Tricks of the Trade

Drill Press Support

When using my bench model drill press on long pieces of wood, I often run into trouble holding the stock level as I drill one end. This adjustable supporting jig is my answer.

I use two pieces of 3/4” plywood joined at one end with a butt hinge. This covers more than the range of adjustment on my 8” drill press. A 6” long piece of 2x4 serves as the adjusting block. Turn the block on its short edge and put it lengthwise in the jig when adjusting the support to higher levels. Glue a piece of sandpaper onto the lower flap of the jig to keep the block from slipping when you put the weight of the stock on it.

-Bob Kelland, Newfoundland, Canada

Bungee Keeps Electrical Cord Out of Harm's Way

To prevent a tool from running over or accidentally cutting its own electrical cord, I hook a bungee cord to an eye screw in my shop ceiling. I run the tool's cord from the outlet through the looped bungee. This keeps the cord up out of the way, and the bungee stretches easily so I can maneuver the tool over a good portion of my bench.

-Joe Rose, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Try Trays for Better Organization

No matter how close my tool racks are to my bench, the tools in use always seem to end up cluttering the work surface. To solve the problem, I now use shallow trays for temporary tool storage, which can be removed quickly to clear the bench. The trays also help keep tools side by side and easy to pick up or move to different areas in the shop. And they expedite returning tools to their rack when you're finished. I always keep one with me by the lathe to hold calipers, templates, etc.

-Eric Worden, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada