Handy Helper for Under the Sink
To replace a garbage disposer, I used the scissor jack from the trunk of my car. That not only saved me some heavy lifting but also allowed me to precisely adjust the height of the disposer. Scissor jacks can help out with other heavy lifting too. I used one to position a heavy shower door. — reader Mike McCleish. Next, check out 12 high-tech tools to trick out your home workshop.
Using a Lever
Lever posts out of the ground by wrapping a chain around the base of the post and slipping a long plank through the chain. Pry against a block resting on the ground to keep the lever from digging into the soil. Sometimes you'll have to excavate around the tops of stubborn concrete-embedded posts to remove some of the dirt trapping the top of the concrete.
Stabilize Your Sanding Project Hands-Free
Belt sanders are essential woodworking tools, but you need to make sure the piece you’re sanding stays put. That’s sometimes difficult when you’re sanding something on your workbench, as clamps can get in the way of sanding. The trick is to screw boards to two edges of your work surface, creating a corner. As you sand, the belt’s spin pushes the workpiece against the boards or “fiddles” as they’re sometimes called. Make sure your fiddles are thinner than the part you’re sanding. — Travis Larson, Senior Editor
Hang it High Helper
With this hang-it-high extension pole, you can hang objects in high, hard-to- reach areas. Attach a spring clamp to the end of an ABS or PVC (plastic) drain pipe, and use the end of the clamp as a hook to lift items on or off a hook or nail. — readers Joseph and Debra Wronkowski. Next, check out these additional 45 hugely helpful handy hints!
Screw On a Cleat to Hold a Board
A small plywood cleat screwed to the top of a joist will hold it up while you nail the opposite end. Plus, it will hold the tops flush while you nail on the joist hanger. Use scraps of 3/4-in. plywood rather than boards for small cleats. Plywood won't split when you drive screws into it.
Use Your Miter Saw Stand with Your Planer
Planing long boards alone isn’t easy. You get plenty of exercise running from the infeed side to the outfeed side before the board flips your portable planer. Granted, it won’t flip if it’s properly bolted down, but here’s a better way: Fasten your portable planer to a board; then fasten the board to a miter saw stand. The stand’s board supports act as infeed and outfeed for planing, greatly reducing the exercise part of planing long boards. Then you’ll have more energy to start your project right way! — reader Terry Blanchard. Next, check out our favorite woodworking tips for beginners.
Tip It Into a Wheelbarrow
Solo Fastener Driving Tip
Easy-Reach Tape Measure
Here’s a tip I discovered by accident. I had been installing some rare earth magnets in a project, so I had a few in my pocket. As I stepped away from my workbench, I noticed that my 12 ft. tape measure was attached to my pocket! It’s not a lot of trouble to use the tape’s clip as intended, but having the tape measure stuck to your pocket is even easier. I keep a couple magnets stuck to my tape measure’s clip so I don’t lose them. This won’t work with a 25 ft. tape; they’re just too heavy. And don’t put the magnets in the same pocket as your phone or credit cards. — Brad Holden, Senior Editor. Click here for some amazing woodworking projects you can start today!
How to Snap a Chalk Line By Yourself
Easily Move Your Heavy Tools
I had a truckload of lumber to transport from the truck down a long hallway to my shop, and I wasn’t looking forward to carrying it all by myself, an armload at a time. That’s when I noticed a pallet leaning up against the wall and had an idea.
I don’t own a pallet jack, but I did have a set of swiveling casters! After adding some reinforcement blocking to the pallet, I installed a 4-in. caster at each corner. It worked perfectly for hauling my entire load of lumber in one trip.
I’ve since kept my pallet dolly and use it frequently as my multipurpose heavy-stuff mover. — reader Keith Jones
A Helper Up High
Use Clamps to Support Pipes when Soldering
When you’re soldering pipes, tighten a clamp across two floor joists for temporary support. Use the same trick to support drain-pipes, ducting or framing members while you work on them. Use the same trick to support drain-pipes, ducting or framing members while you work on them. Plus: Top 10 plumbing fixes you can do yourself.
Hands-Free Light Hack
Use Balance and Grip to Haul Heavy Plywood
Skateboard Workshop Helper
A skateboard isn’t just useful for rolling through the park, it also makes a handy hauler on the fly. Just load it up with your heavy items such as tires or large sheets of plywood, and easily tote them from one area of your shop to another. If you don’t have a skateboard handy, keep an eye out for one at garage sales or at thrift stores. Even if you don’t ride it, it’s worth a few bucks to buy one exclusively to haul stuff around your workshop! Click here for even more moving techniques.
Use Sturdy Scaffolding
Extend Your Saw Table
Use a Cleat to Hang a Cabinet
Don't Carry or Drag—Slide
Use an Appliance Dolly
Simple Soldering Stand
Ever try holding two strands of wire in one hand, a spool of solder in the other, and maneuver a soldering gun besides? Solder more effectively with this great tip from reader Randy Witmyer. Cut a couple of 6-in. pieces of wire from a coat hanger and crimp alligator clips ($2 for a four-pack at a home center) on the ends. Drill holes in a board, stick in the alligator clip wires and clamp in the wire ends you’re soldering.You now have two hands free, one for the gun and one for the solder.
Bar Clamps for Framing Jobs
Ironing Board Back Saver
Smarter Leaf Collection
Use Pivot Points and Balance with Long Ladders
Screws that Stick
Using a handheld screwdriver in tight spaces can be very frustrating, especially when there isn’t enough room to hold the screw in place with your free hand. Here’s a solution for how to magnetize a screwdriver situation: Attach a small magnet to the shaft of your screwdriver. The magnetic magic will travel through the metal of the screwdriver, down to the business end, holding the screw right where you need it—with no hands!
This trick for how to magnetize a screwdriver works with other tools, too. Magnetize the head of a hammer to hold a nail, add a magnet to the metal bit in a power drill/driver to hold a screw—you get the idea. Learn how to DIY a painting platform.