Preston Press & Charter, February 2008

Tips for Proper Lighting in your Workshop

From Chris Baylor, Your Guide to Woodworking
When laying out the arrangement of the machines and tools in your shop, pay special attention to lighting. In a well-lit shop, every work space and machine has ample lighting positioned so that shadows do not occur to the point that the woodworker's productivity is hindered or safety compromised. To accomplish this, numerous types of lighting can be employed.

Overhead Lighting: Most of the light in the workshop should come from overhead lighting. Whether choosing fluorescent, incandescent or even metal halide lights (in large buildings with high ceilings), the fixtures should be spread relatively evenly to provide consistent overall lighting throughout the entire shop. Each of these types of lighting has their advantages and disadvantages, and personal preference may also play a part in your decision.

Focused Lighting: In some spaces, in addition to the overall lighting, it may be advantageous to place recessed flood or spot lights directly over some of your tools and workbenches. I like to have one flood light over my table saw and another over my miter saw. Be certain to position the recessed lights so that leaning slightly over your work won't cause shadows.

On-Tool Lights: Some tools, such as a Drill Press, come pre-installed with small dedicated spotlights that provide clean, direct light on your work. Some woodworking suppliers sell small aftermarket spotlights that can be added onto these tools if they don't come pre-installed. While these are terrific for supplementary lighting, they shouldn't be used as the sole source of light on the work space.

Optimizing the Lighting in your Shop: Probably the easiest way to help make your shop brighter and consistently well-lit is to paint the ceiling, walls and anything else that isn't nailed down white. The white walls will do a good job of reflecting light throughout the room. This one tip will make a huge difference in how light is diffused in the shop.

Top 10 Hand Tools Every Woodworker Needs

From Chris Baylor, Your Guide to Woodworking

If you're not sure what hand tools you'll need to get started in woodworking, this page should help. Below are the Top 10 hand tools you'll need for nearly any woodworking project.

1. Claw Hammer: Everyone has used a hammer at some point in their lives. While there are many types, the most versatile is the claw hammer with a smooth, slightly rounded finish head. Choose one that is not too heavy, but feels good in your hand. I prefer a 20 oz. model.

2. 6" Speed Square: A speed square is an invaluable woodworking tool. Not only is it probably the quickest and easiest tool for marking a square line for an end cut, but can be used to quickly mark any angle up to 45-degrees or measure up to six inches. I keep one in my back pocket or nail pouch whenever I'm in the shop.

3. 25' Retractable Tape Measure: A retractable tape measure is another tool that is an absolute must for any woodworker. A quality tape measure should have both Standard and Metric markings, a locking mechanism and a slightly loose hook on the end of the tape. The hook is loose on it's rivets by design so the user will get accurate results whether the tape is used to take internal or external measurements.

4. Utility Knife: A utility knife with a locking mechanism that uses disposable razor blades is another requirement for the woodworker. This versatile cutting device can be used for scribing a mark in a piece of stock, cleaning up a hinge mortise or any of a hundred other times when a knife is needed.

5. Chisels: The chisel is another essential woodworking tool. A finely-sharpened chisel is perfect for cleaning out waste from joints and mortises. I like to keep one each of 1/4", 1/2", 3/4" and 1" width bevel-edged chisels within easy reach.

6. Level: When you need to know if a piece of stock is perfectly horizontal (level) or vertical (plumb), you need a level. I like to keep two levels available: one relatively long level (I use a 28" or 36") and a short, 6" Torpedo Level.

7. Screwdrivers: Like the claw hammer, everybody has used a screwdriver at least once or twice in their lives. I keep a few versions in my shop: #1, 2 and 3 sizes of both Phillips and Flathead varieties, as well as a couple of square head, Torx and star drivers.

8. Sliding Bevel: A sliding bevel is very similar to a square, except that it can be adjusted to any angle and locked in place using a locking mechanism. This is very handy when an angle needs to be duplicated.

9. Nail Sets: A nail set looks somewhat like a small, round chisel, but is used to sink nail heads flush or just beneath the wood's surface. I keep three different sizes in my pouch.

10. Block Plane: The last absolute necessity every woodworker should have is a small block plane. This device is used for shaving thin amounts of wood away from the stock, and is invaluable for cleaning up edges during assembly.

Preston Press & Charter, February 2008

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