1. Unplug first your power tool to figure out which cordless tools like drill/drivers get the most use. Almost all tools that have nickel cadmium (NiCad) batteries hold some charges for up to a year. They lose 15 to 20 percent of their juice each month but can power up again in a few of hours. However, if you use newer tools with lithium ion batteries (LIB) only lose 2 to 5 percent of their juice each month; even though you haven’t charged them for months they’ll be ready to go.
2. Spread the sawdust gathered by your dust collection system to the floor. Wet them down and then push them around using a stiff broom to remove the remaining rubbish from your concrete garage or workshop floor. This mix is the same as the power-guzzling shop vacuum but it doesn’t swirl into the air.
3. When you use incandescent bulbs (with dimmers or three-ways) on multiple fixtures of your workshop, increase the brightness of your lights. One 100-Watt incandescent bulb emits more light compared to two 60-Watt bulbs combined. It only requires 17% less power. The 100-Watt bulb is twice brighter than a four 25-Watt bulbs but still uses the same energy. Just be sure your bulb doesn’t exceed the maximum wattage recommended for each fixture.
4. Save the plastic transparent container of your leftover take-out. It can’t be recycled in most municipal waste system, instead you can use them to organize your nails, screws, and leftover paints. These see-through containers can be stack neatly and display contents for you to find right away what you’re looking for. Their tight seal can also help preserve solvents. You can also double the thin containers for more durability.
5. After cleaning oil-based finishes from brushes and tools, you can still save the paint thinner that you used by allowing the dirty solvent to sit overnight. When the sludge settled at the bottom of the jar, a layer of clear thinner on top is left. Using a clean jar, carefully pour the clear thinner into it. Reseal tightly for future use. Do not pour the sludge into the sink or into a street gutter but at the nearest hazardous-waste-disposal site.
