Lean Thinking Tip# 9: The Jig Is Up

Jigs are wonderful aids in the fabrication process.  Not only do they increase efficiency but they also improve precision.  Furthermore, more craftsman joy often derives from creating a clever jig than making the product itself.  Nonetheless most jigs are one time affairs.  I sometimes revisit these and wonder how in the world do you use it?  I have not left myself "operating instructions."  As these jigs accumulate they only add to shop clutter, and often the best place for them is as shown on the left.  "The jig is up."

Glassware Display Shelf Unit

Tool Tip #15: Hose through a Door

Over the years I've pinched and cut enough hoses and wires in my shop door because it was required to keep the door shut for heating, cooling, dust, vapors, etc.  The simple solution as shown is to install two cable hole grommets on either side of the door.  These serve to permit passage through the door, prevent chafing of the hose or wire and allow easy closure of the hole with the grommet's snap-in cover (lying on the sill).  My custom office systems have always included numerous cable hole grommets, though, with the advent of so much wireless equipment, the market for these will likely decline...a warning to investors in cable hole grommet manufacturers.

See also our shop at:  FlyingCircusStudios.etsy.com