Trying to keep a working set of building plans orderly on a job site is almost impossible. They always fall apart and end up on the floor. I solved the problem on our job sites with a piece of 1-in. PVC conduit that is about 8 in. longer than the height of the plans. As shown in the drawing, the conduit acts as a reinforced binding for the drawings.
To make the PVC binding, I start by cutting 45° ends on the conduit. Then I screw the conduit to the edge of a 2×4 through the angled ends. Next I set the blade of the table saw just high enough to cut through the wall of the conduit down its center. The 2×4 rides against the saw’s fence during the cut, and the screws hold the conduit steady as the blade cuts a kerf in the side of the conduit.
Kerf cut, I lop off the 45° ends and round the corners of the kerf with a file. Now the binding is ready to slide the stapled ends of the plans into the saw kerf. The overhangs at the conduit ends act as hooks to hang on a couple of nails.
Randy Hopper, Santa Rosa, CA
