Academy Notes and Tips - Scrap Wood Secrets


	*Academy Notes and Tips*
	NOV/DEC 2002 Volume 45/Issue 6 *IN THIS ISSUE* Project Articles • The Pembroke Table • The Cheval Mirror • The Child's Sled & Climbing Bear *DEPARTMENTS* • Ask Smitty • Owner’s Gallery • Letters from Owners Academy Notes Scrap Wood Secrets Service Pointers RUST - The degeneration of tools & how to deal with it Safety Tips Horizontal Boring Machine Set-Up & Safety What's New Dial Indicator Gauge and Adjustable Stop Collar *EDUCATION* • Find A Shopsmith Woodworking Academy Near You • National Woodworking Academy in Dayton, OH *ONLINE CATALOGS* • Online Accessory Catalog • Request Printed Accessory Catalog • Online Replacement Parts Catalog *MARK V INFORMATION* • Find A Shopsmith MARK V Demo Near You • Request MARK V Information Package *LINKS* • Links Worth Visiting • Free Woodworking Tips *FEEDBACK* Contacting Shopsmith Copyright 2002. Shopsmith, Inc. All Rights Reserved
				From the Shopsmith Woodworking Academy Tips & Secrets From Shopsmith Customers About Getting The Most Out Of Your Scrap Wood Printer friendly PDF copy of article
				Working with scrap wood Here are a few tips that are worthy of your consideration when working with scrap wood: If you find a terrific piece of wood that you'd like to use, but it's seriously cupped, try letting it sit overnight on the lawn with its cup-side down. Often, the moisture from the earth and the morning dew will eliminate this defect. Old wood can be extremely hard. Therefore, when using it, it's a good idea to drill pilot holes for screws, and even nails if they're located near the ends or edges of your stock. Maple, Oak and beech become particularly hard with age. When building with salvaged wood, some joints work better than others. If, as an example, you can substitute lap joints or lapped miters for straight mitered corners, you'll avoid having your joints splay open after your project is completed. Finishing scrap wood Removing old lead paint from the surfaces of scrap wood can be a dangerous task. If you're planning to sand it off, use special care and wear a respirator that's approved for this job, as lead paint dust is toxic and its fine particles can hang in the air for up to 72 hours after you've finished sanding. If you're planning to apply a stain to a piece of wood that was once finished, be sure to dress your wood down to raw fiber first. Any previously applied oil paint or stain may have penetrated very deeply into the pores of your wood. For best results, plan to take off at least 1/4" of the surface before applying a new finish. Tips for working with scrap wood A pair of carpenter's pincers or a pair of pliers will help you grab even a tiny portion of a nail that needs to be removed. Use a wood shim as a back-up to protect your wood as you “lever” the nail out. Screws that just won't come out can sometimes be “coaxed” out by first heating them with the tip of an electric soldering gun. This trick softens the hardened sap that could be surrounding the shank of the screw. A nail-puller or “cat's paw” can dig right into the wood and extract stubborn nails. However, these tools can leave quite a gouge, so be prepared to effect some repairs when you've finished. Stubborn screws can be removed by using a plug cutter. Just bore down around the stubborn screw, remove the entire plug (with screw attached) and plug the hold with another piece of the same wood. Use a nail setter or drift punch to punch headless nails all the way through your wood planks, instead of digging into your wood in an attempt to pull them out. Final thoughts Working with scrap wood can be doubly pleasurable. First, you'll have a beautiful project to admire...PLUS...you'll save money by using wood someone else would have tossed into the trash...but you will have to be a bit careful