Jodee from Inspire Woodcraft shared the woodworking tips featured in this video.
The video highlights five unexpected yet highly useful items that Jodee reaches for in the shop more often than many traditional tools.
These small additions solve everyday problems—from lighting tight spaces to holding templates—without requiring complex setups.
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Flashlights: small, bright, and versatile
A compact, purpose-built flashlight is more than a convenience—it’s a practical shop tool for focused, hands-free illumination. Jodee points out that a dedicated light avoids the need to reach for a phone and keeps work areas well lit for detail tasks.
Look for lights with multiple output levels and features like magnetic tails or flexible mounting so the light can be propped or attached near saws, routers, and overhead rails.
The ability to position bright, concentrated light exactly where it’s needed makes setup, layout, and inspection much easier.
Double-sided paper tape: tiny but transformative
Thin double-sided paper tape is a deceptively powerful shop aid for stop blocks, temporary jigs, and templates. Jodee emphasizes its thin profile and reusability, which make it ideal for quick setups and repeatable layout work without bulky clamps.
Used carefully, this tape speeds layout and keeps parts aligned during cutting or drilling; however, it can become a crutch if overused in place of good fixturing. Jodee has also covered techniques for handling and tearing the tape cleanly to get the most out of it.
Silicone mat and parchment paper: containment and cleanup
A silicone mat serves as a reusable work surface for sharpening, glue-ups, and messy finishing tasks that produce slurry or drips.
Jodee highlights silicone’s lack of “memory,” meaning folded mats flatten out without permanent creases and can be peeled clean after glue or slurry cures.
Parchment paper is an inexpensive alternative for larger projects or when a custom-sized disposable surface is preferred. It’s handy for containing powders, dyes, and glues and can often be reused several times so long as liquids don’t dry into it and cause wrinkling.
Circle templates and French curves: consistent shapes, every time
Simple circle templates make laying out identical radiuses quick and reliable, especially when they include centerlines or crosshairs for accurate alignment. Jodee uses them to ensure repeatability across parts and to speed marking in the field.
French curves complement circle templates by providing access to irregular, flowing shapes that aren’t true radiuses. They’re useful for smoothing transitions and developing custom profiles during prototyping or when a small, odd curve makes a design sing.
Why these “weird” tools matter
These items don’t replace core tools, but they change how efficiently routine tasks are executed and reduce friction in the workflow. Jodee demonstrates that small, inexpensive additions can yield outsized improvements in accuracy, setup time, and cleanup.
Adapting these tools to a personal shop is straightforward: start by identifying recurring small problems—poor lighting, messy glue-ups, inconsistent radiuses—and match one of these tools to the need. Over time, they add up to a noticeable boost in productivity and enjoyment.
Support Jodee by visiting his online store here: https://inspirewoodcraft.com/collections/all.
Matt’s Take
These are my personal thoughts and tips based on my own experience in the shop. This section is not written, reviewed, or endorsed by the original creator of this project.
These picks really highlight something I love about woodworking — the best solutions are often the simplest ones. A quality flashlight beats overhead shop lighting every time when you’re trying to see into dado grooves or check glue squeeze-out in tight corners. I keep one on my bench at all times, and the magnetic base feature is pure gold for positioning light exactly where you need it.
That double-sided tape tip is spot-on for template work. The thin profile means it won’t throw off your measurements like thicker adhesives can, and being able to peel it off cleanly saves both time and materials. Just remember to press it down firmly and give it a moment to bond before relying on it for critical positioning.
The silicone mat approach is smart thinking for containing messes. One thing I’ve found helpful is keeping both the mat and parchment paper stocked — sometimes you want the reusability of silicone, other times you just want to toss the mess when you’re done. French curves might seem old-school, but they’re incredibly handy for fair curves and transitions that look natural rather than mechanical.
These tools prove that shop efficiency often comes from solving the little annoyances that slow you down. A $15 flashlight or a pack of templates can save you way more than that in time and frustration over the course of a few projects.