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I'm pretty sure "don't do it" is the typical recommendation, but I see nice steel brackets, legs, etc on Etsy that make me want to do it anyway and see how it goes. What clear coat would be least bad?

Installing receptacle & breaker. I have 10GA Romex and a 30A 220V breaker on hand. Will I be tripping the 30A breaker? I'm not using the welder full-time (welding is a side-hobby to my side-hobby), but would like to crank it up occasionally. Is a 30A breaker ok? Or will the 201XD try to...

I'd like to bend rebar. And probably other stuff. I see the Hickey Bar's about $37 and promises to bend up to 5/16 rebar. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L4ASFA2/?tag=atomicindus08-20 Then I recall the HF compact metal bender for $89 which seems a lot more versatile for bending other stuff...

I weld occasionally. Often when I first start welding, the wire pushes the parts apart before the metal is fully heated if the parts aren't clamped down well. Is this typically something related to under-voltage? Too fast wire speed? I see guys on YouTube holding a small part w/ one...

I have a Hobart 140 that I like, but I envy the clean, precise TIG welds. My 2-car garage is primarily a wood shop. Each time I fire up the MIG I open the garage, wheel the cart outside, and block off tools that have sawdust sitting them in case a stray spark launches far. From watching a...

Here’s how I’ve been building shop drawers for the past 5 years. They’ve all held up perfectly well with zero issues even when full of paint or nuts and bolts. This video is not intended for the artisan woodworker, but rather the doer who simply wants to crank out some drawers and keep on...

Strategic color usage has helped solve several usability issues in my shop - especially related to finding/identifying things quickly. It's not about measuring tapes really. Nor is it about bananas. It's about setting up our shops to free up our minds. Anyway, here it is ~11 minutes...

I’m working up a video about 3D printing for people who don’t live in their parents basements, but instead have workshops and do stuff. But, I don’t know anyone who has both a workshop and a 3D printer, so I’m soliciting advice. My argument will be that 3D printing has actual shop uses...

After much consideration, I finally swapped my fluorescents to LED. This video contains my notes about what options I chose and why. Also, I found some sweet connectors that allow easy *custom* fixtures (like PVC half-pipe!) If you converted to LED, which ones did you go with and why?

I didn't clean up for this shop tour, but it made for a good intro to my upcoming usability series. Topics covered: Horizontal Work Surfaces Organizers / Drawers One-Handed Access Open Drawer Handles Video (~10m):

Hey guys, I haven't seen this done before, so I worked up a video. A few years ago I tested my joints for leaks using a smoking stick and found it to be very helpful in identifying problem areas. This is sort of v.2 of that smoking stick. Ok maybe v.54. If you have any tips/advice about...

Hi. Here's a technique I haven't seen before, so I made a video. If you're the type of person who wants to see all router, dremel, and die grinder bits at once, check it out. Recommended dimensions and ways to achieve them are in the video: Wicked Fast Dremel & Router Bit Organizers Using...

I sandblasted a floating bunk bed, and we recently realized the issue of wetness that causes rust. Doh. I'd like to apply something - some oil, or something that can help prevent this. Ideally, something that won't rub off on the sheets. And I'd like to apply it in place.... I'm figuring...

Hey, I thought this would either make you guys laugh or sigh. A slow-speed, high-torque sander has had many uses in my garage over the past few years. But recently, I found that the KitchenAid mixer does the job better than my lathe. I expect this to be pointless for most of you.

A couple years ago I tried various options for unobtrusive band saw lighting, and ended up with something that has served me well ever since. This weekend I uploaded a video & instructable on it and thought I'd share it here. It's basically a slinky USB extension cable w/ a small flexible USB...

I've been making a lot of these lately, because friends keep taking them. For those of you who mount heavy things to walls or ceilings: Quick video. Basically, stick piano wire in a wire nut and sharpen it.

For the few of you who make your shelves out of melamine and hate trimming edge banding as much as I do, here's what I've been doing that is quick, easy, and low-risk. Put a scraper blade on an oscillating multi-tool, and go to town.

I'd like to make a proof of concept of a belt-driven fan with wooden blades. Something that moves super slow. I have an old 30RPM motor laying around (I think an AC motor), but it's super noisy. What sort of motor do I look for that will be quiet? Something like in a ceiling fan maybe...

Airbrush and leaf blower are both garage tools, so that's how I'm justifying posting in this subforum. Stealing the siphon feed airbrush concept, here's a ball launcher I'm pretty doggone excited about. We've enjoyed tinkering with it the past few days. If anyone has any useful ideas for...

So I picked up a 7.2V Black & Decker drill at a garage sale, not working. Cut it apart, hooked up a test power source, and it has a considerably torque-y motor that will work well for a dedicated slow-speed-sander. The chuck makes this quite nice, so that I can quickly mount/unmount various...