Laminate Spacer.
Bill Ding of Birmingham, AL, uses laminate chip samples to prevent vise racking. The samples, available for free from home improvement stores, are held together with a bolt and nut. Bill can then swing them out to the same thickness as his workpiece.
Check Misfires.
Rob Mahan of Chelsea, MI, uses a simple trick for checking brad holes after his nailer misfires or runs out of brads. By holding a small magnet over the holes, Rob can confirm where nails have been driven and those locations where the nailer has misfired.