Subscriber Submitted Workshop Life Hacks: Woodworking Tips and Tricks

Sharing DIY woodworking tips and tricks on everything from workshop ideas to specific project building like what to do with extruded glue, and what's the best way to keep extension cords handy and ready to use, all these are just some of the life hacks that people have sent me for all of us to share together ... thanks to all who have sent me your woodworking tips and tricks ... I can't thank you enough for your support.

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[nickblumert]

Tape magnets to pencils, and leave them on various machines throughout the shop, it makes them readily accessible.

[larryyork]

Good tips. Your comment regarding pencil holders. Alex Snodgrass shared a tip by taping or gluing a magnet to a pencil. Have one or two at each machine in your shop and that way they are always handy.

[jeffmansfield]

You're right, having that reveal between the leg and apron really does make a piece of furniture look just like it's 3D!!

I mean, if I didn't know better, I'd swear it WAS 3D!

[squarelevelplumb]

I learned to coil rope while training to be a lifeguard and coiling the rope on a life preserver . As you coil you twist between thumb and forefinger. this keeps the rope/cord stright during the coiling. Works for elec. cords as well. When finished plug the two ends together.

[bc]

Plugging the cord ends together also keeps the electrons from leaking out so that when you plug it back into the wall you don't have to wait for the cord to fill back up before your tool takes off. :-)

[joem]

Great show as alway Colin. Joe from Australia

[denniswhite]

I already use one of these tips but will add the rest to my workshop Thanks EVERYONE.

[sapelesteve]

Nice tips as usual Colin! Thanks to everyone who sent those tips to you.

[SMee]

Great tips, guys👌
Thanks for showcasing these, mate👍

[stringmonkey]

I like using a drinking straw to scrape glue out of joints in tight spots like boxes.

[MattHeere]

For the extension cords - take a minute and look up a video on the "over / under" method for coiling them up. I learned it for audio cables back in the day, but it works great for any wire.

[daphlavor]

Well done gang! Some other tips: neodymium magnet to hold drill press chuck key. Small magnet spot light for various tools: band saw, drill press, etc. use an old coat stand for hanging up items, broom, extension cords. French cleats for walls. Thanks Sam

[fmesser]

When coiling an extension cord, start with the socket end. This way, the plug end is more easily available to plug into the socket and uncoiling is less of a mess.

[rosc]

Great tips from both subscribers & commenters. Thx so much!

[albertocota]

La idea de utilizar la cadena para colgar herramientas es muy buena

[antonioperez]

Always learn something useful from you, Colin.

[hogue]

I really like seeing how people tackle electrical cords. One tip I have is for how to wrap them. I just can't manage the daisy-chain, so I put a zip tie in the middle of the electrical cord and cut the loose end off. It's just a tag so I know where the middle is. I start in the middle of the cord and wrap my cord towards both ends. This way I'm wrapping twice as much cord with each rotation around my arm. I wrap around my arm and when I get to the ends they are right next to each other. If I take care in hanging the cord, I can then unwind both ends once for 6 feet of cord, twice for 12 feet, and I may not need to rewrap the entire cord every time--which seems to be common for me.

[timberray]

As a woodlot owner I do a lot of landscaping and trail building and use a lot of different tools in the forest. After losing a shovel once I bought some bright orange duct tape and any tool going into the forest with me sports some tape on the handle, have not lost anything since.

[navret]

For storing extension cords I use a garden hose hanger. I leave it plugged in and just unwrap what I need.

[joemodley]

I've bought the stick on pencil holserd at Staples... most office supplies have them