No, this is not a new way to file your toenails while walking. It’s a real tip published in the Methods of Work department in issue #15 of Fine Woodworking. Methods of work, or MOW as we call it in-house, is one of the most popular sections of the magazine, and it’s where our well-tuned woodworkers share ideas that have helped them overcome various woodworking obstacles.

Recently I’d been working on a project that required me to browse the various MOWs, beginning with issue #1. It was cool to see the progression of tips from then to now. Things obviously were simpler back in 1979, at least in the woodshop. But one thing has been consistent through the years: woodworkers have been way ahead of the curve in terms of reusing and recycling items in the shop.

Christy Udell’s files may have smelled funky, but the idea is sweet in its simplicity.