Really handy stuff to have in the shop

[rmwarren]

Whilst repairing our front porch light (aluminum corroded by salt air) I realized there are are lot of small, non "tool" items that are really handy to have in the shop. In this one project I used epoxy (Amazon, of course), kraft paper, tongue depressors, disposable gloves and green masking tape:

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The green tape stretches (great for pulling seams/joints together) and sticks like mad:

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Gloves at $2.50/box at a commercial restaurant supply:

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What handy non-tool stuff is in your kit?

RMW

 

[Holmz]

Beer fridge

 

[JimSpence]

Tupperware (Plastic, sealable, food containers).  The larger the better.  Great for keeping items together until you've finished the project.  With my attention deficit disorder,  there's always various campaigns in varying degrees of completion in my garage.  These spill-proof containers are a godsend. 

 

[Stephen B]

[size=13pt]A roll of microfibre cloths.

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Great for applying wipe on polly and oil finishes, removing any remaining sanding dust when changing grits, cleaning up spills, removing excess silicone, *  and most significantly - [size=14pt]wiping down the Festools after use. 

[size=8pt]* - depending on the silicone, damp cloth from a jar with either water mixed with drop or two of dish washing liquid, or turps

 

[Kev]

zip seal bags in a few different sizes

 

[KRKWW]

Recycled Kerigold butter containers... Mix all manner of stuff in these. The lids are not super air-tight but for short term I can't beat them, and their cheap.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

a good pair of tweezers - to pick up those tiny screws that fall into awkward places, or small bits of veneer

a deck of playing cards for shims

a few feet of surgical tubing - basically a bad ass rubber band - stretch it and tie around any shape to clamp

a few pipecleaners to clean out dadoes, dovetails, or crud on tools

 

[Tinker]

A couple of rolls of wax paper to protect clamps and tables when doing glue-ups

A roll of paper towels I use for many purposes.  Mostly for applying wipe on finishes and rubbing those finishes.  I use for cleaning dust off of surfaces to be finished.  Just about anything I would use a piece of cloth for wiping or cleaning. I am never tempted to try to save a used paper towel like I might a used rag.  And it is far tougher than I thought before first I ever used for wipe-on finishes.

Old fireplace bellows.  I use for blowing dust out of corners where my vac hose won't reach.  It doesn't suck dust, but with judicious directing, it gets the dust closer to the vac and i don't have to move machinery around so i can get closer with my vac. There's also a funny little story I am reminded with every use involved with the bellows. (still unwritten, but in my head for nearly 50 years. That one involves my MIL who is long gone)

Pencils in many corners and drawers.  I never can find the pencil I am using. I gave up trying to develop the habit of keeping close to where I am using or in my pocket long ago.  I just don't spend a lot of time looking as I know the pencil I have misplaced will turn up some where, some time.  If i mislay, i just open a drawr and there is a pencil.  If i find one lying around, i just stick in a drawer or put on a horizontal surface where it can be seen. 

Ear muffs.  They block out machinery noise so I can listen to the crickets and katydids.

Disposable gloves have been mentioned. I don't keep them in the shop.  I raid The BOSS'S supply.

Velcro.  I have several different widths.  That stuff comes in handy for many more times than I ever dreamed. 

Used tooth brushes.  I use mostly for cleaning tools, especially for cleaning router bits.

Tinker

 

[davetink]

I run the plastic containers from the market that we get cole slaw, chicken salad, etc. in through the dishwasher. If I know the person behind the counter they add a couple empties with a smile. Ok,Ok Ok I know i'm cheap. I just tell people I like to recycle.

 

[erock]

I keep a can of Dry Lubricant.
CMT blade/bit cleaner with a brass wired brush.
Chalk  for marking rough dimensions on my lumber.

Thinking about a ice machine and a whiskey cabinet.  Maybe my next project?  [eek]  [tongue]

Eric

 

[semenza]

2 oz. and 4 oz. portion cups. Great for mixing small amount of epoxy and such.

A couple dental picks. Scraping , hooking things. And cleaning out glue bottle nozzles. ( I guess those are more of a tool though)

Seth

 

[Kev]

Old wire coat hangers. I've fabricated so many temporary hooks, hangers, ties, etc this way. These days I just keep a couple of different gauge spools of wire handy .. but it's very similar.

 

[sancho57]

Fridge for the beer and pickles, and sandwich fixings, nothing beats a good sandwich

Oh and post its, chalk and crud cutter

 

[Kev]

Fridge for the beer and pickles, and sandwich fixings, nothing beats a good sandwich

Oh and post its, chalk and crud cutter

[member=10147]jobsworth[/member] my money was on you saying German beer maid ... [wink] [big grin]

 

[sancho57]

Well my burger girl does me just fine, om to lazy to change Avatars

 

[sancho57]

Props to Rick Christopherson

Ya need a iPad in the shop so ya can access his supplemental manuals.
I needed to adj my Kapex and his manual was clear and concise and easy so a idget like me could understand it.

 

[Mort]

I've got some wire clothes hangers I keep around. You'd be surprised how often they come in handy. Not for hanging, but clip them to whatever length you need, bend them, and you've got picker-uppers, drain uncloggers, and other stuff. I even used them for an inlay one time.

 

[leakyroof]

Auto Body shops love that Green 3M tape, I see it everywhere.  [smile]
My problem Richard, is that I've found too many 'handy' things to have in my shop over the years. Now I don't have anymore room..... [doh]

 

[Tayler_mann]

Speed shims
A box of these will last you a very long time and they are oh so handy to have around.

Of course a really good stereo as well to listen too.

 

[Cheese]

Speed shims
A box of these will last you a very long time and they are oh so handy to have around.

Whoops...the link says they're no longer available. [sad]
http://www.shop.peelashim.com/main.sc;jsessionid=407E709411EFFD98A8C90BB357D55E2A.m1plqscsfapp01