Tips From Sticks-In-The-Mud Woodshop
by Jim Randolph
Long Beach, Mississippi
Click on any picture to see a larger version.
Welcome to "Tips From Sticks-In-The-Mud Woodshop." I am a hobbyist, not a professional, someone who loves woodworking, just like you do. I have found some better ways to accomplish tasks in the workshop and look forward to sharing those with you each month, as well as hearing your problem-solving ideas.
Last Month Followup
Followup on last month’s timesaving tip, making it easy to orient your polarized, two-prong plugs by
painting them red with nail polish
. Eugene Turgeon writes, and includes a photo: “An alternate solution to the plug problem. It takes about 10 seconds with a pocket knife. It also works in the dark, in case you are trying to plug in a lamp in to look for your bifocals. Just put your thumb on the notch and plug in (if it isn't too dark to see the outlet).”
Yes, Gene, there’s always that, isn’t there? And, for those too slow to plan ahead: pull your thumb back before the prongs contact the juice and make it an even more enlightening event. Also, some manufacturers will consider their warranty voided with any alteration to their plugs, even though this modification causes no change in function. Thanks for the great addition, Gene.
Tip #1
This month, Jim creates a bungee cord version of the
Festool Boom Arm
.
Click here to read Tip #41
Tip #2
In this month's money-saving tip, Jim explains how a discarded carpet underlayment can be used as a non-slip router pad.
Click here to read Tip #42
Jim Randolph is a veterinarian in Long Beach, Mississippi. His earlier careers as lawn mower, dairy farmer, automobile mechanic, microwave communications electronics instructor and journeyman carpenter all influence his approach to woodworking. His favorite projects are furniture built for his wife, Brenda, and for their children and grandchildren. His and Brenda's home, nicknamed Sticks-In-The-Mud, is built on pilings (sticks) near the wetlands (mud) on a bayou off Jourdan River. His shop is in the lower level of their home. Questions and comments on woodworking may be sent to
DrRandolph@MyPetsDoctor.com
. Questions about pet care should be directed to his blog on pet care,
www.MyPetsDoctor.com
. We regret that, because of high volume, not all inquiries can be answered personally.
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