Some of the most useful shop accessories start with items that weren't designed for woodworking. An old office chair base can make a shop light easier to move, a car floor mat can contain sharpening water, and a few LEGO pieces can become a handy layout tool.
In this collection of Woodsmith Quick Tips, three woodworkers share simple ideas for improving shop lighting, keeping the bench clean, and marking the center of a board.
1. Make a Mobile Shop Light from an Old Office Chair
Good task lighting makes a difference when you're laying out joinery, assembling projects, or checking a surface during finishing. A light that rolls around the shop is even more convenient.
I recently replaced a desk chair because its seat fabric had several tears. The chair's wheeled pedestal was still in good condition, though, so I decided to give it a second life as a mobile stand for my halogen shop light.
First, I removed the light's original tripod base. Then I found a length of large-diameter dowel that would fit between the opening in the chair base and the bottom of the light pole.
If the openings aren't quite the same size, a few wraps of paper around the dowel can serve as shims for a snug fit.
With the light mounted on the wheeled base, I can easily move it to wherever I need extra illumination.
Woodsmith Tip: Make sure the dowel fits securely and the light stand is stable before using it. Halogen lights can get very hot, so keep the fixture clear of wood dust, paper, finishes, and other combustible materials. Route the power cord where it won't catch under the wheels or create a tripping hazard.
2. Contain Waterstone Messes with a Rubber Car Mat
Waterstones are an effective way to sharpen chisels, plane irons, and other edge tools. But keeping the stones wet during sharpening can leave water and abrasive slurry all over the bench.
John Doyle of Ankeny, Iowa, uses an inexpensive rubber car floor mat to contain the mess.
He places the mat on his workbench and sets up his sharpening station on top of it. The mat catches the water and slurry that would otherwise spread across the worksurface.
When he's finished sharpening, cleanup is easier because the mess is contained in one area.
Woodsmith Tip: Choose a mat with a raised edge to help contain water, and make sure it lies flat on the bench. Keep your sharpening stones on a stable, nonslip surface so they won't shift while you're working.
Shop tip submitted by John Doyle, Ankeny, Iowa.
3. Make an Adjustable Center Finder from LEGO Pieces
Finding the center of a board's thickness is a common layout task, especially when marking joinery. A dedicated center-finding tool makes the job easier, but you may already have the pieces for a simple version at home.
William Collett of Bettendorf, Iowa, made an adjustable center finder using some of his child's LEGO pieces.
He connects the pieces to create the arrangement shown in the photo, with a pencil held in one end piece. The assembly adjusts to accommodate different lumber thicknesses.
It's an inventive way to turn a familiar toy into a useful woodworking layout aid.
Woodsmith Tip: Check the tool's alignment against a ruler or by marking from opposite faces of a scrap board. Adjust the LEGO pieces as needed before laying out a project where accuracy matters.
Shop tip submitted by William Collett, Bettendorf, Iowa.
Everyday Items, Useful Woodworking Accessories
These three reader-submitted tips show how a little creativity can improve familiar shop tasks. An old office chair base provides mobility for a shop light, a rubber floor mat helps contain waterstone messes, and LEGO pieces become an adjustable center-finding tool.
Before discarding an everyday item, consider whether it might have a useful second life in your workshop.
