Awl holder
I have two awls in a toolchest drawer that roll around and stop in unpredictable locations.
Solution: This notched frame, made from oak strip flooring, keeps the awls in their proper places.
I have two awls in a toolchest drawer that roll around and stop in unpredictable locations.
Solution: This notched frame, made from oak strip flooring, keeps the awls in their proper places.
Whenever I opened or closed its kitchen drawer, my heavy MagLite would roll around and crash into other objects in the drawer. Aside from potential damage, this violates a basic rule of organization: a place for everything and everything in its place.
Solution: This cradle, made from oak strip flooring and non-slip rubber feet, keeps the flashlight stationary and readily accessible.
The pump on a lotion bottle stops working when the bottle is almost empty. To get access to the remaining lotion, we invert the bottle and lean it against something on the counter top. However, whenever we do this, the bottle inevitably falls or gets knocked over.
Solution: This stand, made from a 2x4 scrap and aluminum bar stock, holds the bottle steady while it's draining.
Problem: I was working on a project that required a large diameter center punch but didn't have one and was too "thrifty" to buy one.
Solution: I found a steel railroad spike in my metal stock bin and shaped it into a punch. Here's the before and after:
During video chats, my son's image was unsteady because he had no way to hold his phone at a convenient, stable angle.
Solution: This iPhone stand, made from a salvaged maple cabinet top, holds the phone at any angle in portrait or landscape orientation. The stiffness of the moveable "tilt control" arm can be adjusted with a phillips screwdriver. The center gap allows use of a charging cable while the phone sits on the stand.
The kitchen island countertop is cluttered with charging cables, cell phones and tablets.
Solution: I installed a 120VAC outlet in the wall behind a kitchen cabinet and routed an extension cord from the outlet to a drawer. A cable management arm, made of salvaged aluminum framing from an old skylight shade, keeps the cord from hanging down and touching items inside the cabinet. A 60W USB charging station is mounted in the drawer which can deliver maximum charging current to several devices simultaneously. The drawer accommodates lots of devices, with storage space left over for cables and accessories.
My letter opener shifts in its drawer, which often makes it and other objects hard to grab.
Solution: Two small but powerful magnets (surplus from my home alarm system) are secured to the inside of the drawer with screws. Now the letter opener is easy to find and grab and it doesn't clutter the drawer.
It's impossible to sweep the garage without first moving ladders out of the way.
Solution: This ladder hanger, made from steel angle stock. The hanger is mounted to a salvaged scrap of 2x12 lumber with machine bolts, and the 2x12 is secured to studs with lag bolts, making it sturdy enough to easily support two ladders. A "lip" prevents ladders from falling off in the event of an earthquake.
I needed a stand for my iPad Mini and wanted something unique for the job.
Solution: This tablet stand, made from oak strip flooring and oak planks salvaged from an old pallet, supports the iPad in either orientation with adjustable tilt.
My daughter needed a safe place to keep her engagement ring while washing dishes.
Solution: This ring holder, made from a broom handle and a kitchen faucet hose weight. I hand-shaped the wood and cut the steel weight in half with a metal cutting wheel. A lacquer coating makes it water resistant.
In a childbirth prep class, I learned that it's important for the expectant mother to have something to focus on, and for her partner to remind her to breathe during contractions.
Solution: This handheld device displays an oscillating bar graph which serves as both a focal point and a reminder to breathe. The bar graph sets the pace for breathing, and can be sped up or slowed down to suit the preferences of Mom-to-be. When the going gets rough, the mode can be changed to display a random number that indicates the number of oscillations until the next random number display -- an effective distraction that provides short-term goals along the way. I created this in 1992 using an LCD display module and a wirewrapped board with 8748 microcontroller; today I would implement it as a smartphone app.
Installing Christmas lights on outdoor trees is a difficult, dangerous and time-consuming task when standing on a ladder.
Solution: I removed the rotary brush holder from an an old paint roller, then cut the rod and bent it to form a hook. The original handle was poorly threaded, so I attached it to a threaded cylinder which I cut out of an old push broom. The resulting assembly screws onto a standard telescopic pole to make quick work out of installing and removing Christmas lights.
When parking in the garage, how do you know when you've pulled in far enough?
Solution: This indicator, made from carpet and lumber scraps, an old bike reflector and a couple of salvaged springs. The reflector at the top moves when the vehicle touches the assembly. I still use my original hanging tennis ball, which serves as a "slow-down" warning by touching the windshield when the vehicle has almost reached its target position. This allows me to drive in quickly until I hit the "slow down" indicator, and then creep in slowly until the reflector moves.
How to organize hair appliances?
Solution: This device, made from a 4x4 with appliance-sized holes. A thin plywood bottom is used to create "blind" holes so that the holder can be lifted with appliances intact.
| Workshop | ‣Awl holder ‣Center punch ‣Pole hook |
|---|---|
| Garage | ‣Ladder hanger ‣Vehicle stop indicator |
| Kitchen | ‣Flashlight cradle ‣Charging drawer ‣Letter opener ‣Ring holder |
| Bathroom | ‣Lotion bottle stand ‣Hair appliance holder |
| Electronics | ‣iPhone stand ‣Tablet stand ‣Labor coach |
Copyright © Jim Lamberson
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