Creative Woodworks & crafts 2004-11, страница 18

Introduction

"You don't get out much, do you?"

I don't have to explain what that question implies, but since I retired it's true. I did get out, though, to the SAW Expo in Lebanon, PA. on June ! 1 and 12, 2004. I had a great time and people's comments about my shop article reminded me that 1 was supposed to follow it up with an article that went into more detail about using some of the things in my shop. 1 also got a lot of comments about everything piled up on top of my saw, so I'll start there.

"What is all that stuff?"

Tools and things I use all the time and want near at hand where I can find them when 1 need them. They include: a steel ruler, some scissors, a 2" steel machinist's square, a 6" tri-square, some rotary tool bits, CA glue and accelerator spray, a dental tool, an X-Acto knife, an artist's paint spatula, a steak knife, an awl. a mini clock, an 8oz. hammer, a soldering iron, an oil bottle, some graduated circle templates, a stock of blades, a magnifier on a swing arm, and finally my Air Mate filter and mask (see Fig. 1).

Let look at some of these a little closer.

•Plastic cigar tubes: hold my stock of blades, several gross in each size 1 use. Magnets above them hold used blades, keeping them separated by si/e.

•2" steel machinists square: squares saw table to blade and pieces being glued. I use my saw table a lot as a work bench and scrape crud off the saw table with it too.

•Dental tool: scrapes fuzz off the inside of my 3D ornaments. Handy for dipping them in the Cash Coatings color dip I use, then hanging them on a nail to dry. Keeps the color clip off my fingers.

•X-Acto knife: used mostly with the ruler to cut a straight edge on a pattern I want glued flush to the edge of a piece of wood. Faster and more accurate than using the scissors (see Fig. 2).

♦Artist's paint spatula: used instead of a fingernail. Used also with the ruler to fold 3D patterns. Gives a nice clean fold exactly on the line (see Fig. 3).

•Steak knife: stolen from the kitchen for opening boxes and packages.

•Awl: clears splinters from drilled holes and makes a starter point for drilling and alignment marks.

•Rotary tool grinding wheel: held by the shaft and used to lake the corners off the end of a blade so it will go easily through the blade entry hole without catching (sec Fig. 4).

•Mini clock: to get some idea of whether it's day or night.

•8oz. hammer with shortened handle: tapping nail points back in so they don't drag on the saw table. Nudging parts being glued into alignment. Coloring fingernails with bruises.

18 • Creative Woodworks S. Crafts November 2004

s Fig. 1. Tools and things ; I want near at hand.

Fig. 4. Taking the comers off the end of a blade.