43 - Build Your Own Dovetail Jig, страница 5

TIPS & TECHNIQUES

Quick Tips

k To make a handy sanding block, R. Marques of Sao Paulo, Brazil cuts up the foam used to protect packages from damage.

A When storing thin, fragile strips of banding, Kevin Boyle of Des Moines, IA tapes them to a board to keep them from breaking.

▲ By filling a cutter with silicone, W. Dudek of New Madison, OH can snip the head off a brad without having it fly across the shop.

TURN-' BUTTON

Tool Tray

tray flips on top of ladder for storage

edging "-thick stock)

2" x 1%"

butt hinge

tray ' (%" plywood)

■ Sometimes I spend more time climbing up and down a ladder getting tools than I do working on the job itself. So to keep the tools within easy reach, I attached a plywood tray to the top of the ladder, see photo.

Several holes are drilled in the tray to accept the tools I use a lot. And to keep loose tools from rolling off the tray, I created a lip by adding wide edging to three of the edges.

A pair of hinges secures the

tray to the ladder. The wood turnbutton pivots out to support the tray when it's in the open position. And when storing the ladder, I just flip the tray on top.

John A. Kinney Austin, Texas

Send in Your Tips

To share your original tips and solutions to problems you've faced, send them to: ShopNotes, Attn.: Readers' Tips, 2200 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA 50312. (Or if it's easier, FAX them to us at: 515-282-6741.)

We'll pay up to $200 depending on the published length. Please include a daytime phone number so we can call you if we have any questions.

Plastic Knobs

■ Here's an inexpensive way to make a plastic, T-shaped knob. All you need are a few parts from the hardware store: a V2" tee fitting, a %" hex nut and two short pieces of %"-dia. dowel. Just epoxy the nut and dowels into the tee fitting, then dip the knob in liquid plastic.

John Train South River, Ontario

No. 43

ShopNotes

5