Popular Post difalkner Posted February 8, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted February 8, 2018 This is more of a tip than anything else but this is as good a place to post this as any, I guess - It occurred to me this afternoon as I reached for a couple of the wedges I keep handy that maybe this isn't a normal 'go-to' for some folks so I thought I would share this. Often I find myself needing to support a long piece for driving screws, chiseling, drilling, etc. and sometimes there just isn't a convenient way to do this. So, a long time ago (eons) I cut a dozen wedges of Maple to use for jacking a suitable block to support another piece. The photos below will far better explain what I'm rambling about - 42" long piece of Walnut and needing to chisel out for hinges but to support the piece I would have to cut a block to fit. Or, I could grab a block, two wedges, and the block now is very tight and exactly the right size for support - If you already do this then great; if you don't it doesn't take long to cut a handful of these hardwood wedges to have ready for when you need them. There are other ways to do this, of course, but this is quick and easy and doesn't require any cutting or tools - just grab what's handy and go on to the task at hand. I keep a few of them on my tablesaw fence because they also come in handy if a board is trying to close up on you and pinch the blade. You can probably go back and look at some of the photos and videos I've posted and see them right there and handy. David 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted February 8, 2018 Report Share Posted February 8, 2018 Great tip, David! I keep a pack or three of door shim wedges in the shop for tasks like this, but they are usually one and done. I like your hardwood version better. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted February 8, 2018 Report Share Posted February 8, 2018 9 minutes ago, wtnhighlander said: I keep a pack or three of door shim wedges in the shop for tasks Me too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted February 8, 2018 Report Share Posted February 8, 2018 I have a small office type trash can full of cedar shims in the shop. I toss all the offcut pieces back in the can. It's easy to grab for installs onsite too. Of course any time I taper something those scraps go in the can as well. Maple and mahogany shims occasionally add to the collection. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dknapp34 Posted February 8, 2018 Report Share Posted February 8, 2018 I sometimes find myself struggling with all sorts of crazy clamp configurations and other ad hoc nonsense, when, in hindsight, a couple of simple wedges would have done the trick. Every time I read an article or helpful post like this, it reminds me that sometimes the simplest solution is the correct one and I kick myself for not thinking of using wedges. Obviously, I will forget it immediately, but great tip nonetheless! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted February 8, 2018 Report Share Posted February 8, 2018 I use wedges all the time. You can lift a house with wedges. This first picture shows opposing wedges that were used to raise a sagging roof back up to flat. First we built these huge trusses that tied all the ceiling joists together, and wedged the 4" sag up over the top of the trusses. The chords on the 44' long trusses are 2x12's. Shingles seen in that picture are 134 year old Cypress. The rafter system was WAY underengineered in that 1850 house. We raised it a lot more after this picture, but did it slowly over a couple of weeks. To raise this 1755 house back into position, in preparation for rebuilding the stone foundation, wedges were used on top of a shoulder on the temporary legs, under the repaired sill, to tighten everything up before bolting the legs to the house. These wedges could easily lift the house off the jacks 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted February 8, 2018 Report Share Posted February 8, 2018 You can never have enough wedges! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted February 8, 2018 Report Share Posted February 8, 2018 1 hour ago, Immortan D said: You can never have enough wedges! Just don't confuse wedges for wedgies. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
difalkner Posted February 8, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2018 46 minutes ago, drzaius said: Just don't confuse wedges for wedgies. I wondered how long it would be before that comment cropped up! LOL! David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted February 8, 2018 Report Share Posted February 8, 2018 Some of us will never grow up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted February 9, 2018 Report Share Posted February 9, 2018 14 hours ago, Dknapp34 said: Obviously, I will forget it immediately, but great tip nonetheless! Just a reminder. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted February 10, 2018 Report Share Posted February 10, 2018 On 2/8/2018 at 11:25 AM, drzaius said: Some of us will never grow up. Why would we do that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pd711 Posted February 22, 2018 Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 On 2/7/2018 at 10:10 PM, wdwerker said: I have a small office type trash can full of cedar shims in the shop. Ditto. I buy a bundle of shingles every once in a while and rip them to about 1-1/4" wide and keep a box of them in the corner of the shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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