13 votes
Accepted

What do I need to do to prepare wood for gluing?

All you need to do to prepare wood for glueing is to 'clean' the surface. This can actually just be cleaning in the literal sense of the word since a wipe down with soapy water (followed by rinsing ...
Graphus's user avatar
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8 votes
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How to remove sticker price tags from wood without leaving residue

How can I get these price tag stickers off in a way that the wood will okay to take stain in those places? Re. the highlighted portion, you shouldn't need to worry about that because the surface of ...
Graphus's user avatar
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6 votes

Removing Paint from Rough/Coarse Surfaced Beams

They have been painted though and I'm looking for a method to remove the paint, and let the natural wood stand out instead. I live in an apartment building that used to be a large furniture factory. ...
grfrazee's user avatar
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5 votes

How to remove sticker price tags from wood without leaving residue

A cabinet scraper might be another solution, removing the wood the glue adhered to.
keshlam's user avatar
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5 votes

What do I need to do to prepare wood for gluing?

The best glue joins, with wood, will have mated face grain surfaces i.e. no gaps between the wood where the glue is going. Generally smooth (sanded or scraped) wood surfaces are encouraged. Once the ...
Matt's user avatar
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5 votes

Sand before priming plywood built-in

My question is, since the grain raises and I have to re-sand it anyway, do I really need to sand it before priming? Birch has a tendency to be a bit stringy even after sanding, so this could be what ...
grfrazee's user avatar
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5 votes

Does the bar oil from using a chainsaw create problems for woodworking?

Odds are that your chainsaw cuts aren't going to be super smooth, so you'll end up sizing them with other tools. I cannot imagine that a bit of oil would cause any issue for a planer or jointer knife. ...
FreeMan's user avatar
  • 6,745
4 votes

Removing Paint from Rough/Coarse Surfaced Beams

Unfortunately there are no easy solutions to removing paint from rough wood in situ. Methylene-chloride paint remover: Dont know how difficult that would be to remove the pain on the rough surface ...
Graphus's user avatar
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4 votes

How to remove sticker price tags from wood without leaving residue

I'd use mineral spirits or another solvent (lacquer thinner, denatured alcohol, etc.) to remove the residue. You should verify compatibility with your finishing product before use.
Steven's user avatar
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3 votes
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Is this a good approach to fixing damaged mdf holes along the edge?

Fixing the MDF: I'm planning on mixing a glue/sawdust/wood-filler/mdf/sawdust mixture up, clamping the board in place, applying the glue, letting the glue dry, removing the clamps and board, and then ...
Graphus's user avatar
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3 votes

Sand before priming plywood built-in

do I really need to sand... before priming? Ideally yes. The role of sanding is not just about smoothing, it can also be about prepping a surface to properly accept a finish (or glue). Any older ...
Graphus's user avatar
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3 votes
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How are these toolmarks happening, and how to prevent / get rid of them?

As some people already pointed out, the carbide tool is not as sharp as a HSS bowl gouge can be. The scratches on the outside can only prevent by a shearing cut with a very sharp tool because the ...
drmariod's user avatar
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3 votes
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In which direction should I sand the ends of a solid wood countertop?

Normally you sand in the direction of the grain1 for best results. But this surface is all end grain, so that doesn't apply since technically the grain direction is outwards (towards the viewer). ...
Graphus's user avatar
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3 votes

Splinters in wheelbarrow handles

It sounds like you keep your wheelbarrow outside, as I do. I recently sanded my wheelbarrow handles and treated them with "spar urethane" to solve the same persistent splinter problem you'...
Tim D's user avatar
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3 votes
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Splinters in wheelbarrow handles

I used cloth adhesive tape. It worked well and probably has a better grip and feel than duct tape. You could also get some sports tape, like that used on hockey stick handles or baseball bats.
Jake's user avatar
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3 votes
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Should I apply wax on all sides of a table when building one to protect it?

No you don't have to bother waxing the bottoms. You can if you want to but it isn't needed, it won't help prevent expansion from humidity (a wax finish is much too thin to provide a seal against ...
Graphus's user avatar
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3 votes

What do I need to know before I lacquer a custom painted guitar body?

In this case the safest bet (you should still check with the artist about the kind of paint used) would be to utilize a waterborne sealer. The technology has come a long way and is as durable if ...
James's user avatar
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3 votes
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Does the bar oil from using a chainsaw create problems for woodworking?

No, chainsaw oil is not a problem. Chainsaws, even reasonably decent tuned ones, do not throw out enough oil to seriously damage the wood. If it is, there is something wrong with your saw, either it ...
bowlturner's user avatar
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3 votes
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Dealing with Pre-Stain and Wood Conditioner Residue

OK first off, hate to break it to you but you could have avoided so much extra time and effort here — you didn't even need to use "pre-stain" or "wood conditioner" :-( These are to ...
Graphus's user avatar
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3 votes
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How to remedy spilled coffee on unfinished walnut

Just to get it out of the way at the outset, buying another piece of ply is certainly the most direct solution and possibly even the fastest. Most of use will at least want to try to salvage the piece ...
Graphus's user avatar
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2 votes

What do I need to know before I lacquer a custom painted guitar body?

I agree with the comments above re: testing on scrap and asking what paint was used. However, it's really difficult to get that classic high gloss finish out of a water based varnish. The pros use ...
Minnow's user avatar
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2 votes

How to remove sticker price tags from wood without leaving residue

Guide a razor blade along the lifting edge of the sticker as you peel it off. This will usually get most of the adhesive. If you have remains of a sticker left, you can skim off most of the residue ...
rob's user avatar
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2 votes

Alternative desk top to glass for reclaimed (softer) wood

As this is a woodworking site with wood being our primary focus I think I should say that when you know the requirements of a desk (or any other project) ahead of time they should really be factored ...
Graphus's user avatar
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2 votes

How to be sure that there are no live woodworms in my oak boards?

Most likely the bugs are already gone. (Bugs only stick around for a few years* - the holes they leave last forever) If you clean the board up and leave it for a while and see no further evidence of ...
Dave Smylie's user avatar
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2 votes

Splinters in wheelbarrow handles

If the wood itself is reasonably sound, just rough, and the damage is deep enough that it will take considerable sanding to eliminate the gouges, I'd consider using a wood filler or epoxy to fill in ...
FreeMan's user avatar
  • 6,745
2 votes

Splinters in wheelbarrow handles

As I say in the Comment above, it is possible that just sanding deeper would resolve the problem with splinters1. It depends on the level of weathering whether this is viable; you don't want to sand ...
Graphus's user avatar
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2 votes

Dealing with Pre-Stain and Wood Conditioner Residue

I'm sure Graphus will correct me if I'm wrong but I think your big problem is sanding after prestaining. with an oil based prestain, there is no need to sand, and a water based one, you just are '...
bowlturner's user avatar
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1 vote

Preparing a futon for outside use

As I mention in the Comments, doing nothing to this in terms of adding new finish is actually an option as strange as it sounds. We're programmed to think that wood must be coated somehow if it's in ...
Graphus's user avatar
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1 vote

Is a Pre-Stained Surface Food Safe?

Is a Pre-Stained Surface Food Safe? Yes. In fact it's as safe as if you hadn't used it at all. The reason is that pre-stain, IF you use it (see below), won't touch the food. So pretty much regardless ...
Graphus's user avatar
  • 65.6k
1 vote
Accepted

Is a Pre-Stained Surface Food Safe?

I’m using Minwax Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner. I’m trying to find information on whether, after drying, my surface will be safe to prepare food on. I wouldn't use it. A pre-stain conditioner implies ...
Caleb's user avatar
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