This is a guide about building book shelves. Purchasing a book shelf from a furniture store can be expensive and may not fit the space you have.
Refinishing Mahogany Furniture
I have a damaged patch on an old mahogany table caused by the seller dropping a nail polish removal patch on to the table top. It has stripped the polished finish down to the bare wood about 3 inches x 1 inch, elliptical in shape.
Make the job easier and prevent splitting the wood. Drill a pilot hole, and apply liquid soap to the screw. The screw will go in as 'greased' and the soap will dry to help prevent it from coming loose in the future (a drop or two on the screw is sufficient).
Selecting Wood for a Staircase
I'm trying to pick out the right wood for a staircase. I have already stained the floor, southern yellow pine, to a dark coffee color. The problem I'm having is identifying the species of wood that would be the best match for the hand rail and newel posts.
Use Fabric Dye For Staining Wood
I used a off white throw rug and dyed it 3 different colors. I did strips in blue, brown and green. While doing this, I used a piece of wood that was natural to make my lines. I found out that the brown dye worked well for staining the wood.
Cut a piece of sandpaper to fit on the end of a tongue depressor or popsicle stick and glue it on. Then trim off any excess sandpaper. Let the glue dry and you have a handy little sander for sanding hard-to-reach places.
Wrap sandpaper around a wood block to sand large areas of wood. The wood will be sanded evenly and the sand paper will wear evenly.
When sanding a piece of wood you can use an old nylon to check the smoothness of the wood. Slip the nylon over you hand and slide your hand over the piece of wood. Anywhere that the nylon snags needs more sanding.
Protecting Wood When Removing a Nail
Put an old plastic spatula under the head of the hammer when trying to remove a nail. It protects the wood and is easy to find in your toolbox.
Get More Life Out of Sandpaper
Just because a sandpaper has become flat doesn't necessarily mean it's worn out. The sandpaper may just be clogged with sawdust. Try removing the sawdust with a soft bristled brush.
Removing a Nail That Has Lost Its Head
When the nail head breaks off a nail, it can be tough to get the claw of the hammer to grip the nail. To remove the nail, slip the claw of the hammer over the remainder of the nail and then pull the nail out by moving the hammer sideways instead of straight out.
First sand the wood and remove any dust before staining. A clean, used pair of nylons or panty hose works well for applying stain to wood. The nylon provides an even coat and doesn't leave behind any lint. Wear rubber gloves, it's very difficult to wash stain off your hands without using a nasty chemical like mineral spirits and be sure to wear old clothes. It usually takes at least two coats to get a uniform look.
Used But Not Used Up (Repairing Power Tools)
Some DIY Maintenance will put Used tools back in Main Stream Operation: Professional grade tools are made to withstand long hours of use and abuse. Many home shops have a number of Professional grad tools but for the most part most home shops have tools that are some what less in quality.
Circular Saws - Make them all they can be.
Circular saws have become more than a tool that you will just find at a construction site. From the early days of work on construction sites cutting only wood circular saws now are found in almost every home of a do-it-yourselfer and can cut not only wood but with the purchase of some specialty blades can now cut wood, masonry, metal and plastic.
The saying, "measure twice, cut once", is as old as the hills. It's generally used in carpentry to help prevent the wasting of materials but it's really a good tip for all crafts. It's a good rule when working with fabric, leather or any material that needs to be cut to fit a particular purpose. Measure twice, cut once and waste less.
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