Padding your workbench

As an apprentice chef, you must keep your knives sharp and your work surface steady. This process helps keep all 10 fingers fully intact throughout your cooking career. A hard-rock maple cutting board sliding around on a stainless sink top can result in an unwanted "manicure."

An old cook's trick is to dampen a towel, fold it to at least double thickness and place it between the cutting board and the sink top. No slipping or sliding means improved safety.

For woodworkers, a steady work surface is equally essential. In our workshop, we often solve the problem of movement by use of a bench vise or clamps. However, there are times when clamps or a vise can get in the way. Unfortunately, when working with wood, a wet towel can damage the project. Instead, consider using a chunk of carpet pad. The pad will not only keep your work from slipping around on an otherwise smooth or slick workbench, but it will protect the project from damage, as well. Rebond pad is our favorite, but rubber padding works well, too. ^Hold it steady mate<

When you're all alone and need another pair of hands to help steady your project, consider creating your own softwood bumper system. Bumpers are another way to keep your work in place while you chisel, plane or sculpt. All it takes is a small piece of pine (a 6-inch long 1x2 works great) and a couple of dowels or short pieces of quarter-inch round stock. We like pine for our bumpers because it's soft and easy to work with, but practically any wood will do.

Here's what to do:

Drill a pair of holes exactly 4-inches on center into one of the long edges of the 1x2. The holes should be large enough for you to easily insert or remove the dowel stock. An extremely snug fit will not be beneficial.

Drill a row of holes into your work top wherever you think it will be convenient to have the bumper(s) located. The row can be horizontal or vertical in relation to the length of the workbench and can be along the back, near the middle or at the front. Your choice.

Insert the dowels into the 1x2 and then into any pair of holes on your bench top—your bumper system.

If you don't want to use the top of your bench, use a small piece of plywood instead. Keep it from sliding on the workbench by placing it atop a chunk of carpet pad. Tennis ball trick<

Polishing a piece of fine woodwork can be laborious. It can also hurt your hand if you happen to be using steel wool as the polishing material. Here's a trick you'll love. Cut a tennis ball in half and use the hollow area to hold your steel wool pad. The fuzzy outside surface of the ball is easy to hold onto, and you'll will be surprised how well the soft rubbery inside grips the steel wool.

By the way, did you know you can extend the life of sandpaper by cleaning it from time to time? An eraser works well at voiding pores of paint and putty buildup. A stiff-bristle brush also works well.

Waste not want not—with sandpaper

You may find yourself spending more on sandpaper than you estimated—especially when working with soft woods or painted surfaces. Don't throw the sandpaper away. Reuse it. All you have to do is plan ahead. The next time you visit the hardware store, pick up a sandpaper cleaner (there really is such a thing). It looks kind of like an eraser and is used in much the same fashion. Rub it onto the pulp-filled pores; before you know it your sandpaper will be revived and ready to polish again. The more you use sandpaper the finer it becomes; so don't throw it away when it becomes too worn for heavy work. Keep it for another day's fine polishing.

Eye safety with style

Have you cleaned your safety glasses lately? There are few things more unnecessary and devastating than an eye injury that could have been prevented. Safety glasses are now available in designer styles and colors. They are not only lighter in weight and more stylish in appearance, but they also work better.