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TwitThisFolding sawhorses
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These sturdy sawhorses will support a hefty load and then fold flat for hanging on a wall. They’re made with biscuit joints, so if you haven’t used a biscuit joiner, these horses are a perfect first project.
To build two sawhorses, you’ll need eight 28-1/2 in. legs and eight 19-in. crosspieces, all cut from 1x4 lumber.
Set your saw at 15 degrees and cut the legs to length with the 15-degree bevels on the upper and lower ends. Also cut four of the eight crosspieces with 15-degree bevels along the upper edge so they’ll provide a flat surface when the sawhorse unfolds. Clamp the frames together with bar clamps, mark them for biscuiting, then disassemble them and cut the biscuit slots. Glue the frames together, being careful to level the 15-degree bevel of the cross-pieces with the bevels of the legs. When the glue dries, attach 4-in. strap hinges. Expand the sawhorse on a level surface, and when the lower bevels are flat on the floor, attach a control rope to the lower cross-pieces with screw eyes as shown. That’s it— hi ho slivers, away! Thanks to Marcia Roepke for this nifty project.
No glue on your handscrews!
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Handscrews are the pros’ choice for clamping face-glued boards and laminates. The only drawback is that the handscrew jaws can load up with glue, and if you’re not careful, they could become a permanent part of the project! Besides, dried glue on the jaws will dent your projects. Here’s the solution, courtesy of reader Merle Kilburg.
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Wrap duct tape or clear packaging tape around the handscrew jaws to keep glue from penetrating and adhering to the clamps.
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Remove the clamps once the glue is set but still pliable. Use a moist rag to clean the glue off the taped handscrews, or strip off the tape and apply new tape before your next messy job.
Magnetic mini storage
Want to build this handy storage roost for all the little screws, earplugs, nuts and washers in your shop? Pick up a pack of Glad 4-oz. cups, a magnetic strip, several 7/16-in. washers and a tube of E6000 glue($4 at craft and hobby stores). Apply glue to the cup’s concave bottom, press in a washer flush with the bottom rim and let the glue set for24 hours. That’s it. Mount the magnet, load the cups, snap on the lids and all your itty-bitties are easy to spot, nab and put away. Magnetic strips are available from Rockler (800-279-4441, rockler.com) and Magnaproducts (800-338-0527).
The magnetic strip provides more than enough magnet power to hold a cup crammed with screws. Thanks to Tom Corbett for gladdening our lives with this clever idea.
Alternative dustpans
I’ve got a mess but my dustpan’s AWOL. Thanks to reader Carl Jacobs, I have two neat options:
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Cut a file folder in two, make the edges slightly convex and then slide ’em together (one edge under the other) to capture the debris for easy tossing.
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For heavier spills and splashes, cut a 1-gallon plastic ice cream lid in half and scoop up the screws and spills.
Extension cord coil keepers
Here are three easy ways to keep cords tightly coiled, even when they fall off the hook or get shoved into a toolbox:
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Velcro strips. Buy a pack of 10 precut, preslotted strips ($2 at a home center) or pick up a roll of hook-and-loop material at a fabric store and make your own.
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3/8-in. dia. rope. Attach to the end of the cord as shown, then tie up the coiled cord.
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Elastic ponytail holders that secure with plastic balls on the ends work great on coiled extension cords too.
Sally’s project binders
You’re right—you’ll never have time to do all the great projects in each issue of The Family Handyman. But faithful reader Sally Berray showed us her technique for keeping the “wannahaves” and “someday will needs” within easy reach. Before shelving each issue, Sally cuts out her favorites and encases them in plastic sheet protectors ➊, storing them in a three-ring binder ➋, separating the articles by category with labeled dividers ➌. Then, when her faucet’s dripping, the roof is leaking or she finally has time to build that garage workbench, she spends zero time digging through a pile of old magazines. Yep, this is a great tip. Clip it and file it away!
Editor • DAVID RADTKE
Art Direction • DAVID FARR
Photography • MIKE KRIVIT
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