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One of my most important tools is two-sided carpet tape. There are two basic types, sort of sticky and REAL sticky. I like the aggressive, sticky type.
One common use is as a clamp, where a real clamp won't work. Here is an example. I have my miter saw set up on my bench top. I need to cut 6 boards to identical length.
I am lazy and I don't want measure twice, cut once (that would be 12 measurements!), I would much prefer to measure once (or maybe zero times as we'll see) and cut them all to them same length.
A solution would be to use a stop block. This is simply a block that is set in a
specific position in line with my miter saw fence that allows me to butt boards against keeping the blade a specific distance from the end and thereby create a specific length of board. My problem is that my clamps won't span my bench and allow me to clamp my stop block in place.
But some double sided carpet tape will work great for this. I measure my desired length and place my first board on the miter saw. When I have it in position I clamp it on the saw (sometimes if the board is too wide or too small to clamp properly, I use... you guessed it, double sided carpet tape) and I set up a board rest with a vertical stop behind with carpet tape on my bench top.
Now I just cut the board, set it aside, and grab the next board. I set it against the miter saw fence, push it to my stop block and cut. And I end up with 6 identical length boards. The zero measurements statement I made earlier was simply a passing reference to the fact that in some cases it is not terribly important whether our board is 27 1/4 long or 27 3/8, what matters is that all six boards are identical. Sometimes it does matter, an even when it doesn't, yes you have to make some sort of measurement, just not an as detailed and careful one.
Anyway, carpet tape is incredibly strong, and you don't need to worry it will slip. Just make sure you get the aggressive type and it won't move. You'll know you have the aggressive sticky type when you are grunting and groaning when removing it when you are done. But that is a small price to pay.
You can also use carpet tape and a straight board to create a temporary fence to place your circular saw against when making dead straight plywood panel cuts.
One common use is as a clamp, where a real clamp won't work. Here is an example. I have my miter saw set up on my bench top. I need to cut 6 boards to identical length.
I am lazy and I don't want measure twice, cut once (that would be 12 measurements!), I would much prefer to measure once (or maybe zero times as we'll see) and cut them all to them same length.
A solution would be to use a stop block. This is simply a block that is set in a
specific position in line with my miter saw fence that allows me to butt boards against keeping the blade a specific distance from the end and thereby create a specific length of board. My problem is that my clamps won't span my bench and allow me to clamp my stop block in place.
But some double sided carpet tape will work great for this. I measure my desired length and place my first board on the miter saw. When I have it in position I clamp it on the saw (sometimes if the board is too wide or too small to clamp properly, I use... you guessed it, double sided carpet tape) and I set up a board rest with a vertical stop behind with carpet tape on my bench top.
Now I just cut the board, set it aside, and grab the next board. I set it against the miter saw fence, push it to my stop block and cut. And I end up with 6 identical length boards. The zero measurements statement I made earlier was simply a passing reference to the fact that in some cases it is not terribly important whether our board is 27 1/4 long or 27 3/8, what matters is that all six boards are identical. Sometimes it does matter, an even when it doesn't, yes you have to make some sort of measurement, just not an as detailed and careful one.
Anyway, carpet tape is incredibly strong, and you don't need to worry it will slip. Just make sure you get the aggressive type and it won't move. You'll know you have the aggressive sticky type when you are grunting and groaning when removing it when you are done. But that is a small price to pay.
You can also use carpet tape and a straight board to create a temporary fence to place your circular saw against when making dead straight plywood panel cuts.
Comments
tracysmith
Tue, 03/29/2011 - 12:34
Very Cool!
I would have never in a million years thought of that, pretty smart! Thanks for sharing your technique with us. BTW, I also have that same miter saw and was groaning the other day because I wanted to make one cut for 3 1x2's clamped together to save myself time, but couldn't figure out how to clamp them all together and clear the saw table. They were only going to be 9" long and a traditional clamp got in the way. This would have been the perfect solution to that!