A couple neat things to keep around the shop

I’d like to share with you two cheap however helpful objects I like to keep around the shop. They are related in how I exploit them, however I feel it’s a good suggestion to have each. The first is a referred to as Homasote; the second is leather-based. 

Homasote is sound barrier board constructed from compressed cellulose. Picture MDF, however loosely packed and stringy by comparability. It’s bought beneath a number of completely different names relying on the supply, however a fast search on-line will carry up loads of outcomes. Hint: seek for sound barrier board, or fiberboard. Its bought in 4×Eight sheets which might be about 1/2 in. thick for beneath $20 in my location. 

So what would a woodworker do with a constructing product? Several things. First, it makes a fantastic replaceable, sacrificial floor. Here, I’m making use of it to the tops of my sawhorses. I maintain it in place with a number of brass screws and a few silicone. Now I can minimize up the tops of my sawhorses and it takes just some minutes to substitute them. It additionally has a pleasant texture with a bit grip, which works effectively on this software. 

Sound barrier board can also be a fantastic clamping pad. It’s comfortable sufficient to stop denting from clamping strain, but it surely’s robust sufficient to work like every other sheet good, so it may be minimize and drilled to match most kinds of clamps.

Homasote makes nice clamping pads for pipe and bar clamps alike.

Leather is one other neat merchandise to keep around the shop. Leather is available in all shapes, sizes, and colours. Furniture grade leather-based is pricey. For kicking around the shop, tool-grade leather-based is a greater method to go. It’s cheaper and saves the good stuff for the Morris chair you’ll construct considered one of lately. Leather is bought not by thickness however by ounce from 1 oz. to 16 oz. 1 ouncesis shut to 1/64 in. and 16 oz. is about 1/Four in. thick. This is a really normal rule and completely different sources will inventory and promote completely different thicknesses and grades. For most stuff around the shop search for leather-based that’s 1/16 in. to 1/Eight in. thick (Four oz. to 9 oz.). Small quantities will be purchased on-line for just some bucks. 

This is 8-9 oz. instrument leather-based, a great thickness for normal objective shop stuff.

Leather will be added to the face of a vise. This will assist your vise maintain a workpiece regular with a lot much less clamping strain. Put some leather-based on the face of a mallet to assist scale back denting or marring. I additionally like to make cable holders. Simply minimize to width and size, and set up a button. I additionally keep a number of scrap items around to fold over or lay on one thing I would like to grip tightly with pliers, or hit with a hammer. 

Some scrap leather-based and a button make for a fantastic instrument wrap. 

If you don’t have leather-based in your vise, give it a strive. You’ll like it. 

I contemplate each Homasote and leather-based to be shop necessities. Try them out. I feel you’ll discover many makes use of for each in your shop.

Also, simply as a aspect notice, in a current weblog submit I talked about how I bid a small venture. It was an Arts and Crafts hearth mantel. Well, I completed that venture and what are you aware, I additionally made a video. I believed it could be neat to comply with up on a earlier weblog submit. Have a glance for those who dare.