Drill press hold-down
Like many woodworkers, I outfitted my drill press with an auxiliary table that includes two T-tracks for mounting the fence and/or hold-downs. Unfortunately, hold-downs mounted in the tracks were often out of the reach of small parts. As a solution, I devised this hold-down bar that spans the T-tracks and allows me to position a hold-down at any point with great force. I drilled the hard maple bar to accept T-bolts and knobs that connect it to the table T-tracks. Then I routed a 12"-long through-slot (recessing it on the underside) to connect the hold-down. (I replaced the hold-down’s hex head bolt with a T-bolt for smoother sliding operation.)
The unit is simple to make. Just get T-bolts and knobs to fit the size of your table T-tracks, and then rout the slot to suit your chosen hold-down. (I used the Woodpeckers Deluxe Hold-Down Clamp; Woodcraft Item #142603). I offset the slot as shown to allow the short leg good footing, but if you use a different hold-down, simply adjust the offset to suit.
—Vic Danart, Wacissa, Florida
Lathe chisel rack
Lathe work typically involves using a fair number of tools in a session, which means they need to be organized and easily accessible. This rack provides those services while also protecting the tools from damaging each other by separating them with commonly available Shaker pegs. One of the beauties of this design is that the rack can stand alone, or it can be screwed to a wall or cabinet top–whatever serves best. As shown in the drawing, it’s easy to build in any size to suit your collection, or perhaps just your most commonly used tools.
—Andy Rae, Asheville, North Carolina
Ceiling-hung veneer and dowel rack
Pressed for storage space in a cramped shop? Look overhead. A ceiling-hung rack is the perfect place for somewhat large, but lightweight, shop materials and supplies. I made this rack to safely store veneers flat without taking up valuable floor space. By simply incorporating a few small panels with circular cutouts, I was able to add dowel storage that’s still within my reach without a ladder. Construction simply involves making two frames: one for ceiling attachment and one to serve as a shelf. (Use any frame joinery you like.) The overall dimensions of my unit are 241⁄2 × 48 × 131⁄2", but size yours to suit your supplies and ceiling joist spacing.
—Paul Anthony, Senior Editor
