must upgrade. The hard drive of a DVR seems to always fill up fast with your favorite programs. HDTV recordings are even worse, "hogging" four times as much file space as regular programming. Unless you want to become "enslaved" by your DVR trying to free space on its hard drive or developing a case of "Tivo Disease" (wasting all your free time trying to watch the multitude of programs you have recorded) a bigger hard drive is a must.

Increasing the size of your hard drive can be done easily.-Read More

Tool Review-Starrett’s "OOPS" Arbor

One of the most frustrating things is to drill a hole with a hole saw bit and then find out it's too small. Now the center section is gone, so trying to line up a bigger bit and drill a clean hole is nearly impossible. Fortunately Starrett has found the answer with their "OOPS" arbor. -Read more

Workshop Renovation Part IV-Dust Free Window Blinds

My garage workshop has two large windows that are of no real use other than "curb appeal" from the street. These windows were covered with just roll up blinds in the past. The problem with this was that the old blinds quickly got dirty with saw dust, were a "Bug Collector" and future cleaning would be difficult. As part of the Workshop renovation project a better solution would be needed.-Read More

Tool Review-Jet Panel Joining Clamps

*UPDATED*-Design Pr0blems If you have ever suffered the frustration of trying to align panels together for gluing and clamping, then you know that a third hand is a must. Jet has come up with that third hand with their new joining clamps.-Read More

Workshop Renovation Part III

The third phase of the workshop renovation project was to design and build a modular set of work benches that contained tool lifts and formed a long miter bench. The specifications that these benches required was quite involved, After much designing and modifying, I finally came up with a usable design and built a prototype. -Read More

Repairing Pocket Hole Pull-Throughs

When using pocket screws on soft woods, sometimes the screws will crush the bottom of the pocket hole and allow the screw tip to come through the other side of your piece.

This leaves you with three options:

1. Cut the end of the screw off, but be sure not to over tighten.
2. Plug the pocket hole, move the jig further back and re-drill the hole. This may not make as strong a joint if the screw breaks into the old screw shaft hole.
3. Use a piece of wood dowel to make a washer to fit under the pocket screw head and restore the bottom of the pocket. -Read More

Tool Review-Porter-Cable 371K Compact Belt Sander

The Porter-Cable compact belt sander is optimized with an arched back and a rubber grip for one-handed operation. The sander is light weight and balanced, for more comfortable, precise control. -Read More

Tool Review-The Glu-Bot Glue Bottle

The Glu-Bot is the only glue bottle that will not drip or spill, while still putting the glue where you want it. I really like this glue applicator as it eliminates the mess while always maintaining the glue supply when upright.-Read More

Tool Review-EZ Smart Saw/Router Guide & Table System

The Eurekazone EZ Guide System is the best saw guide I have ever used. The guide's main advantage is that it prevents the wood shattering that often occurs on both sides of a sheet of plywood when cut. The basic setup will easily cut up a 4' x 8' sheet of plywood. The addition of the cross cut handle make quick, accurate 90 degree cuts across a sheet from the factory edge. The guide quickly lines up directly on your "cut" lines, avoiding the offsets of other saw guides, and the easy to use clamps hold it securely. -Read More

SST-116 - Epoxy Removal

Here's a great tip for getting epoxy glue off project surfaces and your fingers.

Replacing an iPod Hard Drive

During my hours in the shop it's nice to listen to music and pod casts. WorkTunes hearing protectors make that possible, even while the machines are running. (I wish they had a Bluetooth version to get rid of the chord). Eventually my iPod began to lock up and I finally got the "unhappy face" icon. After checking out the Apple website, I determined a call to Tech Support, would be necessary to see what a repair would cost on my older model iPod. Apple turned out to be incredibly unhelpful and told me I had to take it to an Apple Service Center. -Read More

Workshop Renovation Part II

Utilizing scraps from other projects is made much easier if you can find them. My old scrap bin was not only a mess and unworkable, but it was also taking up a lot of "real estate" in my cramped garage shop. I found an interesting solution in a book Workshop Projects (available Rockler Hardware) that showed a mobile wood rack. Making a few modifications to meet my own needs, I decided to build one.-Read More

Tool Review-Gunook Tool Hooks

I saw these tool holders on the "Cool Tools" DIY show and thought they might make good Christmas presents. They turned out better than I thought. The Skyhook is great for hanging my battery powered drills from my belt. The fact that it folds back out of the way, when not needed keeps you from getting caught on stuff around the shop.

The Super Hook turned out to be the perfect way to hang a nail gun "somewhere" while moving stock, etc. It is big enough to hang over a ladder rung, or your tool belt. One problem I had was once attached, I could no longer store my nail gun in it's case. Not to mention it would be expensive to add one of these to each of my pneumatic tools. Here's my solution to both problems:-Read more

Shop Tip- Making Jigs & Shop Helpers

Most commercial jigs and shop helpers are made of MDF or particle board, faced with a thin laminate surface. While this is adequate for most applications, it does have some drawbacks. It's heavy, doesn't take abuse well and is susceptible high humidity and moisture.
Looking for a better idea, I decided to try using some left over laminate flooring to make some jigs. -Read More

The Workshop Renovation Project Has Begun

A couple of years ago, I cleared out the garage to set up "cleaner and more organized" workshop. Unfortunately the adding of more floor tools and "turf battles" between my shop and Mrs. SeaWolf's storage, have resulted in and over crowded situation. Additionally, the lack of effective saw dust control, has coated everything in saw dust.

The shortage of floor space required that most of my work be done on the driveway, which is less than ideal due to weather conditions. After watching a couple of episodes of "The New Yankee Workshop" on building new work benches, I decided it was time to act. The first phase of this project was to replace the old cabinets and shelving with new custom built in storage.....Read More-