Pipe up for finishing helpers

When I went to stain my latest project, I didn't have enough painter's pyramids to elevate it off my workbench. Not wanting to postpone finishing, I made risers from ¹⁄₂ " PVC pipe. I simply cut one end of each piece at 45°, drilled a hole midway through the pipe, and inserted a nail with the head cut off, securing it with heat-shrink tubing. The pipes fit nicely in bench-dog holes and make minimal contact with the workpiece.
—Merle Riesgaard, Conroe, Texas