Files should always be protected from grease, water, or nicks that can make them less effective. When carrying files in a toolbox, it is a good idea to wrap them in a cloth. When storing, try to hang them in a rack or keep them in a drawer with wooden divisions. Keep file teeth clean by using a file card or a wire brush to clear the grooves.
Professional woodworkers often don’t use pads on their clamps because they know how to set them up without marring the wood. But if you prefer to use them for pipe or bar clamps, you can buy some or make up your own. Scrap rubber, shoe soles, even old mud flaps, can do the trick. For pipe clamps, cut out a slightly undersize circle to fit over the pipe using a sabersaw. Next, cut out the perimeter about 1/8 in. oversize. Then make a slit in the pad bottom so it can stretch over the pipe without taking off the jaw end.
If you will be working in close quarters attaching new molding to walls or ceilings with finishing nails, first check out your hammer handle. Inevitably the handle end will hit the adjacent surface in spots. Either use a new hammer, clean up the handle of an older hammer, or mask the end of the handle with masking tape, especially if the handle has an older covering of black rubberized material. Doing this before you start can save you time that otherwise would be spent cleaning up or repainting over the scuff marks.
Often a project can go well except for one thing. A single screw, for example, that doesn’t want to go in, or time wasted constantly changing drill bits, can hang up an otherwise perfect project. Investing in specialty tools like those shown here can solve typical problems to help get jobs done right with less time and effort.
Clean your drill and router bits often. Use oven cleaner or soak overnight in turpentine. Wipe clean then coat with light oil.
Most dedicated wood lovers insist that the best finish for a wood floor is a floor-formulated tung oil. Derived from the nut of the tung tree, tung oil penetrates the wood and bonds with the surface fibers. More giving than a synthetic finish, a tung-oiled floor will evolve with wear rather than cracking or chipping. Originally developed as as ship sealant, tung oil naturally provides excellent protection from spills, water, traffic, and dirt. Cleanup is simple, with a little clear vinegar in water or an oil soap mixed with water.
If a bandsaw blade breaks, it can be brazed or welded. But check for the cause. The most common causes include: 1) misalignment or adjustment of the guides, 2) either forcing or twisting a wide blade around a curve, 3) feeding in the work too fast, 4) dull teeth or not enough tooth set, 5) excessive tightening of blade, 6) top guide set too high above work being cut, 7) using a blade with improperly finished braze or weld, and 8) continuously running the blade when it is not used for cutting.
When using dowels, select a size half the thickness of the wood being joined. For example, for 3/4-in. stock, consider 3/8-in. dowels.; for 7/8-in. stock use 7/16-in. dowels. The length inserted should generally be three times its thickness. Thus, a 3/8-in. dowel should be about 2-1/2 in. long to penetrate into each member 1-1/4 in.
You can quickly make your own outline patterns from existing assembled wood parts with just a piece of white paper and an awl. Position the paper over the piece you want to duplicate and then rub around the edges. Remove the paper and lay it over your new wood. Next, following the creases, punch small holes into the wood with the awl. For straight lines, a hole at each end is sufficient. On curves, make holes closer together. Remove the paper, draw lines between the holes, and you are ready to cut.
Here’s how to remove painted woodwork for refinishing. Score the paint with a utility knife to prevent splitting the wood. Gently begin to separate the wood using a dull chisel or flat bar. Then use a stiff putty knife and a prybar to remove the woodwork. Keep the putty knife behind the prybar as you work to avoid marking or denting the wood. Proceed carefully to remove the whole piece.
