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#1 ·
Miter Saw and...

Wood Electrical wiring Gas Engineering Toolroom


Wood Electrical wiring Gas Engineering Toolroom


I recently sold the Sears miter saw stand I bought last spring ( I got greedy and thought it would be great $90) but the 4 ft. of floor space just did not work out even with shop vac and stuff under it. Before this in shop #4 I had a portamate and knew about the sliding supports and the open design. But in the large 2 car shop the one I liked best was on an old grill stand with a 1×12 and 2 boxes screwed down the height of the miter saw bed. one on each side. At the end I leveled the planer and had it outfeed onto the tables of the miter saw for a 6 foot outfeed very convenient and the planer always ready to go. This was at the center and door end of the shop so very much out of the way and in good weather I could blow out more dust or more space if needed, also this modular shop had a 4 ft. partition at each center and that's where I had that miter saw. Sounds like I miss that one. Now I recently bought a used Sears miter saw, and after trying it on the workmate decided it needed extensions and had the same loss of space problem. I have had this idea of why not on the router table…..both get limited back and forth use.. so I have moved the fence back on the miter saw, placed a 1×12 on the laminate table. miter saw over the table area. one of the wood extension boxes to the riight..about an 18 inch support. and to the left the shorter a 14 inch box. that leaves about a foot for a block to make any needed support if I have to hold up any longer piece on the left. I saw these box extensions in Shop Notes then Pinterest. and modified my own. The base is 1×12 and the top I made from ship lap pine 5/8 then cut the 2x blocks to make the height. The advantage of this is predrilling some holes and screwing the boxes down anywhere or stop blocks to the top or clamp a block to the top. Bevel the ends of the boxes to not catch any board sliding across helps. I even left a 2 inch gap in the top to screw down the middle or make a removeable stop. So when I need the router table I hope to just unclamp the miter saw, one c clamp, store it, then lift the 1×12 miter saw board and box store it. and roll the miter saw stand as needed and proceed. I did not have to remove the router or fence or switch. Just unplug its power to the miter saw. On day I must learn photobucket to load the new pictures..I would rather cut miter joints.
 

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#67 ·
Cheap Workshop ideas Part 2

l. Silica Packs for moisture and no rust. I have had 2 basement and 3 garage shops. These are free in many clothes or box items. Save em. just put them in the tool drawer or in a nylon hose as a group. Maybe once a year if they need to be dried out, just a brief microwave time and they are good to go. I never had any rusty tools in 20 plus years in my PA shops.
2. Cardboard Patterns…rarely spent a dime or dollar. Last year in desperate times I used a cereal box. wow what great cardboard and thick. Also manila folders…often in packs and cheap..so thats a 12 by 18 when open. I saved the color ones for another purpose. if they are damaged then they are benchtop protectors. Later I transfer these to old paneling when I get any. I have my adirondack chair arm and leg patterns of 20 years with notes still on them in paneling.
3. Glue spreaders…I use any plastic free cards sent in the mail. popsicle sticks, crafts sticks. old toothbrushes, cardboard coasters. I tried to use some pvc pipe as supports for glue ups and was and was not pleased. you can decide for yourself-they were free.
4. Saw blade cleaner.. I cut an old 5 gallon bucket to 4 inch high. I use a dollar store item called Awesome. I tilt the blade with a scrap of 2×4 so just a few inches of teeth are in the liquid and even dilute the liquid. I had one pro sharpener who dunked my blades for a few days then sharpened. I had no labels at all, I was pissed. So I do mine as often as I need. An old tooth brush and old kitchen sponge usually takes off the pitch. Rinse well and dry. No Rust.
5. Medicine Bottles 6 inch and 2. inch. I haven't got these ideas going but they must be useful.
6. Free plans….I made my own Book or Notebook of Plans I have gotten for free. Labeled and keep it at my desk. Why not along with books from the used book store and a few magazine subscriptions. Get Educated and Be Safe.
7. Keep a list of favorite woodworkers you follow to share with friends.
8. Pocket screw wood plugs…nice free jig on utube to make them with a dowel. don't buy them at the store.
 
#68 ·
Its Bulk Trash Day, So What?

Oh my, Get up and Clean out the Shop over the last month. Good Excuse we should all do some get rid of the crap.
I certainly needed to do just that.
Now the real Joy of this is not just MY Shop but this is here in Phoenix area…at least my part…every 3 months. a few weeks of put it by the curb and then the City comes and its gone.
Now any Cheapo like me would also keep their eyes open for Trash and Treasures as you would think that might just suit your needs….better than the land fill. So in my last year and a half I have gathered for my shop or extras the folllowing parts and treasures:
8 wood drawers which became shelves and more in my shed shop. one large pine top 27 by 52 which is now a new workbench top, I always wanted to make it bigger to what I had.
...2.5 inch Shop vac hose and wands,
wood foot stool..restained the top and a bit of wood glue,
3-1×11x 8 ft mdf shelf boards ready for next project.
4 inch pvc pipe that might be that drill holder for free.
4 misc 2×4 of mixed lengths. , mdf desk and rollers that became my matching end tables,
8 good plant pots for the wife to start her plants in the back yard. Also the cactus that she started.
My wife brought home the 8 ft curtain rod that was unfinished and asked if we could use it ,,,I was so proud of her…I made it the curtain rod over my desk.
I missed a chance on a kitchen set because I waited and the owner knocked it apart…cabinets and all.
Regular Wood Chair in good shape…we needed one more for more guest seating.
Today I picked up a 5 ft x 12 in by 8 in shop made plywood organizer that I should be able to paint and put in the shed with its 12 compartments, so easy to carry as I walked my dog.
small wheel barrow that I had to straighten the frame..all else was good.

This is almost as fun as yard sales but great for the scrap metal collectors. Be a little choosy and be prepared to drive over to get something and say thanks to the owner if you see them. the owner of the drawers gave me some large plywood scrap he had if I wanted it. How would he know?
 
#69 ·
Good stuff. Makes me smile. I've got to avoid that sort of thing because I almost never throw anything away - and then I regret it if I do, so I have to be careful what I pick up. We threw away a recliner a couple of months ago. It wasn't that bad - sigh - but it was narrow and tended to get stuck in recline and …. It went to the dump. The kids saw the claw take it. They were like "doesn't somebody want to sit in it?" after it had already been out in the rain a couple of days. (We have rain here sometimes.)
 
#70 ·
Rant about Gripper and Baby Bot and Sanding pads ....

I like my money and while cheap I like quality for what I spend. So at our move West and my new Shop I was the Woodworker Store and decided to TREAT myself to The Gripper. $59.00 After all age 67, I should be more careful and I have done a lot, its time to look like a real woodworker. Now it feels good to the hands, easy to find on the stand, BUT it does NOT STICK to the wood. What gives. Further reading, you must CLEAN the rubber, cheap alcohol is recommended or some said water. REALLY $60 safety tool you have to clean to get it to work. All the wood push sticks…I only have one that looks like any the companies provide…all mine have more handle, more block for the blade to cut into and a notch to push the board. ANOTHER little less not given item, you pay more for a little plastic block to add on to push the wood, wouldn't you think for $60 that would be included with a real nice safety tool. If you make you own, good for you, I hope you are doing well. My gripper is for sale and at half price. box and directions and all.
Baby Bot…I ordered mine to give it a try Again with my years of experience, this should be nice for $7. So my experience is…the cap has broken in less than a year, no more red ring holding the stopper. more glue jams than other bottles I have had. And back to the $1 cheap picnic ketchup bottle or refill the original store bottle ( I buy gallons for $18 better than the smaller bottles ) NO glue jam in my cheap one dollar bottle and they were sold as 2 for $1 at the dollar store.--fyi I don't get glue freeze here in Arizona I get glue hardening if I have too large an amount out in my shop so small bottles are best, my gallon is in the house …write the date of purchase on your gallon…
Rubber Velcro Sand pads….I have a Shopsmith pad I bought over 10 years ago for 5 inch hook n loop. (about $10 ) It has finger molds for the 3 middle fingers so it can be a right or left hand use. Lowes is selling one with a knob on top for gripping almost as good for comfort, and some rectangular blocks for sanding. All have a nice comfort to add to hand sanding. I have a plastic box with black sand pads, my yellow hook n loop pads, some mesh pads from Diablo that work very well and hardly wear out. Another box has my assortment sorted in order by grits, I don't have the wall space for a nice box, never had. I do buy some sand paper and belts at yard sales when cheap and either fits my sanders or the price is real good.
I think I will set some new plan for my money for the rest of the year. Thanks for reading.
 
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