Woodworking Stack Exchange
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2 answers

What is this brace bit cutter tool exactly and how is it used?

I was liberating some old hand tools from my grandfather's shop again, before grandma throws them in the garbage, and found some more interesting things. This time I am sure that this one is a woodworking tool! It looks like a tool that's a…
Matt
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Can one install bench dog holes in soft surfaces like MDF or softwoods?

I have a number of Kreg workbenches that I have made with help of their Pocket-hole jig. The workbench tops are made by layering MDF atop a 2x4 frame. I am wondering whether multiple layers of MDF would be effective in holding a bench dog tightly,…
Peter Grace
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How do I chisel against the grain without splintering?

I've been practicing chiseling lately. I had to cut a corner out of a 3/4" thick piece of pine and I was feeling good so I gave it a shot. The position of the corner meant I had to cut against the grain direction: I made knife lines and sawed most…
Jason C
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Efficient paint removal from rough sawn wood

I have some rough sawn timbers in my house that were painted over by the previous owner of the house1. I believe the timbers are a softer wood like fir as they are more decorative than structural. The three 4" x 8" x 18' timbers appear to have been…
user2
10
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5 answers

How do I temporarily attach two pieces of wood together for machining?

How do I temporarily attach two pieces of wood together, face to face, in a way that's strong enough that I can, say, run it through a saw, but that doesn't leave marks on the wood or get in the way of the tool? For example, let's say I have a piece…
Jason C
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Traditional woodworking marks

A while ago I was watching this video and the guy casually mentioned some woodworking marks that I found to be really great. I was trying to search for more of these today and found out they are sometimes called witness marks, among other things…
Jason C
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Applying shellac smoothly without a sprayer

How can I apply a smooth coat of dewaxed shellac without a sprayer? Whether I use a brush, sponge, or rag, I always end up with tiny raised beads of shellac at the borders of my previous brush stroke. This mostly happens between dips into the can.…
Jason C
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Applying shellac in high humidity

I applied a coat of dewaxed shellac (Bulls Eye) as a first coat on some poplar. I then noticed that the can said do not apply if humidity exceeds 85%. I live in a generally humid area. Today is a rainy day and the humidity is 95% (89-100% forecast,…
Jason C
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Are there alternative tools to a straight ironing rasp (or why are they so hard to find)?

I'm looking for a tool to smooth/flatten down a surface in a rectangular channel in the center of a piece of wood (I constructed the piece by gluing two halves together, but stupidly didn't clean the channel halves well prior to gluing). The…
Doov
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Reusing mineral spirits?

So right now I have a paintbrush sitting in a small jar to clean my brush of poly. Once I take the brush out what can I do with the left over spirits? Would seem a waste to get rid of it. To what extent, if any, can I reuse mineral spirits? It is…
Matt
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Food safe potting/knot filling compound

I recently made an end grain cutting board. Unfortunately I didn't pay enough attention during the glue up and I have a couple of knots/knot holes that go through the board. The largest hole is roughly 0.5" in diameter on one side and 0.125" on the…
Doov
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Improve Grip on Shavehorse

This weekend I was using my shavehorse to make some wooden spatulas. After a while, the head started losing grip on the pieces I was working. To help improve the grip, I wrapped a piece of leather around the top crossbar and tacked it into place. …
grfrazee
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How can I keep a cedar tree round from checking?

I want to turn a large western cedar tree round into a low table for a covered outdoor area. My tree round is from a 100-ish year old western cedar tree that a neighbor recently cut down. It's big, hard to move and freshly cut, a month ago. It's…
DavidC
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How should I calculate the height of the chair needed for a table?

Suppose the table is of x height and y width. If I have to construct a chair for that table, how would I know what height should it be?
Aquarius_Girl
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Is Frank Howarth's homemade table saw splitter safe?

Frank Howarth made a splitter by creating a zero clearance insert, and then extending the kerf all the way through the back of the insert, towards the back of the table saw. He then glued thin strips of wood inside the kerf behind the blade. I plan…
Jeremy
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