With summer drawing to a close and kids starting school again, everyone’s getting back into their normal routines — which means you can get back into the shop regularly.
And since the kids get a bunch of new stuff for the year — new folders and binders, backpacks, and clothes — don’t you deserve something too? After a summer of inconsistent shop time, it might be time to take a good look around with fresh eyes and decide what would make your woodworking routine more efficient and organized.
Even though you’re not starting a new school year, it’s still fun to start a new season on the right foot.
Here are five back-to-work basics to help you be more efficient in the shop.
Versatile Wood Rack
If your shop is a school locker, a wood rack is the wire shelving you use to keep your books and binders neat. No shop is complete without some form of lumber storage, which helps you keep the shop clean and prevent tripping hazards. And just like wire shelves help keep school assignments from getting ripped and wrinkled, some good lumber storage racks will help you care for the wood you plan to use in future projects for yourself and clients.
courtesy of Crow Creek Designs
Durable, Portable Workstand
When your kids go to school, they’ll sit at a desk — their academic workspace — where they’ll work on anything from an art project to a math test. You need a workspace too — one that’s as versatile as your own projects will be, where you can blend the creativity, technicality, and precision it takes to complete woodworking and DIY projects efficiently. The flexibility and strength of the Centipede workstand means you can use it anywhere for almost any project. It’s your own, more useful version of the classic school desk.
courtesy of John Builds It
Heavy-Duty Mobile Base
Moving a heavy machine across your shop is like carrying a heavy backpack in the hall at school: painful on your back and shoulders and often crowded. Mounting your machines on quality mobile bases makes it so easy to pull them into the middle of the shop whenever you need them — and then easily slide them back against the wall when you’re done. It’s a double win; you eliminate potential pain from lugging your machine, and you make more room in your shop by moving them out of the way when you’re done.
courtesy of Nate Crilly
Multifunctional Miter Saw Stand
Remember the days when calculators only did 4 basic functions? Now they do so much more. Similarly, your typical miter saw stand does only one thing: supports your miter saw. A miter saw stand with a rotating top, like the PM-8000 Portacube, takes it up a notch with its rotating top and foldable wings that provide you with a large workspace and give you twice the functionality of a regular miter saw stand.
courtesy of Myers Woodshop
Favorite Clamps
Having the right clamps is like having the right pens or pencils for taking notes. Even though you can use any brand to accomplish the task, there’s no replacement for your favorite. Think about clamping up a project: it’s not a problem to use the clamps you got as a gift or because they were on sale. But it’s never quite the same as using your favorites.
courtesy of Ferguson Woodcraft
Just like your kids are off to school to learn something new, you’ll be in the shop honing your craft and teaching yourself new techniques. Give yourself an edge with tools that help you stay organized and be more efficient.
