1. 10WoodworkingFixesFor projects, tools, and nishesBy Scott PhillipsWith over a million viewers tuning in to myPBS show The American Woodshop, its no wonderthat I get a lot of emails and letters containingwoodworking questions on anything frommachining to joinery to inishing. When I getseveral questions on the same subject, I like toind a venue that helps me provide the answersin full, helping as many woodworkers as I can.Here, Woodcraft Magazine has obliged me inmy responses to some of the more commonly-asked questions. I divided them into categories:project solutions, tool talk and ixing inishes.52 woodcraftmagazine.com April/May 2011

2. Project Solutions1 2Scott, Ive built some wall I want to take apart an oldcabinets that Id like to put chair to restore and refinish it.adjustable shelves in, but IWhats the best way to loosenBen Ank, Hot Springs, Arkansasdont want to shell out money up a joint containing old glue?for a hole-drilling jig for theJason Freemont,shelf-pin holes. Any ideas?Old or antique furniture jointsBoulder, Colorado typically relied on hide glue.The bonding agent in moreA dirt-cheap answer may berecent furniture may be yellowburied in your sheet goods stash. woodworkers glue (polyvinylIts pegboard. Measure the holes, acetate or PVA). Here, use the samethe finish). The high heat allowsand youll find that they are 14"method for either glue. Reach foryou to separate the parts.diameter and spaced on 1" centers.a heat gun or steam iron. ApplyIf you are worried aboutDetermine where you want your heat or steam around the joint damaging the finish, try this. Drillholes on the cabinet sides, and while loosening the parts. (Clamps a hole into the joint, and injectrip a pegboard strip to fit in thewith reversible jaws prove helpful warm vinegar into the hole andcabinet, designating one endhere.) When you heat the joint around the joint with a syringe. Letthe bottom. Mark the holes youand glue to 200, you compromise the solution soften the glue for 303want to drill on the pegboard,both types of glues (and possiblyminutes. Then separate the parts.and clamp it in place. Now, usethis drilling jig to drill evenly-spaced holes. Use a stop collar toWhat is the suggested space allowance between and aroundestablish the desired hole depth. inset cabinet doors (those that fit within a face frameJohn Butler, Midland, Texasor cabinet opening) when using European hinges?I like a 116" gap all the way around, or something about the thicknessof a nickel. The great thing about European hingesalso knownas concealed hingesis that you can adjust and tweak the reveal4to be even all around with a few turns of the alignment screws.Im thinking about buyingand norwoodindustries.com.) Stop collara portable lumber mill Because of the portablility of athat uses a chainsaw. What chainsaw system, you can haulSteve Rogers, Merrill, Georgiaare the pros and cons? it right into the forest; however, youll then need to carry out wet boards. Also, be aware that theseIf you have access to hardwood systems take time to set up andtrees and are in good physical require the same precautions andshape, sawing your own lumbersafety gear for any chainsaw work.can be fun and a great way to If you have just a few logs tosave. An inexpensive chainsaw mill cut, consider hiring the owner of(costing between $40-$1,000) can a portable bandsaw mill to sawhelp you rough-saw boards from your material on site. Some charge16" wide and up, depending on theby the foot; others, by the hour. To(Check the models at leevalley.com 553-0182 or visit woodmizer.com.model and size of your chainsaw. find one, call Wood-Mizer at (800)Opening photo: Chris Bell; Tip photos: Jim Osborn April/May 2011 woodcraftmagazine.com 53 3. Tool Talk5Is there a cure for drift that causesMichel Duggan, Springfield, Pennsylvaniacrooked cuts on the bandsaw?Drift describes a bandsaw blades tendency to cut tothe left or right of a workpiece cutline when using therip fence. Assuming that your guides are adjusted,and that your blade is properly tensioned, follow thisregimen to correct the problem. Strike a straight line 1"in from the straight edge of a flat board thats slightlylonger than the depth of your table. Now, carefullyfreehand-cut along the line until the trailing edge ofdrift angle. Next, locate the sliding bevel alongsidethe board is even with the front edge of your table. Stop the fence (locked in place) and against the front edgethe saw mid-cut, and clamp the board in place without of the table. Follow your saws manual for loosening thedisturbing its orientation. Place a sliding bevel against fence. Now, adjust it to agree with the sliding bevelsthe front edge of the table and the straight edge of theangle. If using a shop-made wood fence, adjust it as 7workpiece, and lock the blade in place, capturing the needed. With the angle secured, make a test cut.Im new to woodworking and need toknow what is the best all-around tablesawblade? Should I have two blades, one forPaul Pyle, Nampa, Idahohardwoods and one for plywood?For an all-purpose quality ripping and crosscuttingblade, go with a 40-tooth ATB (alternate top bevel)model or a 50-tooth combination ATBR (alternate topbevel with raker) blade. Either one of these will handle90% of the cutting youll likely do. Good qualityversions cost in the neighborhood of $80 to $110.6 At some point you might want to add other bladesto your collection. For tear-out-free crosscuttingin plywood and panels, pick up a quality 80-toothI purchased an older tablesaw. The cast-ATB blade in the $120 price range. A flat topiron top is covered with rust. I would like ripping blade in the 24-30-tooth range works wellDan Monroe, Blair, Wisconsinto know the best way to clean it up.for general ripping. It will set you back $60.Fact of life, Dan: steel rusts. Sand the top, movingfrom 150 to 220 grit using a random-orbit sander.If needed, scrub any pitted areas with a steel wirebrush and WD-40 or other lubricant. Once clean,lubricate and protect the surface with paste waxor a dedicated commercial sealant. To simplyremove a fine film of rust, pick up a bottle of EmpireTopSaver. This user-friendly product removes rust,lubricates, and seals metal surfaces (#148040,8 oz., $19.99). I also like T-9 Rust Protectant forits similar benefits (#03Q56, 12 oz., $17.99).54 woodcraftmagazine.comApril/May 2011 4. 8The two pushpads that came with myjointer make me think that I am applyinguneven pressure to the workpiece Online Extraas I pass it over the cutter. Is there a For a simple plan of this jig,Arnie Brandstad, Gainesville, Floridamore effective pushpad I can buy?go to woodcraftmagazine.com/ onlineextras.There is, and you dont have to buy it. Using3 4"-thick plywood and scrap stock, I made this 20"-long pushblock that gives me complete control whenface-jointing boards under 4 in length. It consistsof a plywood cutout in the shape of a hacksaw(my template for the design), a pair of glued andscrewed-on strips that serve as the base, and a pushercleat at the back end. The shape gives me a longhandle that fits comfortably in both hands. For stocklonger than 4, I employ pushpads to help start theboard through and then finish with my pushblock.Finishing Fixes9Are there easy ways to remove whiteWilliam Owens, Omaha, Nebraskawater ring marks on furniture?Absolutely. Items like a hot teapot or a sweaty cool drink can bothresult in white rings in a furniture finish. A common way to removethem is to place a lint-free cloth, such as a T-shirt rag, over theaffected area. Then, with an iron set at medium, iron the cloth. Liftthe cloth to see if the white water stain is gone. Repeat if its not. If worried about damaging the finish, a safer option is LiberonFurniture Ring Remover (Woodcraft #826133, $18.50). Apply the liquid 10with a cloth and rub the area in a circular motion. Let dry, then buff.Whats the best way to sand the pine parts through 220finish pine for a blotch-grit and sand end grain up to 320Ned Gelinas, Waverly, Virginiafree appearance? grit to help control absorption.While some use a sanding sealer for stain control, I wipe on aPine can be a tricky wood to stain.nonpenetrating gel stain (such asThe lighter, softer earlywood in Gel Stain by General Finishes); itpine grain absorbs stain much more builds color without blotching. Trythan the harder, darker latewood.it on a sample first to see how theAdd in the very absorbent endproduct works. After application,grain, and its understandable allow the gel stain to dry for awhy many woodworkers simplyday before finishing with yourclear-finish pine or paint it. I first favorite oil-based urethane. I April/May 2011 woodcraftmagazine.com 55