Tne Onrcrrunl WooDWoRKtNG AND Home ... - Wood Tools

PROVIDE POWER FROMABOVE W|TH QUAD BoXESTo get electricity to the varrollspower tools in nry garage shop,I used to string out extension cordsacross the floor. But when you'rerunningS a table saw you don't wantto be tripping over a tangle ofcords.Unfortunately, all the outlets werelocated alonp5 ot're wall. So unless Irewired the garage, I needed anothersolution. The answer was to hangquad box extensiot-t cords frort-r theceiling over the grrage stalls (a6orc).Heary-dury ntbber-covered (Typ. S)l2-guge, thrte-wirc cord delivers thepower. A strain relief cord connectorfirm1y grips the cord where rt entersthe electrical box and keeps thewiring from puliing loose. You canfind the cord, connectors, plugs, andboxes at an electrical supply store orhave an electricin rig a couple ofquad boxes for you.The four outlets allow rne to plugin several machines. But since I can'tphysically operate urore than onetool at a time, I don't worry aboutoverloading the circuit.Hanging the cords overheadkeeps thenr fiom underfoot, and youshouldrr't have to continually swapthe extension cord frortr one tool toanother and blck. When itt not inuse, the box cru.t be pulled up rgainstthe ceiling with a lengtl.r of rope anda pulley. l\unthe rope :rlor-rg theceilir.rg and tie it off on the wall.TURN A SOTID.CORE DOOR INTO A BENCH'FOLDINGYOUR BENCH One rvay to deal with thisproblem is to molrnt a solid-coreI nx AGAn{sr rHE wALLf consrnvEs FtooR sPAcEdoor on hinges to the shop wall.It seerns theret never enough When you need the bench, itbench space, particularly duringthe assembly stage of a project.Yet, free-standing workbencheseat up a ton offloor space, particularlywhen you have to park acar in the middle of your shop.swings up and locks in place ot.rthe folding support wings. Withthe project complete, tuck awaythe wings under the bench and itfolds down flat against the wall,leaving rooln for vehicles or tools.I've bought alew solid-core doorswith nrinor dar.nage (attimes with hinges attached)in the "scratch and dent" sectionof the local home center. Ifthe door has already been drilledfor a lockset, simply rrountthehinges to that side and Ged cordsfrom power tools through the hole.2x4 mountinS platescrewed to wall studo-Q'(17+'x 28" x 80"in to allow the benchto fold down.l-edger-281t IIJ,!-!Vr wing ,//(l l|lY44woRKIJENCH ! MAI{CH IAl'}l{lL l()(lt)