I told my son, "Hey, can you get me that speed square over there?" He said, "I don't see it." I said, "The triangle thing" He said, "A triangle called a square? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard." He was pulling my leg and he totally got me. He knew exactly what it was and why, but I bought his act completely.

Lots of good ideas here, but I'll have to wait till things get built and are selling. As far as pencils go, I'll stick with the giant carpenter pencils. My arthritis makes them easier to hold. I was working at a cabinet shop and the boss saw me using one to layout parts on a sheet of ply. He started hollering about using such to do layout! I calmed him down when I showed him that it was razor sharp across the entire lead, I sharpened it on the 6" grinder, and touched it up on a strip of sand paper! It holds the razor sharp line for a long time, because of the size and hardness of the lead, and you can point both ends too!

the sewing contraption- you bring up a good point-- i have found in every trade i have found tools that can be used in another

I love it when we find a way to go cross platform and use an existing tool in a new way. That button hole spacer would make for easily repeatable shelf peg holes, door and drawer pulls, marking for shelf grooves and so on. Next week from Kreg…

Your videos are invaluable to me. I am 70 years old I have just started woodworking. I'm obsessed with power tools but never knew about the practical tools you show in this video. Thanks for the links and info.

Matthew I love how you bring inexpensive good tools to our attention. And also making large profit from inexpensive materials. Me being disabled, I’m always looking for inexpensive tools. Take the track saw. Would love Mikita or Festool but you know what the Wen track saw and rails my wife surprised me with is just as good for a hobbyist. Size for 99 bucks and the rails were under 100 bucks. I have other Wen tools and am proud to say so. You don’t need fancy expensive tools to make great products. Love your channel.

My tip is to use small magnets and shrink wrap on your pens and pencils. Now they'll stick anywhere there's ferrous metal. I had to epoxy a magnet to the arm of my radial saw since it's made of aluminum and plastic. But it works great! And a pack of 50-100 magnets is about $10 on Amazon.

I used that pencil for a long time now I use the graphgear 500. It like yours has a fixed steel collar that let's the lead stick out far enough to follow the edge of a straight edge or template without breaking. They are fantastic and very worthwhile.

My husband and I love your videos! He's thinking of retiring in a couple of years and now would be a good time for him to start building up a woodworking business. It's always been his hobby. I'm buying a few of these handy items to go in his stocking!! Thanks and God Bless!

Oscillating tool ,Well I got one 4 Christmas and never even used till one day I had to flush cut a hole in the wood and since then it is hard to get out of my hands . It does so many cuts ,sanding, buffing, and they are the best.

Another great video Matthew! You're making my life easier in my little shop which is always appreciated ! As a 59 year old disabled woodworker I'm always looking for ways to make my life easier and also your series on small items/large profits is fantastic. Like you I started out building farmhouse style furniture with old reclaimed lumber but the older I've gotten the harder it is on my old broke up body(motorcycle accident caused by an intoxicated driver). I had been gradually getting away from the bigger Items and then I bought a wood lathe last October to try out the turning game and found a new passion. I still depend on woodworking for a nice steady part time income but I'm slowly building up the woodturning side of my shop. Going back to the smalls,I just had a lady order 8 of the farmhouse style small planter boxes,and I also used another of your ideas and keep the local small town farm/feed store stocked with them 😀 Again,thanks for all the great ideas! Always look forward to your next video!

Mind blown with the box cutter tip.

This guy is so simple. I love watching his videos. He sounds like a normal human being with extraordinary talent.

Yea great idea with that expanding Sewing Gauge!!

Hi Matt, another Kentuckian here and I’m so happy I found your channel. I’m retired and starting a small woodworking shop wanting to bring in some extra money. You’re doing an excellent job. Thanks

That first item is like a pastry tool and it has discs on the end like a pizza cutter! lines cakes and brownies for accurate cutting

I have had that same mechanical pencil since taking drafting classes in college in 1981. Still using it today. On projects I saw on your channel. LOL

Ohhhh, that flush cut blade for half lap joints!

Hello Matt, I really enjoy watching woodworkers on KZfaq, and you are right on the top of my list. Everything you talk about is relevant, down to earth, and you’re not just doing it on every new fess tool ever made! Keep up the great work and thank you.

Thanks Matt for sharing your knowledge and experiences. It's practical, usable, no BS, Keep 'em coming. Look forward to the next one

I love using zebra pens f series 301's for marking stuff. I also use a fly fishing vest to hold and store a bunch of my tools

Thanks Matt. I've just ordered an expanding sewing gauge! One cheap tool I'd recommend is a profile (or contour) gauge. It doesn't get used often, but it's occasionally just the right tool.

I use the DeWalt 10' tape measure. It's even smaller than the one you show with all the same features. You can buy packs of 3 for about $18 at Home Depot. I have them everywhere and they easily fit in the palm of your hand. My wife is a quilter and there are tons of templates and rulers available for just about any shape or angle. She buys bags full of small clamps in various sizes, 1" and up, for holding quilts together for sewing. They are fairly cheap and useful. She has racks with spindles on them for holding spools of thread that can be useful for hanging small items.

just found this channel about 2 days ago and man!

Thank you for all the ideas and instructions. I am a retired Pastor and have dreamed of making money with wood work when I retired. You are helping me achieve my dream. Thank You!

I really enjoy your videos. You are an inspiration. I went and ordered some of the items for me, and some for my dads Christmas stocking. You should do a video on stocking stuffers for crafters or wood working people.

The 17 Inch Auto Body Hand Sander from Harbor Freight is a great woodworking tool and it's under $8.

Thanks, I just ordered 3 things you detailed. :)

Hey Matt. I find using a xacto knife for markin measurements extremely accurate and it rids you of surface tear outs/fiber lifting so you don't need tape to get clean cuts.

I do scrapbooking, sewing, quilting and woodworking and people would be amazed how universal some tools really can be. I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge, tips and tricks along the way as well as unconventional tools like the expanding sewing gauge. Thank you. :)

the Expanding Crafting Sewing Gauge Ruler... Mindblown! 🤯👍

LOL, I have a pasta cutter that looks exactly like the sewing gauge! The kitchen or pasta sheet version just has tiny "pizza" cutting wheels attached to it! good tip!

I have a doozie to add to your list that's an absolute staple in my shop that I learned from a retired cabinet maker: Distilled white vinegar. Cheapest you can find in the volume you want. Why? After I've finish-sanded my project just before I want to apply my finish, I wipe the whole thing down to be able to see where I still have glue residue that will ruin any finish other than paint. It highlights residue like a finish would, except that you won't have to remove the finish and start over. It dries quickly and won't raise the grain like water will. May still want to take a light sanding pass after the vinegar has evaporated, but you'll have to see if it's necessary. Second use is to REMOVE that residue. Take a lint-free cloth, soak a spot on the cloth with vinegar, then pat the residue. If it's been sanded and there's not much left (because glue sinks into the wood), you can rub with the vinegar until the residue is gone without having to pat and wait. Actually pulls the glue out of the wood. On joints where you didn't get it off in time and scraping didn't get it all off (and there will be residue at the very least), apply by patting a good bit on the glue (don't flood joints or put too much on because if you do, it will melt your joint apart). Wait a few minutes and you'll see the glue turn opaque. On thick glue, say, where the joint isn't perfect and you have glue that settled thick somewhere, you may have to pat and wait several times. It seems like a lot of extra time, but do you really want a glaring light spot in your finish? Be patient, which I'm very bad about. I'm one of the least patient people I know, but on a commissioned piece? I can wait. "Wait" meaning 5-10 minutes. You don't want the vinegar to completely dry or the glue goes back to how it was. Once it turns opaque, you may see the edges start to lift (or you can use a fingernail and start peeling it off). At that point, you can peel off the majority or use a scraper. Rub again with some vinegar to get the leftovers, and voila! All residue is gone. All blobs, all "oops" prints, and anything you missed while sanding light wood and couldn't see. Cheap, sustainable, readily available, non-toxic, no respirator needed, no gloves needed ... and the best glue remover I've ever used on wood. Third use for those who are inclined: I did a 4 tier, 15-sided jewelry box and the top was a 3D copper sunburst-type pattern incased in clear resin. Used silver solder (has to be silver) to connect the copper. Used white vinegar mixed with copper sulfate (can get from Amazon for chemists, or go to a big box home improvement store and find 100% copper sulfate stump killer), wrapped the solder joints loosely in 4 ought steel wool, and set it in the mixture for about 20 minutes in a $2 oil pan like you'd use to change your oil yourself (because the piece was about 10" wide, so couldn't put it directly in the jar). Remove the steel wool and voila! Copper plated silver solder. I understand it also works with nickel or other plating, but that will likely take electricity. Many videos on here about that.

My favorite tape measure is Fastcap lefty/righty .. Every 16th inch actually has the number printed on the tape..

GREAT JOB! Love your ideas and use of other items for wood working. Here are a few more. Go to the Dollar Store, head down the lady's aisle with the eye pencils and fingernail polish. Think outside of the box. All those different types of brushes they use for make-up and putting on eye stuff - GREAT for detailed working, cleaning, painting and what every you can think of. Next, Fingernail Polish - I get the bottles of fluorescent colors. I mark all kinds of stuff with them to easily identify items. Example, sockets - I mark all my SAE one color and metric another by just putting a colored band around them. Have a screw that keeps backing out? Take it out, put a little fingernail polish on it and put it back in. DONE will not come out again, unless you want it to. Because fingernail polish comes in so many different colors, you can use them for painting as well. OBVIOUSLY for small stuff. the eye pencils - GREAT for making on different materials that pencils have a hard time marking. Fingernail files - look for the metal ones. Use them for making a small grove in wood, take a quick burr off, clean a spark plug (the smaller one work better for that). There are so many times I will get one if these files instead of a triangle file. Easier and faster. Head to the Art's aisle, glue dots, VELCRO, wood carving sets, picks, different paints, the list goes on. Give the Dollar Store a chance and go in with a different point of view, LOL, you'll find more uses for things than you though you would before going in.

I am a professional seamstress & have never seen one of those gauges before! Huh! I enjoy your do-able projects & common sense approach to woodworking! Thank you!

Mohawk makes great CA glues and Activators.

Thanks for posting these links.

always thinking outside the box! thanks

Thanks Matthew! You're a legit dude helping us all figure this out as we get started. Once we get into our new house the shop is my first project to get the side hustle started.

Well, I so and I have never seen one of those gauges. Awesome!

Great information, Matt. Thank you!

Another good tip is with nails shop tools, I use all the different nail files and the rotory nail files all the time. Also nail polish for the airbrush.

Helpful tools, thank you for sharing.

You actually showed me some things I don’t have that I feel I need. Thanks a bunch again!

oscillating tools are one of those tools that have been around for decades, before they found their way in to the hands of everyday people, doctors used them to remove casts on broken bones. Battery tools were first made for astronauts working in space, the first one were good for about 15 minutes with a 4 hour charge time

The box cutter is the most precise marking tool ever. Next is .5mm mech. pencil, then ball-point pen.

Another great video! Thanks for the info!

Great as always. This different approach is why I keep coming back. Another tool hack is the bbq basting brush/ the silicone one you can get at Walmart for $2. Using the utility knife you showed- cut that bad boy down to 3/4 inch. A lot cheaper than the Sili brand. Great for larger glue ups. I cut mine at an angle, like a sash paint brush. Works great.

Really appreciate your common sense approach to woodworking and the concern you show for those of us muddling along. Thanks for your help and expertise. Best wishes.

ROTFL...Appreciate the bloopers at the end man! It's more reality T.V. than most of reality T.V. lol. I like the use of that sewing tool as well! Hope you and family had a great 4th!

Some great small items that we all can use. Always enjoy your tips

The tape measure I always grab in my shop, is my 10' (3m) Stanley Tylon. I have 3 different mechanical pencils in my shop, 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9, depending on the level of precision I need. The Bosch hook & loop sanding attachment for the oscilating tool (also known as a delta sander here in Denmark, because of the triangular sanding attachment the Bosch version always came with back in the day) has 3 tips, so if one gets worn out, you just rotate the attachment. It is quite a bit bulkier than yours though.

Matt, there might be tons of similarly titled videos out there, but the difference is most of them are just infomercials trying to sell you a better mouse trap. While yours is pointing out to us that some of the best mouse traps are just hidden in plain sight. Thank you for opening up my mind

I love your channel. You have such a brilliant mind, and I thank you for sharing your ideas with all of us. Thank you! God bless you and your family.

I've wanted one of those button hole tools for years, but I didn't know what they were called. Just put it in my amazon cart! Thanks for another great vid!

Great video Mathew, I wish I saw this video before Christmas. Many stocking stuffer ideas that could have been on my list. Keep up the great work! By reading the comments in your videos, it’s clear to see you inspire many of us, thank you for imparting your knowledge.

Great video . Thank you .. it’s amazing how many kinds of adhesives there are now . Only had Elmers and rubber cement , testers . Good stuff

GREAT VIDEOS. I like the fact that you explain the tools and projects in a simple way. Thats great for someone with no prior experience.

Thank you for creating the most informative and concise woodworking DIY videos! I love your tips and how you encourage creativity and share your process :). Your passion for your craft is inspiring!

Another cool thing about the oscillating multi tool, the saw blades won't cut YOU.....I read that they were originally designed to remove the old style plaster casts back in the day

I freaking love my oscillating tool.

I love 2packs. Gives me one to lose and one to use while I work so I don’t have to stop working.

Immediately bought the dual head nail setter. Ended up going for the 4 piece pack as it has a few extra options (and drops the price down to about 6 bucks per piece). They're a steal!

Where i live i couldn't find ca glue activator. I use baking soda in water and a little spray bottle. Only thing is because its instant, you can't wet one side of the joint because it would set before you line up. I glue the joint, bring it together and give it a spray. Set in 1 second.

This would be great to space spindles for hand rails.

I have several 6 dollar tape measures. Best 6 dollars I ever spent 🙂🙂🙂

The thing about the multi tool blades go fast so you need to replace it often

Great video. Mind blown about the box cutter end.

Been doing custom cabinets for 20 years. I buy a new 16' komeleon tape nearly every month for same reasons. I use it so often the stopper wears out. This guy knows his shit

Wow this is awesome to see and to understand that tools also make the Job Easier Just like metal Projects ya Need the tools to make the job if ya willing to learn Helps alot thks again for sharin this will help me out lot,s

That button hole tool the 1st thing I thought was to use it for shelf pin placement that could be for specific height on shelves... I own the kreg jig for this but the spacing sometimes isn't good enough. Another one I don't see is a hand sawdust broom for your work surfaces, I watch people take leaf blowers or shop vac hoses to the work surfaces, I bought a hand broom for $1 at dollar tree and I have foam board attached to My work table for breaking down sheet goods... make my cut sweep it into a dust pan and im good to go for the next cut.

Interesting you use a sewing tool for woodworking. I have bought several woodworking tools for my sewing station! An angle square, an awl, a protractor and a pack of gasket picks. All come in very useful! Love your videos!

Another video that hits the sweet spot and fills the void! Great content and nice work.

Awesome presentation, straightforward, real good advice thank you, great vid! xx

As I said before you’re a great bank of knowledge!! Thank you so much. 👏🇨🇦

Did not know about the button spacer OR the end of the razor knife..... thank you!!!

That button thing is awesome! Thank you. And I love the Komelon tapes. It takes a little getting used to, but it when you're doing something one handed, it really helps. And the vertical measurement on the back is nice!

My favorite under $10 tool is the Harbor Freight Japanese pull saw. It may not last like the $15 Irwin brand at the big box, but it was about $5 when I bought it 5 years ago. I got it to see if I'd like the tool (I did, obviously), then upgraded to a (slightly) better 1, and use the old 1 as a carry tool in my truck box. If it gets damaged there, well, it's just a 5 dollar tool. I've used Harbor Freight tools to get trial tools various times, some, like the oscillating tool, I never needed to replace.

The little square is great for checking 90 on your table saw ..it sits below the teeth

If you know where and what to look for, it does not have to be expencive. The fun sometimes is hunting for the simple idears. You can buy an instrument for $100 when you can do it with 2 sticks and an pencil.

I literally just made a mitred frame two nights ago and I WISH I had known about the CA Glue Activator!! Thanks so much for the great info!

Love your videos!!!

I love your videos and how you go to into the step by step process and how you try to help others. Thanks

The one thing I never see in any wood shop videos is a thermometer. My shop is in the bonus room of my garage. So it gets HOT!! So when applying paint or clear coats I haft to watch the temp. I keep a kitchen thermometer at my ceiling

The button spacer is also good for spacing dove tails

Great video.

Thanks Matt giving some great info.

Awesome, thanks for the links!

I like it when you tell us where to get what you are showing us.

that dual head nail setter is awsome

Love thinking outside the box! Great tools for a great price!

Thank you for sharing your knowlege. I always look forward to the next video!

New sub been binge watching last couple days. Ordered the sewing gauge and finger sander. Awesome thanks man

Great video!

Dad made his living drafting blueprints long before computers. His hobby was, ta-dah, woodworking. A .009 mm pencil was a constant in his shirt pocket.

I prefer the tri-square to the framing square

Great info, Thanks

I recently discovered your videos and really enjoy them. I like how you use fence pickets for projects. It makes someone on a very tight budget be able to build more. One thing I can’t help but notice is you have a twin on another tv show. If you wore black on black I would swear your Shawn aka murder nova from street outlaws. Thanks for all the great videos.

Nice vid. Keep ‘em coming. While some are things I knew some are not. Especially like the blade snapping off with the little cap on the end. Thank you.