DIY Network

Workbench and Accessories: Brick Weights and Storage Solution From "DIY Tools & Techniques" episode DIT-306

In this segment, host David Thiel offers solutions for a couple of common shop problems.

A rubber coating has been applied to this brick to prevent loose grit from making a mess all over your project.

Kitchen storage bins attached to a fold-out drawer keep small items at your fingertips.

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Bricks are great for weights and hold-downs, but they often leave gritty traces on your projects. To solve this problem, wrap the bricks in plastic wrap. For a more permanent solution, dip or spray the bricks in rubberized plastic to de-grit your bricks.

Tip: Knock off loose grit and round-off corners by rubbing bricks together.

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

1. Pour rubber coating into a container. There should be enough coating in the container to cover half a brick when it's placed inside. You can create your own container out of scrap wood (figure A); just make sure it's held together tightly so that the rubber coating doesn't seep out.

2. Next, dip a brick into the container.

3. Remove the brick, then place it on a Teflon-coated pan to dry (figure B).

4. After the brick dries, dip the other side of the brick into the container.

5. Finally, allow the brick to dry.

In most shops, there's no place to keep small items handy. To solve this problem, make a wood frame, hinge a board to it and you've got a drawer for your workbench. Add some kitchen storage bins to the drawer to keep those items within reach.

1. Make a wood frame to go on the edge of the workbench.

2. Next, attach the frame to the workbench.

3. Cut a piece of 1 x 8 to hold the storage bins.

4. Use hinges to attach the piece of 1 x 8 to the workbench (figure C).

5. Now, attach storage bins to the 1 x 8 board (figure D).

6. Add a couple of drawer pulls to complete the project.