demouser

I simply bend half inch conduit into a U-shape for ceiling storage racks. You can make them in a few minutes and size them for any height or width you need. They work great for lumber as well as ladders. Simply drill a few holes in the ends and screw a pair to your exposed ceiling joists. If you have a drywalled ceiling you may have to get a little creative to attach them to the ceiling. Plenty strong yet very unobtrusive.

Dull blades are dangerous. Trouble is they get dull gradually and there is no "expiration date". Obviously we know that blade life depends of the types of wood and total length of all the cuts. Burning and high effort are obvious signs, but sometimes it's due to the wood, not the blade.

I try to change blades on a regular basis and send them off to be sharpened. Sometimes you forget that blade has been in there for several months. I use a permanent marker and write the blade installaion date near the hub. An alternate would be to write the installation date somewhere on the table saw itself.

When you test miter saws you should put a dial indicator on the blade and pull the saw mechanism sideways to see how much side-to-side play there is. Use a tensions gauge (or fish scale) for consistency.

A bit of slop doesn't matter much for framing, but becomes important for trim and furniture. Accurate cuts with sliders are iffy. A good old-fashioned hinge type is the best. It would be interesting to compare cut accuracy of the new Bosch articulated saw to others.

A neighbor wanted to borrow a relative's wheelbarrow. "No problem." Neighbor brings it back the next day lined with concrete. "Bring it back clean!" Next day he gets back a clean wheelbarrow with a thousand hammer dents in it.

I will lend certain tools to competent borrowers but for a fee. For example, I'll lend my neighbor my Felker tile saw for his remodelling side jobs, but the fee is always a 12 pack of premium beer per weekend of use.

My own stupidity cause me to cut my fingernail off. No guard, thin strip of hard maple, no push stick, dull blade = kickback.

Didn't realize the blade had gotten so dull. It was fine with construction lumber. Funny thing was that it didn't hurt or bleed much.

I'll never forget what the hand surgeon said. "If you cut one finger off we won't sew it back on. You'll be fine with nine. If you cut your thumb off or multiple fingers off we sew them back on."

The ER nurse said mine wasn't so bad, they had a guy come in with his hand in a plastic bag.

An assortment of drywall taping knives. Essential for spreading drywall joint compound on your wood projects to produce a smooth finish before stain and varnish.

A refrigerated air dryer for your compressed air system. Lots of people think a water separator or filter do the same thing, but this is not true. Without one, your compressed air is at 100% humidity and condenses water with any pressure drop, like when you start using your tools.

A well-stocked beer fridge. Essential after the days work is done.