Accurate layout and convenient tool storage don't always require expensive accessories. A scrap of hardwood can become a fixed marking gauge, a piece of tape can help control the depth of a dovetail cut, and a few repurposed household items can keep your shop organized.
In this collection of Woodsmith Quick Tips, four readers share ideas for measuring, hand-cutting joinery, disposing of used blades, and keeping pencils close to the machines where they're needed.
1. Make a Fixed Marking Gauge for Common Woodworking Measurements
An adjustable marking gauge is useful for laying out joinery and marking consistent distances from the edge of a board. But if you regularly work with the same dimensions, resetting the gauge each time can slow you down.
Philip Braizer of Bristol, England, makes a simple fixed marking gauge from a scrap of hardwood.
His gauge has rabbets cut along its edges at four commonly used depths: 3/8", 1/2", 3/4", and 1". Each rabbet provides a reference for a different measurement.
To use the gauge, select the appropriate rabbet and register it against the edge of the workpiece. The fixed offset gives you a quick reference for laying out a line.
It's a handy shop-made accessory for repetitive layout work, particularly when several project parts require the same measurement.
Woodsmith Tip: Make the gauge from a stable, straight-grained hardwood scrap. Cut the rabbets accurately and label each measurement so you can quickly find the offset you need.
Shop tip submitted by Philip Braizer, Bristol, England.
2. Make a Used Razor Blade Container from a Cheese Shaker
Used razor blades and utility knife blades can create a hazard when they're left on the bench or tossed loosely into a trash can.
Dana Myers of Des Moines, Iowa, found a convenient way to collect them using an empty grated cheese container.
After finishing the cheese and washing out the container, Dana puts it to work in his shop. The flip-top lid makes it easy to deposit used blades without leaving them scattered around the work area.
It's a simple way to give a household container a second use while keeping sharp scraps together.
Woodsmith Tip: Use a rigid, puncture-resistant container with a secure lid, clearly label it for used blades, and keep it out of reach of children. A lightweight plastic cheese container may not be puncture-resistant, so don't assume it is safe to put in household trash when full. Follow your local disposal requirements or transfer the blades to an approved sharps or blade-disposal container.
Shop tip submitted by Dana Myers, Des Moines, Iowa.
3. Use Tape as a Dovetail Saw Depth Stop
When cutting dovetails by hand, it's important to stop each saw cut at the baseline. Cutting too deeply can leave visible marks on the finished joint, while stopping short creates extra work when removing the waste.
Charles Mak of Calgary, Alberta, uses a simple visual reminder to help control his cutting depth.
He places a piece of tape on his saw blade at the desired depth. As he makes each cut, the tape provides a clear reference for when to stop sawing.
When the tape reaches the surface of the workpiece, he knows he's reached the intended depth.
This trick is especially handy when making several dovetail cuts that all need to stop at the same baseline.
Woodsmith Tip: Mark the baseline accurately before cutting and position the tape to match the required depth. Treat the tape as a visual guide rather than a physical stop, and avoid forcing the saw once you reach the line.
Shop tip submitted by Charles Mak, Calgary, Alberta.
4. Keep Pencils Handy with Adhesive Cable Holders
It's frustrating to walk over to a machine to mark a workpiece, only to realize your pencil is somewhere else in the shop.
Robert Patterson of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, came across adhesive cable holders at a hardware store and realized they could make convenient pencil holders.
He cuts a small section of the holder to fit his pencil, then attaches it wherever he wants a pencil close at hand.
The adhesive backing makes the holder easy to install on a suitable surface without drilling holes or building a separate rack.
Adding a few holders around the shop gives each machine a dedicated place for a pencil, making layout and setup work more convenient.
Woodsmith Tip: Clean the mounting surface before applying the adhesive. Position holders away from moving parts, ventilation openings, and machine controls, and make sure the pencil fits securely.
Shop tip submitted by Robert Patterson, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.
Simple Woodworking Ideas That Save Time in the Shop
These four reader-submitted tips demonstrate how small accessories can improve everyday woodworking. A fixed marking gauge speeds up repetitive layout, tape helps control dovetail cutting depth, a dedicated container keeps used blades together, and adhesive cable holders put pencils where you need them.
They're inexpensive ideas that can make your next project a little more convenient.
