Telescoping work support rises to the occasion

As a frugal woodworker looking for ways to put pieces of scrap material to work, I designed this adjustable work support to provide a helping hand when working with long material at my miter-saw or drill press. The movable part of the stand is held in place through applied friction, and it's simple to adjust up and down according to your needs.

The T-knob, T-nut, and strike plate are held in the scrapwood T-knob housing, shown below, and provide the pressure on the clamp board. The housing also holds the sides of the base rigid while allowing the clamp board to lie loose along its upper half. To make fast adjustments, mark the heights for different tools or applications on the adjustable post.

-- John Lanigan, Concord, N.H.