Finger Tip Information System

While set up for the workshop, to hold shop information I use often, this system can also be used to handle office data, cooking recipes, hobby notes, automobile data for the mechanic, or just about any data, charts or files you have printed for references. Its usable in the wood shop, the kitchen, the garage, the office, the warehouse, or any place where reference notes can be kept handy and at your fingertips. The individual leaves are removable so that you can take the information where you will be using it, or left on the wall as a handy reference source.

(1) 1/4" dowel (36" long) (One dowel makes two sheets)

(1) Foam Board 15" x 20" x 3/16" thick ( one foam board makes two sheets)

(2) 1" x 4" x 6" scrap wood to make the wall brackets

(1) roll painter's tape

(1) can of preferred spray paint (your choice)

(4) screws (to mount bracket to walls (#6 x 2" long)

printer paper copies of the information you want to mount to the boards, and a roll of scotch tape for mounting.

First thing is to cut the 36" dowel in half, giving you (2) 16" dowels. Set aside for the moment.

Secondly, cut the foam board in half so as to give you (2) pieces of foam board 15" x 10", and than cut the final sizes to 13 -1/2" x 10". You now have enough material prepared to make 2 leaves or sheets.

Now we will make the individual sheet or leaves, repeating for each sheet required.

First, mark on one end of the dowel, (at the one inch position), this is the point where you will line up the foam board bottom in the next step.

secondly, now run a small bead of wood glue along one of the 13-1/2" edges, align the mark on the dowel (from the pervious step), with the bottom edge of the foam and lay the dowel along the 13-1/2" edge and fix the dowel in place with strips of painter's tape as shown in the photo. When the glue dries, you can remove the tape as the bond between the dowel and board is solid! You should now have the foam board with a dowel spine that protrudes for 1" at the bottom and 1-1/2" at the top. Repeat the steps above to make the required number of sheets for your project.

For my project (Info center for my wood working shop) I wanted 5 leaves (or sheets). I selected the base shown because I wanted the leaves to be a bit further from the wall at the top bracket so the files would tend to self center and take up less space. Almost any bracket idea will work, from simple to fancy, just remember to use 3/8" holes so that the 1/4" dowels will not bind and are easy to install and remove leaves as needed.

NOTE: The sheet will set on the bottom bracket, and just the first 1/4" or so of the top of the dowel will fit into the top bracket. You set this distance by using a sheet to set the exact distance required for attaching the top bracket to the wall. This allows for the sheet to pivot in the holes as needed, (and by lifting the sheet up 1", the bottom of the dowel comes out of the bottom bracket, allowing you to slide the top of the dowel out of the top bracket, releasing the sheet entirely. Reverse the order and you mount the sheet back in the brackets.)

Mount your printed data. pictures or what ever with Scotch tape, not glue. This will allow you to change data in the future, and add new data as required.

You can add to this system by using another wall bracket and sheets, adding as needed, and easy to maintain, use and expand.