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I know a woodworker who said he saved himself hundreds of steps a day merely by moving his pencil sharpener so it is under his table saw. I had a similar “duh” moment today when I was wiping down a handsaw to put it in my tool chest.
For the last 15 years I’ve kept an oily rag hanging on the frame of my articulated bench light. The position of the rag allowed me to wipe down a tool when I was done with it at the bench. But sometimes I’m not at the bench. I’m working on sawhorses or on the piece itself, which are both away from the bench. So I have to circle around the bench to get the rag.
Or sometimes I forget to wipe things down and have to turn around and head back to the bench to fetch the rag.
It’s not a huge deal – my shop is pretty small – but little things do add up.
Today I screwed a cheap cup hook into the lid of my tool chest (I’ll have a blacksmith make me one soon). Then I hung the oily rag on the hook. I immediately noticed the difference as I worked the remainder of the day. The rag was right where it should be: Above where the tools are stored.
It’s a simple, stupid thing. But every minute in the shop counts. And less faffing means more woodworking.
— Christopher Schwarz
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So! Whatsa pencil sharpener? I use a sharp blade and sandpaper, just like grandpa did.
A nice little hook from Horton
http://www.horton-brasses.com/HF-3.asp
From the close up it looks like your lock catch is broken on the left side. Also looks like brass underneath the black. Have you covered if that is the stock finish, or if that is something you did to the brass?
A place for everything and everything in its place.
I think the most important point here is the first step not specifically mentioned: Wherever you keep this rag (other tools also) have a ‘place’ for it and always keep it there when not in use. Time spent detouring to the place you used to keep the rag is nothing compared to the time wasted wandering the shop looking for a tool, a rag, the tape measure, etc. which didn’t get put back in it’s place, …. don’t ask me how I know this,
Do you always keep it hanging to avoid spontaneous combustion risk (as oppossed to wadding it in a chest cubby)? Or does the microfiber cloth or oil type avoid this? Or am I missing something?
I take the opposite approach. I have to take a few extra steps to wipe down tools, etc. But then, it’s just a very satisfying hobby to me, I’m not dependent on the income produced. Why else spend $300 on a plane, $150 on wood and countless hours to build a piece of furniture I could buy for $200 or less. Kind of the same reason I park at the far end of the parking lot at the grocery store. A good chance to get a little more exercise.
Love it! 🙂
(Or, a cut or forged nail, driven in so the tip points “up” a little?)
–GG
I’ve always kept one in an open jar in my top till. next to it is a cheap 2″ paint brush, to brush out/off all the wood bits. 2 easy steps to a clean tool and a clean tool chest.