Woodworker's Journal 2009-33-4, страница 11

Tricks of the Trade

Spills and Drills

This finishing decanter prevents spills and dribbles.

Get a Handle on Stuck Tape

Double-sided tape sticks to everything, and that's why we woodworkers love the stuff. But it can be hard to remove unless you know my trick. Just pull up a corner of the tape, fold it back on itself and roll it up and off. Stick this wad to the end of another stuck piece, and it will act like a handle to help you pull the tape off. It works nicely.

Jay tie Thorson Ann Arbor, Michigan

Chuck in a Chuck

My wife recently took up scroll sawing, and she needs to drill small starter holes for the blades to make tiny cutouts. Some of the drill bits are so tiny that the 1/2" chuck on my drill press won't grip them.

Disposable Finish Decanter

When I buy a new gallon of finish, I can't seem to pour some out without spilling. So, I take an empty water bottle and cut a hole in the side of it about halfway up. This creates a quick, cheap decanter. I dunk the bottle into the can of finish up to the hole, let it fill and then use the mouth of the bottle to pour it off into my brushing jar or sprayer cup. When you're done with the bottle, let it dry and reuse it, or just recycle it and make a fresh decanter next time.

Ray Johnson Blue Ridge, Georgia

Chalk Lines Take a Powder

If you snap many chalk lines, you know that the red or blue chalk leaves stains that are hard to get out of the wood. I don't use either of them anymore for that reason. Instead, I fill my chalk box with baby or talcum powder. It leaves a bright white chalk line that rubs or washes off easily. No more staining problems for me!

John Weaver Monroe, Michigan

To solve this problem, I bought a 1/4" chuck and threaded a 3/8"-diameter bolt into it. I secured the bolt with a locknut and cut off the head. Now I can clamp the smaller chuck right into my larger one, and it holds those tiny drill bits securely.

Dane L. Rodgers Noblesville, Indiana

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August 2009 Woodworker's Journal