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Cross-Grain Issue – Viewer Question/Project
This entry is both a Viewer Question and a Viewer Project. Several month’s ago, Tim emailed me with his question, and just this week he emailed me the results of his hard work. Check it out.
So I’m joining a vertical piece to a horizontal piece. I was originally thinking about using a [...]
Is a Respirator Always Required With Lacquer? – Viewer Question
Is something wrong with the lacquer I bought since it doesn’t have the offensive fumes and odor that I have heard so much about?
Check it out!Is Grain Filling Necessary? – Viewer Question
This viewer question comes from Chip who asks:
“In your finish video, you show how to fill the pores on an open grain wood like oak. Is this a required step, or is it an aesthetic decision? In other words, what happens if I don’t fill the pores?”
And my reply was:
Grain filling oak is both aesthetic [...]
When to Pre-Finish – Viewer Question
Brandon wrote in and asked:
Thanks for doing everything you do. One quick question if you have some time. I’m wondering how much of a project you assemble prior to beginning to apply finish? I have seen it done different ways. Some assemble after finishing and some finish after assembly. I would appreciate any advice you [...]
Bubbles in my Finish? Viewer Question
This week’s question comes from Zac who asks; “I am sealing a door I stained and I keep getting these little bitty air bubbles. I can sand them off, but they keep coming back. What do I do?”
And my response was: “Hey Zac. Bubbles can come from a few different sources. [...]
Rabbet Joint Strong Enough? – Viewer Question
This Viewer Question comes from Adam. He writes:
“Hey, it’s Adam with the chessboard again. I have upgraded from a simple chessboard to a chess table if you will. I am putting a drawer into the bottom of the chessboard. I just need to know if you think that a simple rabbet [...]
Wood Movement on a Chess Board? – Viewer Question
This Viewer Question comes from Reggie who writes:
“Marc, first thanks for the wonderful website!!! Second, I am relatively new to woodworking and have a question about wood movement on a chess board I am building for my son. My choice of woods are 3/4″ hard maple with a very little curl, and [...]
Filling Cracks When Turning? – Viewer Question
This week’s question comes from Skip who asks:
“I have some beautifully figured fruit wood (apricot) that I want to turn. There are a couple of cracks/checks in the piece. What should I use to fill the checks that will both look the same as the piece and not finish differently if I use oil? [...]
Check it out!Natural Looking Finish? – Viewer Question
This week’s question comes from Eric who asks:
“I’ve got a finishing question….I bet you get tired of hearing that! I have your Go-To Finish DVD and it is definitely top-notch…excellent work. I have started using the Arm-R-Seal and I agree that it is a great product. My question stems from the need for protection on [...]
Wipe or Blow Dust Off? – Question of the Week
This week’s question comes from Steve who asks:
“I just finished watching the refinishing blog and my only question is I have been wiping my pieces down with mineral spirits prior to applying my finish, I noted that you just blow your pieces off. My question is, am I gaining anything by wiping my pieces verses [...]
Does Cold Affect Glues and Finishes? – Question of the Week
This week’s question comes from Johnathan who asks:
It is getting really cold these days. I am worried about my glues and finishes that are stored in my shop. Do I have to throw away finishes and glues that have been in been in temperatures below manufacturer’s recommended temperatures or can I still use them later? [...]
Gun Case Design – Question of the Week
This week’s question comes from Tom, who writes:
I am planning a display case for a shotgun (grandfather’s) and a putter (dad’s), and perhaps a smaller case for two pocket watches (grandfathers’). I was thinking simple boxes at first, then I started considering adding some detail that could represent my contribution when I give them [...]
Is My Urethane Bad? – Question of the Week
This week’s question is from Terri who asks: “I make signs out of wood and last Spring (2008), I purchased a gallon of Helmsman Spar Urethane since I go through quite a bit of it (and absolutely love it). I had used a little more than a 1/4 of the gallon then stored [...]
Check it out!Using Spray Gun For Small Projects? – Question of the Week
This week’s question comes from Pierre who asks: “In a recent video, you spray paint your clock. This is something I would like to get into. I have everything to do it, but, I wonder…is it worth all the fuss of setting up and cleaning for just three small coats? What’s your procedure?”
And [...]
Veneering Over Solid Wood – Question of the Week
This week’s question comes from Martin. Let’s see what he has to say:
“I have a few boards of tiger maple and would like it to use it as veneer. I plan on building a chest of drawers in maple. I want to use solid wood for my veneer substrate for the top and drawer [...]
The Formula for Success? – Question of the Week
This week’s question comes from SGT Grigsby, a Serviceman in Italy who asks: “I am exiting the Military in a couple of weeks and on to Furniture-making school (Thank you GI Bill), My questions are: when you decided to start your own business, what was your formula for self success? How did you balance [...]
Check it out!Sander or Scraper? – Question of the Week
This week’s question comes from Jeff who asks: “Marc, generally speaking, when would you advocate using a sander, and when a scraper to finish a surface?”
And this was my response: “Well to put it bluntly, I never use a scraper for final finish preparation. My scrapers are tuned so that they take [...]
Using Clamps Vertically or Horizontally? – Question of the Week
This week’s question comes from Doug. “Hi Marc, Just watched the latest pod cast – good stuff as always. As I watched you glue up the doors, it occurred to me that I, we, you seem to turn the clamps with the “thin” side doing the work. Is there any reason we [...]
Check it out!Recipe for Sanding Sealer? – Question of the Week
This week’s question comes from a viewer who writes: “I’ve really enjoyed your podcasts, they are all very informative. I recently found myself more exited about woodworking. Though I’ve had an interest since childhood, I never really had the resources, till now (my wife also supports my dream). Anyway, I was watching [...]
Check it out!Finish for a Plywood Bathroom Vanity? – Question of the Week
This week’s question comes from Gordon who asks:
“Hi Marc. I have a customer who has requested a bathroom vanity, where the sink sits in the middle. My problem is that she is requesting it be made all of wood and I am worried about a top that could be exposed to sitting water. Is there [...]
Which Saw Blade Should I Buy? – Question of the Week
This week’s question comes from Pat who asks: “Marc, sorry for writing a book here. I am shopping for a blade for my used TS-3650 I just bought and will be buying a Dado blade also. I’m on a budget but good blades and safety are a must. Any light you can [...]
Check it out!Difference Between Spar Varnish and Regular Varnish? – Viewer Question
This week’s question comes from K Sanchez who writes: “What is the the difference between spar varnish and regular varnish?”
Now some of you may have noticed that I posted this question while I was on the road last week. An inquiry from reader Kip made me realize that I did a pretty crappy job [...]
How to Avoid Tear-Out? – Question of the Week
This week’s question comes from Don who writes: “Just discovered the Wood Whisperer and your site and videos are great. Besides we’re neighbors. I have a small shop in Las Vegas and we make Adirondack furniture from Western Red Cedar. My question is this. I round over all parts on a router table using [...]
Check it out!Climb-Cutting – Question of the Week
This week’s question comes from Paul-Marcel who says:
On play-day earlier this week (when I got my Bosch back from warranty repair -and- got the OF-1400!), I was using the 1400 to plow grooves for panels in this red oak cabinet. I was using a 3/8″ compression spiral bit to create a groove for 12mm [...]
Danish Oil on top of Shellac? – Question of the Week
This week’s question comes from Eric in Canada who asks: “I know you like to use dewaxed shellac and transtint for a bit of colour, and finish it off with General Finishes. GF is extremely hard to find here in Canada. Dewaxed shellac and the transtint is pretty easy to get. I was wondering [...]
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