Quick projects for beginners

Chisel pockets

Here’s a neat tabletop chisel storage idea that’s a snap to build from scrap boards. It angles the handles toward you for easy reach.

Start with a 4-in.-wide board. Using your table saw, cut stopped slots to match the width and depth of each chisel (plus some wiggle room). Screw or glue on another board to create the pockets, then run the lower edge of the doubled board through a table saw with the blade set at 15 degrees. Now cut three triangular legs with 75-degree bottom corners and glue them to the pocket board.

If you like, drill a few holes through the boards for pegboard hooks so the holder is easy to store on the wall.

Tape caddy

Keep your tape rolls in one place and easy to use with this plywood dispenser. When you run out of tape, just lift the dowel out of the notches, reload and slide it back in the notches. You’ll need:

■ Two 5-in. x 6-in. side pieces of 3/4-in. plywood

■ One 5-in. x 12-in. plywood base

■ One 1-in. x 13-1/2-in. hacksaw blade support

■ One 14-in. x 1-1/2-in.-diameter dowel rod

■ An 18-tooth, 12-in. hacksaw blade

Notch the sides to the dimensions shown and screw them to the base, along with the hacksaw blade support.

Saw the dowel ends to fit in the notched sides and screw the hacksaw blade on the support, positioning it so the saw teeth extend a little beyond the edge of the plywood. That’s it. Load up with tape and you’ll never go hunting for stray rolls again.

Shop-made parts boxes

Have you priced those plastic parts bins? Too expensive! Instead, make your own out of scrap. The trick is to keep them modular. Make the front, back and bottom from 3/4- or 1/2-in. material, and the sides from 1/4-in. plywood. Nailed and glued together, they’re plenty tough. The ones shown here are 12 in. front to back (to fit in old kitchen upper cabinets), 3 in. tall, and either 3-1/2 in. or 7 in. wide. Save up some scrap and you can make a couple dozen in an hour or so.