Popular Woodworking 2000-02 № 113, страница 14
Tricks of the Trade WINNER! The Poor Man's Multi-Tool I have a tool for those little odd jobs that is inexpensive and easily replaceable. It's my multi-purpose clothespin. By taking a normal wooden clothespin and rotating the pieces 180 degrees and relocating the spring position I've made a new tool with lots of uses: For picking up small items; as a V4" wood clamp; as a brad nail holder; for staining and painting small wood pieces; to hold Popular Woodworking open while I'm reading; to make a simple but effective plumb bob; or take the pieces apart and use them as putty knifes to avoid damaging the wood. The clothespin might be an ancestor of the Swiss Army/Leatherman/Gerber family! Milo Meyers Seattle, Washington 'Dead Man' Lends a Hand It's often difficult to posi tion a cupboard or cabinet on a wall exactly where you want it and hold it while screwing it in place, particularly if it's heavy and you don't have much help. This temporary assembly will push the cabinet into place and hold it there while you drive screws. Suitable sizes of scrap wood are 2x4 for the crossbar and 1x2 for the other parts, but you could use whatever is available. Cut the crossbar to a length that will allow the struts to come near the ends of the base of the cabinet. Put feet under it, and cut the struts with notched tops so they will be at a fairly steep angle when the cabinet is in position. Pivot them on stout nails in the ends of the crossbar. You can make final adjustments to get the cabinet level by moving one end of the base and not the other. Percy W. Blandford Stratford-on-Avon, England Dust Collection Connection— Good To The Last Chip! Running 4" flexible hose from a dust collector is not a huge problem, but every now and again hooking the other end of the hose to a tool can be. For example, a contractor saw. While many are fitted with a lower pan to direct the dust, getting the hose around the 1" flange extending from the pan, then securing it with a clamp can be difficult. Next time, take a simple flat piece of V2" plywood cut to fit the tool opening. Then, using tin snips, cut the bottom out of a 13 ounce coffee can, leaving a 1" lip. Screw the can to your plywood panel and you have a connector that fits perfectly into a 4" hose. You almost don't need a clamp for your hose, but if you do, you have 5 l/f to grab onto. pw The Popular Woodworking S taff BE AN INNOVATIVE THINKER AND WIN! Turn your woodworking knowledge into a truly tricked-out tool from the Simpson Machine Tool Co. (www.smtco.com).Your best trick or shop tip can earn you a reproduction of the 19th Century Stanley Odd Job #1 — the original multi-tool — and a check for $50.The Odd Job is an inside miter and try square, mortise scribe, layout tool,depth gauge, beam compass and bubble level, with a 6" and 12" brass-lined maple rule.This re-creation of a classic tool is cast from solid manganese bronze and is machined to within .0015 tolerance. One winner will be chosen each issue; published runners-up receive $25. To make things easier, you can e-mail your trick and daytime phone number to us at DavidT@FWPubs.com or mail it to:Tricks of the Trade • Popular Woodworking • 1507 Dana Ave. • Cincinnati, OH 45207. All entries become the property of Popular Sponsored by lfe//f J^ (J Illustrations:John McCormick 10 Popular Woodworking February 2000 |
