I’ve noticed that commercially made bench pads are all the rage now. Well, I’ve been making my own for years. They serve multiple purposes using one simple design.
The triangular-shaped pads are made from scraps of MDF, hardwood, or plywood. To cut them, I first rip a blank to 3" wide. Then I set the miter gauge to 30° and cut one end of the blank. Now, just flip the workpiece over and make another cut to create a triangle. Keep flipping the workpiece between cuts to create several more triangles. After the pieces are cut to shape you can form the slot.
The slot is used with a dowel to create a drying rack. Just drill a few overlapping holes and file the slot smooth. Then use spray adhesive to attach shelf liner material, as shown in the drawing. I cut the “tip” off of the liner to prevent it from contacting a wet finish when used as a drying rack.
