Thread: The things you don't realise you need...

I have an old PC connected with wifi to my main system in the house. I use it to look stuff up when I need to, have some woodworking software I occasionally use and I also have it hooked up to an old amplifier and speakers for listening to the radio or music from the main system etc using iTunes. Finally, I also have a TV tuner card installed so as I can watch football etc. One caveat though.....if I am using power tools the video stays off. Safety suggests you need 100% concentration when using them.

Small whiteboards attached to my tool cupboards (old wardrobes). All ideas are written on them plus I have one for the 'shed shopping list'.

I use the canisters my scotch bottles come in, some are metal or cardboard with metal lids and bottoms. I use a metal one for the chainsaw file, grease nipple and spare chain. Handy for throwing in the 4x4 with the chainsaw and off down the paddock. The cardboard ones I can cut to required height, with bits and bobs in. I also have an old kitchen clock I've hang in every work shop I've had for the last 15 years.

Cork can be handy. On a verticle suface for notes or plans. Loose to seperate items for airing or prevent marking.

Cleaning up regularly is a must. I had a mate who had ankle deep shavings on floor and bench. How can you find things?

Conversion, tap and drill charts on the wall. Usefull when needed.

Clock - so you know when the glue is set, time for another coat of paint or tea time.

These are a few of things I use in the shed:

1. A couple of those non-slip rubbery mats always on hand, kitchen sort of item also used to grip jar lids etc. They work well under small items for routing, often saving the need for clamps.
2. Various strips of thick felt ready for use in the vice for gripping odd or round shapes.
3. Commercial ice cream tubs for storage and transport, and really good for keeping various parts of a (small) project together.
4. Plastic moulding as used to join bathroom/shower sheeting, which I use for marking out curves, but it requires a third hand!
5. Carpet or similar to put down on benches and horses to protect work. The best stuff I have now is light weight and came off a wall in a commercial building, and I have a roll ready to cover the bench top in a jiffy.

Cheers,

Like andy with the carpet but I use old bath towels

1. Old CD DVD disk sleeves ( the ones that hold 50 CD's etc) are good for holding diffrent size cutting, grinding disks for your angle grinder

2. Old kitchen cutting boards , you know the white ones , recessed slightly into a work surface for tapping items without damage or cutting on , chisel onto etc

3. Special coaster, (I use one made from huon ) glued down in an out of the way spot, and train yourself to only put your TL coffee mug ...or beer down there . That way the beer of coffee mug doesn't go the way of your pencil or tape ( to that place you cant find and then magically reappear three weeks later.)

Originally Posted by NCArcher

A Tea Lady
Well at least one forum member has found one to be handy around the shed.

Yeah! I want one of them!

Variation to #6 - Radio has been replaced by Ipod/Iphone now-a-days

In relation to water - my little shed has its own hot and cold running water, its own sewage connection with a refrigerated water dispenser and I do take the laptop down sometime to play DVDs/Blurays look up stuff with the WIFI or 3G connection or use the IPhone 3G connection. Iphone also has as calculator and conversion app

My how times have changed and how electronic we are - I remember when my work didn't even have a fax machine or a computer and we used to do the sums in our head.

However - no beer fridge - note to self - must stay away from beer when fingers are close to router/spindle moulder/bench saw etc If I have to walk to the house to get it, I have to think about it.

I put the radio or any other technology (like the hands free phone from the house ) in zip lock bags. Also the baby monitor. They might even come big enough for lap tops.

Hi,
Two things I forgot in my contribution,
1) plastic shopping bags: one for rubbish, one for recyclable rubbish and one each to put over the power tools on the shelf to keep dust out of the motors and switches.
2) tooth brush: To brush the router bits' teeth after use.
Regards