Micro Projrct for Micro Tools

For over a few years now I did several micro projects as stands for small household items that ordinarily get shoved into drawers or laid on the kitchen table or desk: pocket knives, small flashlight, pens and pencils, etc. We all know what happens when we need them. It's a lot easier to find them when they're out in the open or when there is a power failure at night, you'd know where that little flashlight is.

A hobbyist woodworker has the advantage of being able to dabble in all kinds of projects - from big to small, from macro projects like a bed or desk to micro ones. I find micro projects a great destination for scrap wood. While I throw away a good amount of scrap, usually soft wood, I hold on to pieces of hard wood or exotic ones, as was the case here.

This project is appropriate because it is a stand or holder of a handful of micro tools, such as the sets of screw drivers and a pair of tweezers with tiny magnifying glass (very handy when I get a splinter) to fix the hinges on eye glasses. Micro tools are a must for replacing small batteries on small gadget controls, even watches, etc.

NOTE: While the reader is not expected to do a project exactly like this one, the techniques and tips here are worth noting.

Micro projects may be small but they require the same precision if not more so sometimes.

The base holder of this set of micro tools is a pentagon. Cutting miters to 36 deg. at each end of five equal pieces make a pentagon.

Tip: Rubber bands are perfect clamping tools for small pieces like this.

I laminated a light colored hardwood - pink flame - with walnut pieces.

Tip: Use a spacer along the saw fence to trim off uneven ends.

This is where a router table is so valuable. 

Tip: The only safe way to trim or cut off small pieces is to clamp it on a sliding sled. A long time ago I spent the time to make this jig exactly for the purpose of dealing with small pieces.  It comes in handy when you need, so keep it close by.

A bench hook, which I covered earlier is simply a good accessory on standby , such as when you need to do some some sanding of small pieces.

The next two photos below shows how much time I spent to figure out how the screw diver set will "seat" properly on the stand. 

If I may say so myself I thought this was a clever idea. 

A snapshot of the micro pieces which are obviously not ordinarily located in one place but were made to huddle here for a photo shoot. I'm sure I'll do another one when the need arises.