There are few things DIY enthusiasts love more than finding out new and clever ways to make projects easier to create, or ‘hacks’ as they are usually called. Once an innovative shortcut has been discovered, and if it is trialled successfully, it’s very likely that you will swear by it going forward.

We came across this info graphic from Crowe Sawmills  which details 10 hacks that could work brilliantly for woodworking projects. These involve simple substitutions, original ways of using an assortment of items or a clever combination of items to form a very handy tool. One such example is known as a notched square blade, where you take a regular trisquare and file a notch at the end of it for holding a pencil in place. You then slide the trisquare along the edge of a piece of wood to draw a perfectly straight line. It seems like such a simple concept but the vision to spot this and create a workable solution is remarkable.

Other woodworking hacks are considerably simpler, with regular household items performing a basic yet clever task. For example, a clothes pin can be used for holding a nail in place when hammering it into a wall, sparing you from gripping it carefully with your thumb and forefinger. Similarly, if you have a comb lying around the place, you can use it to store nails upright, making them much easier to grab than if they were lying on their side in a crowded toolbox.

Check out plenty of other clever woodworking hacks in the infographic below.