Gar Tips & Tools - Issue 151
Gar's tips, tools, and shopping anecdotes are published by Cool Tools Lab. Sign up for our newsletters a week in advance here.
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A few years ago I purchased a flexible shaft turning tool from a jeweler. It came with a foot switch and I immediately fell in love with it. Once you've run a footswitch stationary store, you won't want to use anything else. In this video Adam Savage installs a footswitch upgrade on his mini bandsaw. The switch is very good and solves the problem with the switch on my rotary tool. If I leave it on I might accidentally hit the switch next to my main desk. This switch has a safety foot cap that prevents it from being accidentally turned on. Adam didn't reveal which pedal he was using, but he seemed to be a master of the line. They aren't cheap (over $200 each), but he says you can often find them new or used on eBay for half the price.
Like many manufacturers, Wesley Treat has an attic in its shop. These spaces are ideal for storing rarely used materials, supplies, and equipment, but getting things in and out of the space (usually via a ladder or ladder) can be difficult, if not dangerous. Wesley solved this problem by building a small elevator powered by electricity. I'm sure everyone who owns a shop loft will want to have one too after watching this video.
There are dozens of videos of scrap wood tool walls just like this one. But Rex has some good ideas here that are worth mentioning. For example, all tools are designed to be accessed with one hand, and most tools are retracted rather than lifted. So it does not take up much space on the wall.
One of my favorite DIY books is Tools and How to Use Them by Albert Jackson and David Day . I've had a copy for years, but donated it along with several other building/DIY books to an artist/makerspace studio when I moved to the West Coast in 2021. A few weeks later I saw it in a Digi-Key tweet. Once again (as I was also referred to the advice book), I realized how much I had missed out. I ordered a used copy from Amazon for $2.98. I decided to read it cover to cover to get a full education on common and less common hand tools. I'll post every few weeks, except here, whatever I find interesting, unusual, or informative. This week's entry is Spiral Pedometer.
Woodworking creates sawdust. Lots of woodworking creates lots of sawdust. This waste can be reused in a number of ways. Here are some of them if you have other uses for sawdust please share.
- Use it as mulch in your garden . Sawdust can help retain moisture and prevent weed growth.
- Mix with soil for compost . Sawdust can be used as a carbon source for compost and it decomposes slowly over time. Note: Sawdust can affect the pH level of soil or compost. When using bran in this application, it is important to control the pH level. When used for compost, it is best mixed with other organic materials to ensure a proper balance of carbon and nitrogen.
- Create paths in your garden . Sawdust can be used to create natural paths in your garden and prevent muddy paths.
- Used as bedding for animals . Wood shavings can be used as bedding for animals such as chickens, rabbits, and goats.
- It is used as a fire starter . Sawdust is highly flammable and can be used as a starter for a fire.
- Mix with wax to make a lighter . Sawdust can be mixed with wax to make an easy-to-ignite lighter.
- It is used to absorb spills . Sawdust can be used to absorb spilled oil, paint, or other liquids.
- It is used as filler in construction . Sawdust can be mixed with other materials such as cement, clay, and epoxy to make a durable, lightweight building material.
- It is used as an astringent . Sawdust can be spread on slippery surfaces, such as sidewalks or icy driveways, to provide traction.
- Mix with bird seed . Sawdust can be mixed with bird seed to further mix it in and provide a natural environment for the birds.
- Use as a substitute for cat litter . Sawdust can be used as a substitute for commercial cat litter because it is highly absorbent and biodegradable.
- as a base for mushrooms . Sawdust can be used to grow mushrooms.
- Wood putty preparation . Sawdust can be mixed with glue or epoxy to create a wood filler to fill cracks or holes in wood surfaces.
CAUTION: If the wood in sawdust has been treated with pesticides or chemicals, it may be harmful when used for pet bedding and garden mulch. It is important to know the type of wood, how it was processed, and whether it is safe to use. Engineered wood, such as plywood, MDF, and particle board, should be avoided for many of the above uses involving plants, animals, and compost.
If you haven't watched Grampa Amu's channel, subscribe now! Every time I see a new video, I get inspired. In this episode, Grandpa Amu presents an expensive old pot that has been used for years, with a clean burnt hole in the bottom. Using only the simplest of hand tools, replace the entire bottom of the pot with a metal bowl. He manages to connect the two elements into what at least looks like a watertight seal; There is no welding. It may be helpful to see the container in use and filled with liquid to prove that it is not leaking.
Last month, after posting a video on how to turn a drill into a disc sander, Chips 'n Bits readers had a question.
“I have a question about the drill as a disc sander. Will the friction and rotation of the disc create a lateral force on the drum? I had this problem (and gave my Makita drill about 1/8 inch dropout) while blending something very thick with a mixer. The drill presses are made of stronger materials , but it is not designed for lateral forces like routers/formers. Hence my question."
Has anyone used a sanding disc in their printing press and would like an answer to the question?
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