Date your heirloom projects with a penny

In the old days, master craftsmen carved the date of completion on a seldom-seen surface of a big project. You would like to leave a small mark in history too, but you're not sure about your wood-carving skills.

An easy way to date your heirloom projects is to use a shiny new penny. Take a ³⁄₄ " Forstner bit and bore a ¹⁄₁₆ "-deep hole in an out-of-the-way place on the project. Secure the penny in the hole with a dab of epoxy.
—Carl Sarine, Largo, Fla.