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1500 questions
20
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3 answers
How do I determine what type of wood a board/plank is made from?
I get wood from many places, including pallets. Often the wood will be of several varieties. By matching color and grain style, I can group similar types of recovered wood planks together. How do I determine which piece is what type of wood (e.g.,…
Adam Zuckerman
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4 answers
What are the differences between sanding and scraping?
How do both techniques compare? In terms of result, cost, applicability to different kinds of wood, different shapes of work pieces and cleanliness of process.
I always used sandpaper to get a smooth surface, which you have to buy again and again.…
null
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20
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How to remove dust after sanding before applying paint/oil/glue?
Before one can paint a piece of wood, it should be clean from any dust on its surface.
What is the recommended way to remove the dust?
I tried using
a hand brush, which only got rid of the rough bits and pieces
a vacuum, which worked great for the…
null
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19
votes
4 answers
How should I store the batteries of my cordless drill?
I have a nice cordless drill that came with two rechargeable batteries. However, there are times when life gets in the way and I'm not using the drill at all over the course of several months. When I return to the drill, both of the batteries have…
drs
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19
votes
8 answers
What is the difference between "curing" and "drying"?
When learning about different finishes, some resources talk about the finish's drying time, such as this Zinsser Shellac.
The shellac dries to the touch in 15 minutes and can be re-coated in 45 minutes
Whereas others refer to a curing time, like…
drs
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19
votes
3 answers
How can I attach a solid table top to perpendicular cross rails?
I plan to build a coffee table following plans in Fine Woodworking. In the article, the author uses a plywood top, but I already have solid lumber that I'd like to use.
Source: me, based on plans in Fine Woodworking #242
The author of the article…
lars
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19
votes
3 answers
which direction does wood expand?
I know that wood expands due to seasonal changes in humidity and temperature, but that's the extent of my knowledge about it.
In which direction do wood boards expand? In the same direction as the grain? Perpendicular to the grain direction? Both?…
Dan Mantyla
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19
votes
4 answers
What types of food-safe finishes work best for protecting wood that will be outdoors?
I am building some garden boxes out of Cedar. I'd like to protect them so that the wood lasts longer, but I am concerned about certain finishes that might leach contaminants into the soil. Is there a clear winner in this regard? Are there…
Peter Grace
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19
votes
2 answers
What are the advantages of countersinking screws?
What are the advantages of drilling a countersink rather than just trying to force the screw head past the plane of the wood?
What are situations when you would or would not countersink?
Daniel B.
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19
votes
8 answers
How do I shop for lumber to use in home wood working projects?
When I took wood working as a student, I learned to finish rough wood - cut it to rough size, joint it, plane it, rip and cross/cut on a table saw, etc. As much as I'd love to own large versions of all these machines, it's not practical for the…
Steven
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19
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7 answers
What can I do to eliminate drift when cutting with my bandsaw?
I recently purchased my first Band saw and am loving its versatility for making curved cuts even in thick wood. However, when it comes to situations where I need a precisely straight line, for example re-sawing lumber and cutting veneers I find that…
JohnFx
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19
votes
4 answers
Why and when should I wear a dust mask?
I'm a handy man with limited woodworking projects these days. I mostly use a circular saw, jig saw, and orbital sander to make crude storage. Sometimes I cut MDF, etc.
I've seen it mentioned several times on this site that you should wear a dust…
Zach Mierzejewski
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19
votes
2 answers
What type of joint should I use for building a piece of furniture that will be assembled and disassembled?
I am working on a large piece of furniture that cannot fit into my home fully assembled. I must carry the smaller pieces through the door and assemble the item in its final resting place.
What type of joint is most appropriate for portions of…
Ashley Grenon
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19
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4 answers
At what stage of basic furniture making should I "finish" the wood?
I have purchased wood in order to make some basic furniture:
One of these will be placed outside (simple table),
One inside the bathroom, (basic chest of drawers)
And another in the hall way (shoe rack).
I've already done some work, ie, cutting…
Phil
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18
votes
3 answers
What general considerations do I need to take into account for wood movement?
I know that wood movement is an issue, but it's a bit vague for me where I should be concerned with it.
This page Suggests that there is almost no movement in the longitudinal direction, but that there is significant movement in radial and…
Daniel B.
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