You could send them this list of 7 stupid laser guided tools to tell them what NOT to get

The list below is more or less in the order that I found it in the forum thread. A few are over $30 - I put warnings on them.

1) Consumables
Gloves, foam brushes, sandpaper, router bits, etc…

2) Wixey Digital Angle Gauge

3) Digital Caliper

Calipers mentioned in 9 Woodworking Tools You Wish You had Bought Earlier >>

4) Wixey Digital Thickness Gauge for Planer (+$30 warning)

5) Card Scraper (Under $10)

6) Lumber Wizard Metal Detector

Great for treating found and salvaged lumber: Lumber Salvage: The Top 10 Sources for Cheap, Free and Recycled Wood

7) Fire Extinguisher

8) Peltor Worktunes (+$30 warning)

9) Zero clearance inserts

10) Wood
Pro Tip: You’re gonna want to be as specific about variety, shape, size etcetera. Make it easy on your loved ones to shop for ya

11) Clamps

Parallel Clamps: Jet vs. Bessey
Don’t let them read: Cheap, DIY Clamp Alternatives

12) Woodworking DVDs

13) Spokeshave

14) Mortise Chisels

15) 220v DC Remote Control (+$30 warning)

16) Veritas wonder dogs (+$30 warning only by a little)

17) Holdfasts

18) A Good Square (+$30 warning)

Top 4 Most Used Woodworking Squares

And of course you could always ask for a Harbor Freight gift card… just make sure you bring your Harbor Freight buying guide

Other Resources for Finding Great Woodworking Gifts:
The 11 Top Woodworking Power Tools That Give 100% Satisfaction or Better >>
Top 5 Woodworking Tool Companies with the Best Customer Service >> (if you’re considering gift certificates…)

Tags: holiday, gifts, for, woodworkers,, christmas, woodworking, gifts

Why? There was someone in your life who encouraged you and helped pass along a love of working with your hands. There’s a reason why Dads placed 2nd in our Guide to Your 31 Most Influential Woodworkers…

To keep the woodworking torch lit you have to bring kids (grand kids, children, neighborhood kids) into the tradition. I found a WoodNet thread recently that inspired me to gather resources and plans for anyone who wants to encourage a love of woodworking in children. Here’s the thread: Getting Kids interested in Woodworking.

This article is about passing along a love of woodworking so all the plans I mention will be more or less suitable for kids using hand tools with close supervision. And remember - start teaching them about safety from the start. Here are some safety tips for kids from BuildEazy: a bit about safety >>

Here’s what you’ll find in this article:
Woodworking Project Ideas for Kids
Tips and Suggestions on Kids and Woodworking
Free Plans for Kids Woodworking Projects
Video of Woodworking with Kids
More Woodworking with Kids Resources:

Woodworking Project Ideas for Kids
I pulled these ideas directly from the WoodNet thread mentioned above. Some of these suggestions come from people who have worked with kids before. Some don’t. I’ll let you sort out which ideas work best for you

-> how about an open top tool box/caddy? you know, the simple box with a dowel handle?
-> bird houses, bird feeders and a shadow box.
-> Mobiles
-> a pencil box
-> kits for small video game racks or game centers/organizers
-> a small catapult
-> three legged stool, yo yo’s, pencil box, keepsake box, cars made out of 2×4’s
-> tic-tac-toe boards
-> model boats - Cut a notch in the back of a board, put together a propeller (a paddle wheel, actually) out of two pieces of thin stock, and attach with a rubber band.

Tips and Suggestions on Kids and Woodworking
I excerpted these tips from the WoodNet forum thread Getting Kids interested in Woodworking and a collection of “kids and woodworking” articles (linked below).

“The project I’ve found works the best for a first time project for kids boys and girls alike are bird houses, and you can find kits for real cheap.”
Datahead

for ages 5 and under: “For those little guys and gals you might try a simple napkin holder made fom three pieces that you precut for them. Predrill nail holes for them as well. They get to put some glue on it and bang some nails. When the holder is together they can paint it with all the colors of the rainbow”

“I’ve found young kids have no patience for sanding.. zero.. I mean, you will be lucky to get them to rub sandpaper for 10 seconds.”
PaulJohnstone

Now, it hasn’t been very long since I was a kid, and I don’t pretend that my childhood experience was representative of all children, but here’s what I remember as a boy:
Hated to Do: sand, saw (esp. with a dull saw)
Liked to Do: drill, glue, clamp
Loved to Do: hammer
Bibliophile13

“If you don’t have time to dream up more interesting and engaging projects, kits can be a fun activity to share. But they pale in comparison to the educational benefit that comes through more experimental woodworking: when there are good old-fashioned mistakes to be made, opportunities for your child to help design things engage in problem solving. For that you will need to go a little deeper in your preparations.”
Doug Stowe of Wisdom of the Hands in a FWW article >>

“Start simple - a piece of sandpaper and wood; or Styrofoam, golf tees and a small rubber mallet. From there, you can introduce a piece of wood with several screws started and a screwdriver. Introduce one tool and one skill at a time.”
From Woodworking With Children >>

“Some didn’t know where to begin and I didn’t know how to get them started. I tried to create, with words, an image of a project that would capture their interest. I asked, “Would you like to build a boat, (candle holder, key ring)?” The answer came back something like, “maybe” or “let me think about it.” Other kids had an idea about what to build but no clue how to begin, so I had to figure out construction details off the top of my head and communicate those details to the child in a way they could understand. No one got hurt. I didn’t get mad or upset and make anyone hate woodworking, but the class was confusing for the kids and hectic for me. And not much was built. I went home to evaluate…”
from Jack Mckee in a Helium article >>

Free Plans for Kids’ Woodworking Projects >>
Based on some of the project ideas and recommendations above I assembled a short list of free project plans that should be more or less suitable for kids. You may have to do varying degrees of prep work depending on the complexity of the project AND the skill level of the kids you’re working with.

kids size picnic table >>

“This picnic table is an ideal project for the budding young woodworker to test his (or her!) skills.”

a wooden scooter >>

“This scooter is an example of how something mechanical can be made just by using standard materials that can be purchased from most building supply stores.”

Scrap Wood Battle Ships >>

“Toys similar to these can be made almost completely from scrap wood materials. Add in a few screws and one small dowel, and you can have a fleet of boats.”

Kids’ birdhouse project >>

“Premilled parts, their “own” tools and a bit of paint make for a couple of hours of busy hands (and peace and quiet) in the shop.”

Child’s Toolbox

Catapult Plans >>

“It is an easy to make catapult that is powered by rubber bands and has a base that is twelve inches (12″) in length. This is a pretty easy project to make and you can do it in a couple of hours.”

OLIVER’S STEP STOOL >>

“When Oliver, my two-and-a-half-year-old son, needed help to reach the sink and toilet, I decided to make this handy stool. I kept the design as simple as possible so that he could help out with most of the work.”

Free Yo Yo Plans >>

“Despite also owning a few high-tech yo-yos, this homemade yo-yo is the one I use most often. The size and shape are all custom fit to my hand.”

Toy Boat Powered by Rubber Band >>

“We made these toy paddlewheel boats as kids and played with them in the big pond we had at the back of our property. You can have that same kind of fun with this easy to build paddlewheel boat. Make these with your friends and have boat races.”

Video of Woodworking with Kids
“Tree Beads” Simple Woodworking Project for Kids

Mobile Woodworking Program for Youth: the Woodworking Bus

More Woodworking with Kids Resources:
Woodworking for Kids in FWW
“A seasoned woodworker and teacher explains the importance of setting up woodworking programs in schools” This is a MUST READ ARTICLE from a veteran woodworking educator.

Woodworking With Children
“Children can be taught to utilize the woodworking area appropriately and learn to respect tools – just as in any other area in the classroom. For children ages 4 years and older, the benefits and the learning associated with this activity far outweigh the potential for problems, if implemented and supervised correctly…”

Setting Up a Wood Shop for Kids
“Here are ten inexpensive items to equip budding woodworkers.”

Woodworking for Kids - Big Learning
“Woodworking brings together valuable knowledge and skills from many academic and practical subject areas. Here are a few examples.”

Teaching kids the art of woodworking 7 Articles

Kids DIY Projects from BuildEazy

FREE woodworking plans for Children

Tags: woodworking, with, kids,, woodworking, with, children

What if you could consistently determine the most efficient way to cut your wood stock down into project-ready pieces?

First off you’d save yourself money - quite a big chunk over time depending on how much wood you buy. Some other repercussions? You’d have no need for articles like: 11 Ideas for Wood Cut Offs, and you could strike the cut off storage plans off your list of wood storage plans.

So if you’re willing to save money and give up your future cut off supply (you have probably saved more than you can ever use anyways then you should give these two free programs a try. I found these two programs in the Woodnet thread: one of the best tools I have found in a while

1) Cutlist Generator

“This program creates a diagram showing the stock pieces and how the required parts may be cut from them. Data may created, deleted, modified and saved to a file for later use. Users can specify the width of material lost during cutting (saw blade kerf width), and the minimum dimension of waste material to report. Solution searches give priority to crosscuts (vertical on the screen) or rip-cuts (horizontal) first or will try a Combination approach using all possible mixes of both types of cuts.”

This particular application - which you will have to download to your computer and run from there - has mentions from many many woodworking forums. It’s often compared to Cutlist Plus, a more polished program that costs between $90 and $500. Most say it’s not as good looking or quite as easy to use, but it’s free and “works well for my usage” according to most everyone. Pages linking to this program (might prove useful if you have any specific questions or problems…)

Check out the Cutlist Sheet Stock Maximizer >>

2) Solving “the Cutting Stock Problem”

“The Cutting Stock problem requires that we find the best (cheapest) way to cut one-dimensional stock pieces (pipe, dimensional lumber, wire, rolls of paper or other sheet material to be slit, etc.) in such a way that a given number of pieces of specified lengths or widths are created.”

Like sheet stock, linear stock can pose thorny mathematical problems when trying to minimize waste. This program will do the thinking for you! For free. What’s not to love?

Check out the linear stock maximizer program >>

Tags: cutlist, program,, woodworking, software

Remember though: “Before you begin work, contact your local building codes office and find out about necessary permits or other requirements for this type of building.”

What’s in this Workshop Building Plan Collection
–> 4 Remarkable Workshop Ideas, Plans and Guides
–> 3 True “Workshop” Plans
–> 12 Sheds You Could Enlarge
–> 4 Shed Foundations and Floor Guides
–> 4 Shed Construction Videos
–> 8 Free Shed Plan Pages I Used to Compile This Page
–> 11 More Free Plan Collections

–> 4 Remarkable Workshop Ideas, Plans and Guides

1) The Pallet Shed - the Ultimate in Cheapskate Refinement
Insulated? It… could be. Big enough for your table saw and your router table and workbench and jointer and planer? Erm… maybe with a few engineering tweaks to the structure. Are there any actual plans? Nope - you’ll have to wing it, just like everyone else who builds structures with pallets. Is it expensive? Not in terms of cash

This in-construction picture is from a page with pictures of 7 different sheds and other structures built from pallets. See them here: Pallet Sheds >>

If you’re seriously considering building with pallets then you don’t need to take the cheapskate woodworker quiz

2) GENERAL BARN AND UTILITY SHED PLANS (23 plans in PDF from the University of Tennessee)
When it comes to free plans it’s tough to beat the guys at the University of Tennessee. I had a tough time finding plans that would really provide enough square footage for a SERIOUS woodworking shop. You will probably have to REDUCE THE SIZE of the plans on that list… (and take out some of the stalls .

See all 23 General Barn and Utility Shed Plans from UT >>

3) Oak Lawn Vehicle Barn and Workshop
The Oak Lawn Four-Bay Car Barn… Loft? CHECK. 24′ x 28′? CHECK. Cars? H*** NO!!!

The Oak Lawn Four-Bay Car Barn >>
NOTE: This free plan requires that you give up your name and email…

4) Frank Pellow’s Workshop
Frank Pellow started building his dream workshop two months after he retired in 2003. He’s an active woodworking forum poster (now in FamilyWoodworking.org) and asked LOTS of questions about functionality and best practices. But best of all he wrote down every step he took, every idea he incorporated, and every design decision he made in a book and published it online.

Download The Story of a Woodworking Shop by Frank Pellow (188 pages in PDF) >> (very slow download… it’s being hosted by a friend of Frank’s, Mr. Stu Ablett who also posts at FamilyWoodworking)

3 True “Workshop” Plans
These plans come to you from the folks who provide the Oak Lawn Car Barn above. They are garages too, but sold on the site as workshop spaces as well, which they would work well for.

1) Garden Oak Garage and Work Shop

Here’s a big, practical storage building that might be just what you need in your backyard. It’s a two-car garage with plenty of extra space for storage or your use as a work or hobby shop. Add a wall between the spaces and use the shed-roof section as your office or studio.

2) Oakville Workshop Garage Plans

The 16′ wide garage is expanded by another 12′ for more storage or your use as a workshop. Or, add a wall between the spaces and use the shed-roof section as your office or studio.

3) Oak Lawn Garage and Workshop Plans

This building has three wide parking bays and another 12′x24′ space that you can use as a workshop, hobby shop, home office or studio, or just for extra storage space.

–> 12 Sheds You Could (Possibly?) Enlarge
There are a LOT of free shed plans out there, and I doubt how well these plans could serve anyone seriously looking to build a new workshop space. I include them because there are some interesting design ideas here, and hey, some folks may actually be looking to build a new garden shed As a side note I cut a lot of the “me-too” shed plans that I found to focus on plans with better production, unique design ideas and nicer overall presentation.

1) Garden Storage Shed

The feeling of spaciousness inside belies the shed’s 8- x 12-foot exterior dimensions. Straightforward lumber and plywood construction simplifies the project.

2) Gabled Garden Shed

This storage shed will provide you with two things at once: attractive architectural lines to enhance your yard,and a practical 80-square-foot work and storage space for gardening and landscaping projects.

3) Build A Two-In-One Shed

It’s really two sheds in one: a 10 x 12-ft. toolshed for general storage and an 8 x 10-ft. open-bay extension that’s ideal for keeping firewood stacked and dry.

4) Basic Shed

This 8 × 12-ft. shed features a simple gable roof, double doors, and side and rear windows for natural lighting. With full-height walls and doors, there’s ample room for storing large items or creating a comfortable work space.

5) Garden Shed Addition

We designed this attached 7-1/2 x 13-ft. cedar shed to meet all your storage needs. It has a wide, no-sag sliding door on one end for big stuff like the lawn mower, and a separate section on the opposite end with lots of shelves for the small stuff, like pots and gardening supplies. The inexpensive barn sash windows allow plenty of light and ventilation.

6) Board-and-batten Shed

This sturdy shed is constructed of 100×50 (2×4) framing and board-and-batten siding. The same boards that clad the walls are also used to clad the roof. The structure sits on skids, thus making the shed relocatable.

7) Building a Drive-Thru Backyard Shed

A “mini” pole-barn. Pole construction is one of the most economical methods of building construction, and it’s also relatively easy.

8) Build A Colonial-Style Storage Shed

At 10 x 16 ft., this handsome garden shed is large enough for most backyard needs. We’ve added an interior partition so it serves double duty as a storage shed and an all-weather children’s playroom.

9) Build This Potting Shed

Before you build, lay onto the ground the tools, equipment and storage you’ll actually include in the shed. Include additional work space for yourself and a second person. The space between a shelf and sidewall should measure about the width of your outstretched arms

10) SUPER SHED: JULY 2001

The straightforward design is easy to expand—up to about 8 x 12 ft.—to suit your storage needs.

11) Building a shed

By following the proposed plan, you will be able to build your shed without too much difficulty and benefit from the multiple advantages that a shed offers, for many years.

12) Build Your Own Garden Shed From PM Plans

We had in mind a basic 9 x 13-ft. shed built with decent materials and conventional framing methods.

–> Shed Foundations and Floors
You will probably want to stick to concrete floors in your workshop. In fact, you might even want to build in a heated concrete floor (see Workshop Climate Control: Insulating, Heating and Cooling Your Woodshop).

1) How-to: Build a shed base
This How-To guide explains how to prepare a suitable base, including how to make formwork and how to prepare and lay concrete. Here’s an overview of what this How-to covers:
* Selecting the site
* Preparing the site
* Preparing concrete
* Laying concrete

2) Shed Floor Framing

Floor frames for sheds are simple versions of house floor frames. They have outside, or rim, joists that are set on edge and nailed to the ends of the common joists.

3) Installing a skid foundation

The fastest way to lay a skid foundation for your shed is to set 4×6 or larger timbers on patio pavers that are set in a gravel bed.

4) Laying out a shed
Laying out a shed is the first part of building a shed, but before that, you need to plan. Does your municipality require you to set the shed back from the property line? Does it require a building permit? Is your site easy to access? Does it use space wisely? Think it through. Once your shed is up, you won’t want to move it by even a few inches.

–> How to Shed Construction Videos
Some of these are here more for fun than anything. Still, I believe that the crafty woodworker can get some value out of analyzing techniques, tactics and ideas in these videos. Except for the Two Ronnies of course

Build a Shed from Recycled Materials

From Richard Tidyman

The Two Ronnies - How To Build A Garden Shed (1973)

Video: How to Build a Backyard Shed
Learn how to assemble and install a greenhouse shed; watch a video demonstrating each step; includes printable assembly/ installation instructions.

Building the garage and workshop

Diary Index - a written account from this video

–> Free Shed Plan Pages I Used to Compile This Page
Free Shed Plans from FreeWW
Free Workshop Plans
Free Shed Plans and Shed Projects
Free Shed Plans
How To Build a Storage Shed / Garden Shed
Building Sheds and Outbuildings
Workshop Plans - Shop Rebuild, Shop Elevations, and more
Shed Plans

–> 11 More Free Plan Collections
Yep, there are more free plan collections just like this one. Enjoy!

12 Free Workshop Storage Plans: Tool Cabinets, Rolling Carts, Under Stair Storage and More
20 Free Cutting Board Plans + the 4 that Blew My Mind
15 Free Mobile Base Plans: Put Your Power Tools on Wheels
Wood Storage 101: 14 Lumber Storage Plans and 7 Storage Tips
32 Free Picnic Table Plans + Top 3 Most Awesome Picnic Table Plan Awards
15 Free Toolbox Plans for Woodworkers
24 Free Sawhorse Plans in the Hunt for the Ultimate Sawhorse
ToolCrib.com’s Ultimate Guide to Free Woodworking Workbench Plans
9 Sandpaper Storage Ideas (+ free plans)
ToolCrib.com’s Ultimate Guide to Free Router Table Plans
ToolCrib.com’s Ultimate Guide to the Crosscut Sled

Tags: free, workshop, plans,, free, shed, plans

1) Good Security Lighting Outside
Good security lighting lets people from the street, neighbors, and YOU see what’s happening on your property. This means eliminating large shadows and making sure that you’re not creating a glare anywhere - shadows and glare are friends to thieves. Also, bright-white light allows for the highest rate of accurate identification of intruders. Check out this article on construction site security lighting for more tips.

2) Dogs
Enough said. Nearly everyone posting in that SMC thread that inspired this article wrote about getting a dog. The former insurance adjustors who posted on the thread said that they never filed insurance claims at houses with dogs. See Top Dogs for Security Work and Top Dogs for Watchdog Barking and Dogs Least Likely to Succeed at Watchdog Barking.

3) Reduce Your Workshop’s “Curb Appeal”
In other words, if no one can see that you have nice tools they won’t steal them. Keep the inside lights OFF when you’re not in there, the curtains drawn and if it’s a garage workshop invest in dust collection rather than keeping the door open. Other things that reduce curb appeal and window shopping include trimming hedges and removing cover that intruders could use to hide behind.

4) A Warning About Craigslist!
Not to frighten you away from selling your goods, but thieves sometimes prowl Craigslist postings to find good targets. And why not? They can come in posing as a buyer and see if your goods - or other items in your shop - are worth stealing. One SMC commenter took extra precaution when a potential craigslist buyer seemed to have NO IDEA what the machine did. Another says he always shows for sale items AWAY from his shop. Unfortunately you have to be somewhat wary of the buying public…

5) Your Neighbors Are Your Best Defense
No matter how you happen to feel about them, your neighbors are one of your best defenses against theft on your property. Especially the nosey ones. Consider joining your neighborhood watch, or even starting one. This goes double if there’s been an increase in break ins in your area (you can monitor neighborhood crime that gets reported using Google Alerts). If you’re more of the community organizer type check out this article on increasing your neighborhood security.

6) Create a Tool Inventory List + Etch the Serial Numbers
Tool inventories and etched serial numbers are not theft deterrents, but they can sure help in the event that cops try and track your tools down in the local pawn shops. These safeguards also show the insurance agency that you went the extra mile and should help your claims in the case that your workshop is hit.

7) Alarms and Fake Alarm Systems: Warning Stickers and Foil Tape
You may not need to invest in an entire alarm system… sometimes blinking red lights and foil tape on your windows will be enough to deter potential thieves. On the other hand, why not really protect yourself and install an actual alarm? You will need to spend some time doing price comparisons and shopping for options…

8) Motion Sensor Alarm Horn and Lights Inside the Shop
Nothing gets a criminal running like a piercing blast of an air horn. I read of some shop owners who rigged horns and lights to motion detectors inside their shops. This line of defense is sure to wake you up too so that you can deal with the intruders as you see fit. Just make sure your animals can’t or don’t get in the shop…

9) Limit Onsite Worker Access and Visibility
In construction site crime it’s often an inside job - sub contractors scope out theft opportunities and come back later with their buddies. The same can happen when you have workers in at your house. I’m not trying to sew suspicion here or cast a shadow on any contractors. That said, if no one knows it’s there it won’t get stolen. If possible keep your valuable power tools locked and out of site when you have workers in at your house.

10) A Tool Crib or Safe Box for Very Expensive Tools
Put all your Festools and other highly valuable, highly portable tools away in a lock box inside your workshop. A lock box is an especially good combination with a motion sensor and horn - it keeps thieves from dashing out with your tools before the cops show up to your 911 call. This could be an over-expensive solution for some, but for others it could be just the right compliment.

11) Strong Bars, Locks and Doors
Because thieves want to get in and out so quickly they are not prone to picking locks. They are far more likely to bash a door in. Strong bars on windows and strong locks on strong doors will keep your power tools safe. I also read of someone stopping a garage door track with a vice grip - and my dad always unplugs his garage door opener when he leaves the garage. His shops in the basement though but that’s another story…

12) Call Your Insurance Agent And Keep Your Tool Documentation Up to Date
If this article put a little fear in you consider at least contacting your insurance agent and making sure that your tools are covered. If so, make sure that you’ve followed the appropriate procedures for documenting all your tools. This will likely include inventory lists, records of receipts, proofs of purchase and video documentation.

Honorable Mention Tip: In Rural Areas Do Target Practice Regularly
I’m not sure how effective this idea is, but I had to include it. If you’re in a rural area consider putting up a berm and conduct regular target practice. The sound of gun shots makes a great reminder to would-be criminals that you’re exercising your 2nd amendment.

Other More or Less Related Resources
How do you prevent theft/break-ins at your shop?
Can You Claim Power Tool Depreciation on Taxes?
Are Your Power Tools Covered in Your Insurance?

Tags: workshop, security,, woodshop, security,, power, tool, security

Enjoy!

–> My 4 Favorite Shop Storage Plans
–> 2 Rolling Cabinet/Shop Cart Plans
–> 3 Tool Cabinets/Shelves Plans
–> 2 Storage Shelf Plans
–> 1 Under Stair Storage Plan
–> More Free Woodworking Plans

–> My 4 Favorite Shop Storage Plans
Mod Your File Cabinet for the Work Shop

“I started to work on a system of 1⁄4″ hardboard inserts for storing saw blades, router bits and sanding supplies-including discs and sheets-turning the cabinet into a very functional part of my shop.” This one gets my reuse/recycle award - very clever way to reuse old file cabinets!

Small Shop Storage Solutions

“The keys to making big things in a little shop are organization, out-of-the-way storage, and nesting or collapsible work surfaces.” CEILING DRAWERS? Niiiiiiiice… This link includes several plans for small shops, but I geeked hard over those ceiling drawers…

Corded Power Tool Shelf

“Besides providing storage, this tool shelf solves another nagging problem as well — it keeps the power cords from getting tangled up like spaghetti.” Smart, simple, addresses common power tool storage problems. What more could you ask for… it’s a free plan!

Rotating Corner Shelves

“This bin rotates on a pair of lazy Susan rings to maximize corner space and provide quick, easy access. A stationary upper shelf secured to the wall steadies the bin so it’ll spin easily and won’t tip over.” I think this is one of those good ideas in pictures but kind of lame in practice… You tell me. I was won over by the idea though.

–> 2 Rolling Cabinet/Shop Cart Plans
Rolling shop cabinet

“At its core, this project is a simple plywood cabinet. I chose contrasting wood to add visual appeal. Walnut drawer fronts and edging for the top provide a nice dark contrast against the pale maple and birch of the rest of the cabinet. I also made my own maple drawer pulls to add a little flair.”

Shop Cart/Table Saw Extension

“I had been contemplating buying or building a table saw extension wing for some time and finally decided on making a simple cabinet on wheels. This cart is the result.” No plans, just pics and descriptions.

–> 3 Tool Cabinets/Shelves Plans
Tool Cabinet/Shelves (PDF)

“Today’s woodworker needs a different kind of storage space, geared toward power tools. Our tool chest is just the ticket.”

Pegboard Storage Cabinet

Here’s how to make a simple pegboard cabinet that can greatly increase your storage area.

Folding Peg-Board Cabinet

–> 2 Storage Shelf Plans
Super-Size Cabinets

“With this 2×2 frame and panel system, you can add 80-plus cubic feet of storage in an afternoon”

Building a basement storage solution

“On going through the junk in my basement, I got annoyed at all the cardboard boxes in bad shape holding various parts and junk, and I figured I should build some wooden boxes to hold the stuff instead. Of course, if I build those boxes, I might as well make something to hold the boxes in an orderly fashion too. And hence this project.”

–> 1 Under Stair Storage Plan
Under-Stair Storage Cabinets

“The cabinets roll out for easy access to the items stored in them, and they add a finished look to the area when they’re stowed away.”

–> More Free Woodworking Plans
20 Free Cutting Board Plans + the 4 that Blew My Mind
15 Free Mobile Base Plans: Put Your Power Tools on Wheels
Wood Storage 101: 14 Lumber Storage Plans and 7 Storage Tips
32 Free Picnic Table Plans + Top 3 Most Awesome Picnic Table Plan Awards
15 Free Toolbox Plans for Woodworkers
24 Free Sawhorse Plans in the Hunt for the Ultimate Sawhorse
ToolCrib.com’s Ultimate Guide to Free Woodworking Workbench Plans
9 Sandpaper Storage Ideas (+ free plans)
ToolCrib.com’s Ultimate Guide to Free Router Table Plans
ToolCrib.com’s Ultimate Guide to the Crosscut Sled

Tags: free, shop, storage, plans,, workshop, storage, plans

2 Companies that Rebuild Rechargeable Batteries
Building/Refurbishing Rechargeable Batteries Yourself
Battery Forums
Battery Pack Theory Pages
Information from Battery Rebuilding DIYers
Battery Rebuilding Videos
Other Battery Rebuilding Resources

Companies that Rebuild Rechargeable Batteries
First and foremost I have to mention Jason Abel of MTOBattery who posts regularly at both WoodNet AND SawmillCreek. I know from experience that WoodNet can be a tough crowd. If several members there openly and eagerly endorse Mr. Abel then I think you’d do well to have him rebuild your batteries.
Jason Abel of MTOBattery >>

Secondly I’d like to point out the folks over at VoltmanBatteries.com Now they didn’t have any forum recommendations I saw but they seem like they have a good time repairing batteries. Plus they made a funny video that I embedded below in the video section. They’re worth checking out if Mr. Abel can’t get to you

Building/Refurbishing Rechargeable Batteries Yourself
Every battery pack is different, and most of them connect to your cordless power tools using proprietary systems. Most of the smaller batteries inside your battery pack are NOT proprietary. If you decide to rebuild your batteries yourself then you should definitely do some searches on your particular make and model of power tool. There could very well be a tutorial out there already written. I also want to scare you a little if you’re planning to DIY… this is from the excellent forum at BatterySpace:
“OK, I got all inspired by this and rebuilt my 14.4 Dewalt battery with 4200mAH NiMH bats…. It has not gone well.”

Battery Forums
Your first and foremost resources should be the forums at the rechargeable battery suppliers sites - they don’t sell the whole battery packs, but rather the pieces and parts that go into the battery packs. I found two such forums and you will need to spend some time there as well as in the stores that relate to each one.

Battery Space Forums >>
All Battery Forums >>

Battery Pack Theory Pages:
Both links here probably fall into the “too much information” category. If I was about to start this project I wouldn’t want to bog my head down with theory. Then again, that’s probably why I would mess up the first couple of times. Anyways, if you’re the theory type who prefers to understand what’s going on rather than following direction I suggest both of these pages.

Engineering Guidelines for Designing Battery Packs
Assembling your own battery packs

Information from Battery Rebuilding DIYers:
how to build the Milwaukee SuperTough 12V Battery pack (PDF)
This *should* be the only guide you need for rebuilding your batteries. It’s 11 PDF pages long and full of great pictures and thorough explanation. Again you should search for your particular make and model first, but this is a great place to start (I was an english major in college though, not electrical engineering so I can’t vouch for if he’s right or not - also I cannot vouch for my grammar, so there you go).

Rebuilding a Craftsman 18 Volt Pwer Tool Battery
This is a good write up that should extend beyond just the Craftsman. The original author includes his email address so I assume you could write him with questions if the forum fails you. Here’s the author: “The project took about 2 hours and the total cost was really just the cost of the batteries – around $30. A genuine Craftsman replacement battery would run about $80 with clones costing around $50.”

Battery Rebuild DIY Projects
Here is a list of DIY projects that Battery Space paid to have written… Some are better than others. You may or may not be able to ask questions of the writers. You will get a response from someone, but English is not likely to be a first language for them.

Ni-Cad Rebuilding
This has one of the best write ups of the pitfalls of battery rebuilding that I found. It’s very straightforward. It’s from the This Old House forums.

Rebuilding the Makita Battery Pack
This write up is more of a warning than anything, as the writer was unable to fix his battery pack for less than the cost of a new battery pack. That happens.

DIY Cordless Drill Battery Improvement This brief how-to shows breaking open and rebuilding the battery pack on a DEWALT drill.

Homemade Spot Welders: Apparently most battery cells come with tabs pre-soldered to them so you don’t really need a spot welder. Plus they are expensive. Plus, if you’re crazy enough you just might want to build your own even though batteries come with pre-soldered tabs: The Home-Brew Spot Welder Also see: Homemade Spot Welder.

Battery Rebuilding Videos
Video from Voltman Batteries:
This is mostly a long advertisement for them, but it does show some of the basics of battery building about 2/3 through. Be patient and enjoy the incredible special effects they brought George Lucas in for

Batterypack Repair Demo for Battery House:
Again, this is more of an ad than anything, but there are little clues that could help you in your particular situation.

DIY battery pack making:
An excellent video - I think it’s more targeted towards remote control applications but they appear to cross over nicely with power tools.

Other Battery Rebuilding Resources
Find a Drop Off Location Near You for Recycling Dead Batteries
BatterySpace forums Frequently Asked Questions & Answers (FAQ’s)
10 Battery Hacks
Rebuilding a Roomba Battery for Less
Battery Recharger Repair
HOW-TO: Rebuild your laptop battery

Tags: battery, repair

Check us out on page 5 of More Ways to Get a Great Deal on Anything

Thanks to the great folks at Reader’s Digest, and be sure to check out the whole article, starting on page one. There are some great suggestions: Page 1: More Ways to Get a Great Deal on Anything.

Tags: kudos, for, Tool, Crib

Uh oh, it’s a ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE! Here’s the scenario:

1) Zombies. Lots of ‘em. For one weekend.
2) Your family and loved ones are away for the weekend so you don’t have to worry about protecting them.
3) You hole up in your workshop (no matter if it’s in your basement, garage, backyard or professional level building).

1. Do You Have Military Training?

Yup - I’m retired from the military.

I am trained in fighting techniques, but not by the military.

Uhh… nope.

2. How long does it take you to find the tool you need?

I’m highly organized - I always find the tool I need when I need it.

I do ok - I usually know where my tools are.

It takes me FOREVER, especially when I really really need the tool.

3. What length extension cords do you have?

I’ve got at least 1000 feet of extension cord.

I bet I’ve got 200 feet handy.

25-50 feet of cord at best.

4. How many windows in your workshop?

None - or they are too small to crawl through.

One or two.

Three or more and/or a skylight.

5. How many battery powered hand tools do you have?

I have the battery powered version of about every butt kicking tool you can imagine.

I have the standard battery powered tools (drills, reciprocating saw, sander

I have corded tools only.

6. What hand tools do you have in your shop?

I have an axe, a massive wrecker bar, a sledge hammer, several hatchets, a machete, enormous wrenches, AND MORE.

I have a hatchet, a hand saw and a hammer (or there abouts).

I have a screw driver.

7. What is your nail gun situation?

I have holsters for my battery powered nail guns - and I could fill a gun rack with my other nailers.

I have one pneumatic nail gun.

I have nails and a hammer.

8. Do you have enough spare wood or other materials to fortify yourself?

I have enough materials in my workshop to build another workshop.

I have enough to barricade myself in.

I have enough to build a chair for the zombies to sit in while eating me.

9. You own a chainsaw.

No - I own chainSAWS.

Yes I own one.

Nope.

10. What’s the population density surrounding your workshop?

Rural, unpopulated.

Small town/suburbs.

I live in a densely populated area.

11. What age group are you in

Under 18 years old

18-24 years old

25-30 years old

31-40 years old

41-50 years old

51-60 years old

Over 60 years old

12. What is your gender

Female

Male

The possible results are:

Zombie Conqueror
You hack, saw, split, hew, sand and drill your way to glorious zombie carnage. Zombies end up avoiding your workshop so that you have to go on the offensive with battery powered tools. You are a legend.

Zombie Survivor
You turn your workshop into a zombie-proof bunker. You’d have little problem chopping, resawing, and very accurately cutting zombies into pieces that stack neatly outside your workshop. You survive the Zombie Apocalypse Weekend easily and decide to take Monday off from work to get some woodworking done.

Zombie Bait
Yikes! You’re a goner. Your shop is not adequately prepared for a zombie apocalypse. The good news is that you can use this as an excuse for more power tools

Tags: zombies, in, the, work, shop, quiz

So I hope that scared off the lazy freeloaders For the rest of you who are ready to work to recycle and refurbish your cheap and free lumber (congratulations you can call yourselves green woodworkers instead of cheapskates here’s what you’ll find in this article:

>> 5 Sources for Cheap Wood
>> 5 (Usually) Free Sources of Wood
>> 2 “Free Lumber” Project Inspirations
>> Further Cheap and Free Lumber Resources
>> You Cheapskates Might Also Be Interested In…

>> 5 Sources for Cheap Wood
Gentlemen, start your engines. Ok, now turn them off. You’ll get more mileage out of being friendly, professional and occasionally generous with 12 packs of beer. There’s a lot of cheap wood out there for you - here are the five that I found. If you have others please comment them or send an email to GFrench@ToolCrib.com.

1) Commercial Woodworking Firms
Milling companies, furniture manufacturers, cabinet makers, and all your local wood flooring installation companies have wood cutoffs and discards. ALL OF THEM. I read over and over about people hauling off pickup truck loads of wood for $50. Ask to speak with the owner or manager. Be nice, be friendly, be prepared for rejection and you’ll soon find your personal source of cheap, ready to work wood. (Floor installer idea from LumberJock Pete_Jud in Free wood source.)

Pros: Typically use nice hardwoods.
Cons: Small, irregular sizes are likely.

2) Lumber Mills and Lumber Yards
Like commercial woodworking firms these guys produce a lot of waste. Your lumber mills and lumber yards understand the value of space even more highly than commercial woodworkers though. Again, be professional and courteous. Talk to the yard manager and ask him if he has any waste you could take off his hands for him. Happy hunting!

Pros: You can find some incredible wood at low prices.
Cons: Sometimes bugs. You may have hauls where you can only use a small portion of what you take.

3) Furniture at Yard Sales, Junk Stores and Flea Markets
Cherry? Oak? Mahogany? You can find all of these and more in furniture at your local yard sales, junk stores and flea markets. It could be that the ratty-old sofa that’s going for $5 is built on a solid frame of re-workable wood. Idea from LumberJock Bryano in do you use recycled wood?

Pros: Old, seasoned wood.
Cons: It’s in furniture form.

4) Volunteer for a Deconstruction Project
The next time you hear that someone’s putting on an addition, tearing up some flooring, or even taking down an old barn ask them if you can help them deconstruct instead of demolish… Your payment for helping out will be pick of the wood that comes up off the floor or out of the walls.

Pros: Old, seasoned wood with LOTS of character.
Cons: It’s “free” but you pay with LOTS of sweat.

5) Woodworking Forums
I read woodworking forums a LOT. There’s always someone who’s got a line on some cheap wood at a great price. I’ve seen folks going in on lots of wood to get a reduced price. There’s at least one lumber dealer who posts regularly at Woodnet who seems to give great deals and great service.

Pros: Great prices, GREAT wood.
Cons: You have to spend a lot of time on forums and even post a little bit so people will get to know you.

>> 5 (Usually) Free Sources of Wood
For the brave and the time-rich there is absolutely no shortage of free lumber opportunities. Here are five that I compiled from around the web. If you have other scrounge sources or ideas please comment them or send them to me at GFrench@ToolCrib.com.

6) Construction Site Dumpsters and “Burn” Pile
Any new construction - and especially demolition - create HUGE amounts of waste. Demolition alone accounts for 1/3 of landfill waste according to a half remembered statistic in my head. There’s a lot of wood in those dumpsters folks, and if you’re a brave soul who doesn’t mind digging through the trash then it’s ALL YOURS. That said you will need to be professional about it, always seek permission before entering someone else’s property and be safe. I also highly recommend that you read this guide to dumpster diving - Dumpster diving: an Introduction.

Pros: You can brag about finding great wood for free.
Cons: You may have to break out of your current social norms and people will get VERY tired of you bragging all the time.

7) Wood Pallets
I wrote extensively about woodworking with pallets - they make the eyes of newbie woodworkers gleam, until they actually try to work with them. That said if you work your local pallet-using companies well you can find your way into a steady supply of free wood… and if you can befriend local PALLET RECYCLING companies you might do even better for yourself.

Pros: Lots of oak.
Cons: Small pieces, LONG processing times. Chemicals on pallets?

8) Discarded Roadside Furniture
If you’ve already read this far then I know you’re the type of person who gets amazed at what other people throw away. If you don’t already own a pickup truck you should probably get one because it’s time for you to start pulling over at every pile of wooden junk you see on the side of the road. Tables, chairs, dressers - all these and more end up on the side of the road, especially in college towns.

Pros: Good wood for free.
Cons: Storage until you can break it down? You have to break it down.

9) Freecycle.org, Craigslist.org, Woodworking Forums
Freecycle.org is dedicated to connecting people to free stuff - I have no idea exactly how the free part works but you should check it out as I’ve seen it mentioned regularly on woodworking forums. Craigslist - well, you should already be prowling Craigslist every day for cheap/free lumber. Most of the time all you have to do is go and pick it up. On woodworking forums too (real life woodworking club meetings too…) you may find folks who are giving wood away, sometimes in return for a favor of some sort - there’s lots of competition there though

Pros: Free wood and you’re usually helping someone out by removing it.
Cons: You have to monitor websites and have lots of email and phone conversations.

10) Fallen Wood from Storms, Construction and Arborists
Every time a tree falls in your neighborhood you could be stocking up on board feet for your next project. Come to think of it, why not talk to your local arborist tree surgeon companies and ask them (ask in this case means give them a case of beer) to let you know when they’re cutting down some hardwoods in your area. Either way you’re talking about taking what is waste to someone else and turning it into workable wood for yourself.

Pros: You can get some gems this way.
Cons: Chainsaw, Sawmill, Kiln, Jointer, Planer, Truck, Trailer, ETC… (not even close to free, really Fresh wood takes a long time to cure.

>> Free Lumber Project Inspirations
Pallet wood oak jewelry armoire

Library table built from oak shipping crates

>> Further Cheap and Free Lumber Resources
Ways to get good wood cheap, or for free
How to Get Cheap or Free Hardwood Lumber
How to Get Free Wood for Craft Projects
Where can a person get free craft wood?
Free Wood - How To Find Lots Of It For Woodturning Projects
A Reminder that Free Wood is NEVER Free
The Saw Bucks Forum - Very Cool Lumber Milling Forum!
Pallet Recyclers Can Start Small; Getting Lumber for Free Is a Key (pdf)

>> You Cheapskates Might Also Be Interested In…
Woodworking Through the Economic Crisis: 11 Resources for Stretching Your Woodworking Budget
The Cheapskate Woodworker Quiz
28 Ways to Recycle and Reuse Sawdust and Woodchips

Free Woodworking Plans:
20 Free Cutting Board Plans + the 4 that Blew My Mind
15 Free Mobile Base Plans: Put Your Power Tools on Wheels
Wood Storage 101: 14 Lumber Storage Plans and 7 Storage Tips
32 Free Picnic Table Plans + Top 3 Most Awesome Picnic Table Plan Awards
15 Free Toolbox Plans for Woodworkers
24 Free Sawhorse Plans in the Hunt for the Ultimate Sawhorse
ToolCrib.com’s Ultimate Guide to Free Woodworking Workbench Plans
9 Sandpaper Storage Ideas (+ free plans)
ToolCrib.com’s Ultimate Guide to Free Router Table Plans
ToolCrib.com’s Ultimate Guide to the Crosscut Sled

Tags: recycled, wood,, recycled, lumber,, lumber, salvage,, free, wood,, free, lumber