Woodworking Tricks You'll Actually Use // Helpful Woodworking Hints

[@AlaskaTony]

I was not ready for the second glue in a crack method

[@gmscott9319]

I don't think anyone would be!

[@mnmike59]

OMG, I laughed my Ass off!!! I really needed that laugh.

[@steventuckman1652]

@@mnmike59 i couldn’t stop laughing

[@nicklazos3757]

My wife gave me a wired look when I burst out laughing

[@aarondsalberg]

Good stuff.

[@peteg4526]

I do find “glue in the crack” tip number two extremely useful. Whenever I’m having a bad day at work (meaning every work day) I think of that tip and it makes the day better.

[@kevinoneill41]

Loved your trick for Removing nails in pallets

[@ZackWilliamson1]

Bourbon Moth: Come for the lawnmower tank, stay for the mouthful of glue.

[@marvin51campbell]

Cool and fun video. Appreciate the effort!!!

[@bradymiguel]

Yeah I analyzed it and that is definitely the same bottle the entire clip. 🤣

[@MerchantNation]

@@bradymiguel im pretty certain he went all in

[@desylid5915]

Eating glue is how some of us got first placed into shop class. Not me, but some of us

[@robing4566]

beats sniffing it!

[@GeekItalian]

Thank you for the suggestion of the sanding eraser. I just ordered mine yesterday. Keep up the great work!

[@neondreamscapesmusic]

What a Genius! An entretener! The wood blow deserves an Emmy.

[@Leonitus485]

That second method had me rolling on the floor. That’s why we love your channel bud. You put humor into it. In fact I realized I wasn’t subscribed. Could of sworn I was but I changed that real quick especially after seeing how far you’ll go to entertain us. Thank you for the laugh.

[@jamesblue159]

I finally found a woodworking video that is both informative and quite hilarious. Thanks

[@iancormie9916]

Glad you are using water soluble glue..... Luv it.

[@amundsen575]

inside measurement. I cut a stick exactly 10" and measure to it and add to my measurement. 10 is an easy number in my world

[@nigelmtb]

Most of the world agrees with you about the simplicity of ten. Where I live we have a whole numerical system based on ten. I love it.

[@andrewdavis9021]

@@nigelmtb that's just silly. I will still get out my 3 barley corns and put them end to end then measure to that, then I know for example, that it is 154mm plus 3 barleycorn 🤔

[@ix0s]

I love my metric tape measure.

[@Lugnut64052]

That's exactly what I do. I have sticks exactly cut to 30, 50, 80 inches, etc. Great for precisely cutting baseboard, crown molding and such.

[@kellendil]

In my opinion, he just had a bad tape measure. Mine has a little tab i fold out at the end, so the total is exactly 10 cm. It also has a locking feature, so I just flip out the tab, run the tape measure from one end to the other, lock it, then pick it up and read it, and add 10cm 🙂 Goes exactly as fast as any other measure, and is more presice than relying on a mark.

[@chanel45151]

Nice job. Exactly as described. Some tips I might actually use. The one I'll chew on is the question on getting glue down in a crack to repair. Reminds a bit of a vacuum bag used to do carbon fiber parts lay-ups. Maybe drop viscosity on the glue by adding some water and expecting longer set-up times, might penetrate down through without vacuum - see it emerge from bottom side. Chemically, wouldn't think watering down glue would affect its strength.

[@tlanc1283]

Absolutely hysterical. Great Tips!

[@valdo345jr]

Not only do you have good solid tips and tricks. You're quite entertaining.

[@jeffa847]

My girlfriends have all seemed to prefer glue method number 2 when I am getting things set up for a woodworking project but next time I'll have to try the vacuum from the backside and see how well that works. Thanks

[@jorgereyes4787]

great sense of humor good tips

[@kjacquin]

Glueing tip for splits or cracks: take those flimsy shipping straps off boxes and cut them up into 6” pieces. Inject glue the best you can then take the strap pieces and slide it up and down working the glue into the entire crack. It’s a free tool, and works great.

[@mauricemcloughlin8261]

Laughed my head off at the pallet man. Bloody brilliant.

[@darrellbrown8547]

Second time to watch and keep on learning. Thanks Buddy!

[@matthewmeyer3387]

Holy hell! Awesome ideas in just the first few moments!!

[@jeepjksahara]

Awesome learning and laughing, keep up the good work! Thx

[@psguardian]

5:05 best pallet tip EVER.

[@MrBignoss]

Que carambas está haciendo este canijo !!!! I really enjoy watching his tricks. (I also learned something)

[@williamcapps3508]

...I almost pissed myself when you blew the glue in to the split end. 🤣😂🤣👍👍👍

[@NivBetsalel]

I have great respect for your beard and all you put it through.

[@artyb27]

God fucking damn it lmao, you got me so good with that pallet tip. I'm watching this video AS A BREAK in between reclaiming some old fence panels and I was so ready for some de-nailing tips. Jeeeeez.

[@KevinBuchanan66]

Jason, you owe me a new pair of pants! Don’t give me no crap about it you not being your responsibile, I shat my pants when I saw you demonstrating the alternative method of gluing a cracked board!! I have been binge watching your channel for the last few weeks, and there is as much entertainment as there is is home woodwork tips!! Thanks for the hard work you put into your videos, and I’ll let this slip… And I won’t complain if you make me destroy a few more pants!

[@lewismkopp]

I’m not a big “liker” or commenter but you got both and my subscribe for blowing the glue into the crack. Ha!

[@minasadria3480]

Thank you for all those tips you are a star I loved watching some of them haven’t had time to see all of them 🤩

[@chrisfrate]

Yes. Good technique.

[@samanthaandstephenfleming1274]

sees the burning pallet.....annnnd subscribed!!

[@johnhogan3810]

Love your stuff.. You did a video on how to get started cheap then recommend a $350 saw blade. I have never been sticker shocked that bad. That must be one heck of a blade. Now I can understand why you can etch your saw with cut lines you only have 1 blade. 😆 Keep up the great content.

[@rexcowart7420]

Great pallet de-nailing.

[@lindacraft6620]

You’re sooo smart. Luv ya info bro 😎

[@botjimllfixthatellis4805]

Brilliant.

[@martinivanov5547]

I use only the second glue method and its work perfect :D :D :D

[@seandunlap1743]

I like this video.

[@saltyoperator7435]

Here’s a bit of thought…. 1st) random orbit sanders are NOT meant to be a finished project finish. 2nd) they do make straight palm sanders which are by designed to go strictly w a grain. 3rd) consider the micro level…. The courser the grain the larger the “fingers” between the grain and the more the finish as something to cling too. The finer the grit the smaller the “fingers” between the grain which means the less area the stain or finish has to cling too. So basically you can change the tone of stain/finish simply by which grit of paper you use. Just like end grain…. Always darker right? Next time use a finer grit on the end grain vs the grit for the main piece. Wow… amazing what knowledge can do and knowing is half the battle

[@douglasmichel6361]

We use bologna’s on sheet sandpaper also Just like diamond grinding wheels, most will throw them out when that stop cutting, get a dressing stick and dress them... like new.

[@DJe1957]

For the trick number 2 we need flavoured glues. Strawberry, vanilla, chocolate, or even salty licorice. That could even increase sales of glue... And the pallet trick was a real belly grabber. One sometimes feels just like that.

[@0475Mike]

I especially enjoyed the “blow in glue”method. Seems logical. I do wonder if glue manufacturer will warrantee when mixed w saliva though.

[@colinellicott9737]

Great vid dude! Hilarious - thx 👍

[@Vegas5150]

I'd love to see video of all the people who tried your glue blowing technique, that was pretty ridiculous but I LMAO 🤣

[@moonage]

Ohhhh the most puuurfect hole

[@TheREALTiPPiDa]

Why do I feel like blowing into a crack is not the weirdest thing our man here has done in a workshop.

[@rysioa1303]

what do you think is possible measuring error having the maesure bent like in 16:02?

[@C4rL72]

above average video ;)

[@tomfowler9577]

dude!!! the glue!! LOL !!!!

[@3579rock]

What's the actual name of that thing you use to clean the sanding pad?

[@brucebennett2749]

You are fkn' hilarious! I love method 2 of getting glue in a crack!

[@maddogtungate6740]

Woodworker: Sandpaper is expensive. Same Woodworker: I use a Festool orbit sander. Lmao

[@TheShaggyfrog]

Wonder how many clowns out there may have really spit glue into the board cracks lol.

[@dredbud9272]

Great entrance

[@joshuaelek]

OMG. I laughed like an idiot.

[@carikokasra9696]

But that pencil clip on his hat tho

[@andyjame9774]

After watching the video advert i was still skeptical. But when i finally downloaded the plans kzbin.infoUgkxZF0EMnrujZvqHhGkxiz559uIABJWR9TG i was very impressed. The whole plan was just as you said in the video. Thank you very much. I now have a large and valuable collection for my woodworks. This is great!

[@andrewz61]

I was able to successfully remove the nails from most of my house with your nail removal trick.

[@coreyg7255]

Worked great in my truck tires, too!

[@kaig.-s.1040]

also works great on fingers

[@nutsandgum]

This is literally what they used to do back when all nails were hand forged square nails. Wood was cheap, nails werent so it was faster to burn the building and extract the nails afterwards.

[@jeffspaulding9834]

Don't try this method to remove aluminum window panes, though. Now, if you excuse me, I've got a lot of aluminum I have to smelt...

[@calebcrowe5552]

Me too! 😂

[@axispcc]

after removing the nails from the pallet, do I still sand up to 220 grit?

[@calebdunn1288]

Clean up the dust with mineral spirits first

[@scotty3278]

Even the comments are funny. Gotta love it.

[@brandondexter3229]

Back to 150 by hand if you are using Rubio to finish the nails and ash.

[@yobryan88]

🤣

[@paulmood308]

😆😂🤣

[@mattg6262]

The man TOOK ONE FOR THE TEAM on that glue trick. Holy smokes.

[@timamyett9679]

That was mayo mixed with a little mustard for the yellow to tint.

[@MrBobchat]

Looks more like he took one FROM the team.

[@rajpalfile4676]

Thank God it wasn't a butt crack!

[@masonstansberry2625]

Best way to deal with nails in a pallet that I've have ever seen

[@nanoreaper5002]

hahah i was saying when you pulled out the pallet, he going to burn it, and yep you did that is the best way too deal with those pesky pallet nails

[@MattMadeIt123]

BEST PALLET TUTORIAL EVER!!! LOL!

[@deviantdapperdude8983]

How have he Hu U

[@PersonMan1234]

Amen. So freaking tired of people using the garbagiest wood ever for making nonsense.

[@IanSebryk]

bro. I lost it when you did glue method 2. still laughing. that's when I hit subscribe.

[@robandtina]

I literally laughed out loud. I wish there was more than a thumbs up on here.

[@terrywhite4847]

I was laughing so hard my wife came in to see what was going on. I backed it up so she could see it, and I thought she was going to wet her pants.

[@g1mpster]

16:50 Old skool tip for accurately measuring interior dimensions: don't measure. Instead, take two sticks that are at least half the length you need to measure, then put one stick tight to each end of the inside dimension, then pinch them together where they overlap and BOOM, perfect inside measurement. You can then clamp them together, measure them, or just scribe that distance on the board you need to cut to that length. Perfect every time.

[@Lugnut64052]

Excellent.

[@popparock6506]

Good one!, I do this with the cheap never really accurate metal yardsticks sold at the big box stores, I've cut them so i have one at every foot and 1/2 foot (under 3') and use a wet-erase marker.

[@cariebb7763]

Damnit I wish I could see this visually. These comment tips all seem so useful but somehow it’s so hard to grasp via text

[@g1mpster]

@@cariebb7763 here’s a little video that gives you a visual. In this case they’ve made a reusable tool, but you can make one out of any scraps of wood you have lying around and just use your fingers or spring clamps to pinch it instead of the wing nuts they’ve used. Hope that helps! 👍🏻 kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4PTn4uPm6tgrZo

[@759NPR]

In finding the center of wider material, like a sheet product, I'll "over measure" beyond approx. center of the plywood from both sides, measuring the distance between those two points (relatively short space) and that nearly always gives me a center point of the panel. Easy to witness quickly, like his board centering, and I'm off to the table saw lickity split to make cabinet carcass pieces/shelving.

[@SpecificLove7]

Might want to try dental floss to put glue in the crack method, and can count it as #3, since you prefer to avoid #2. But it was definitely funny!😂

[@iordachej]

He may have use dental floss AFTER method #2 in order to take the glue out of his teeth

[@danrolczynski997]

You might try dental floss to remove the glue from between your teeth. Better yet, substitute melted ice cream to take the place of glue when you'rs filming mouth squirting glue into a crack. You cracked me up with that one.

[@MrRyanShinn]

That was epic. I wondered though if he was using glue, or something like pancake batter for that one.

[@larrymashburn7789]

I lost it at method #2.

[@robdavis05]

Dental floss does not always work like you would want.

[@DadItYourselfDIY]

Dude, you never disappoint! The pallet wood segment was golden!

[@jimruckel]

I’ve never actually laughed out loud at a woodworking video but that glue scene was hilarious. Thank you!

[@grizzlygrizzle]

I used to have a nurse-contact who could get me large-diameter hypodermic needles and syringes, and those worked great for getting glue into tight places, but you have to clean them out immediately after use, and very thoroughly.

[@maudplateau4455]

I have discovered you channel three days ago and now I cannot stop binge watching your videos. Your channel is awesome, i am freaking laughing my way through each one of them and learning a TON of things. This is insane. Thank you so much for your hard work and sharing your knowledge.

[@lenpiazza8493]

I also discovered your channel three days ago and now cannot stop binge watching your videos. Your channel is awesome, I am freaking laughing my way through each one of them and learning a TON of things. This is insane. Thank you so much for your hard work and sharing your knowledge.

[@diyhuntress]

That entrance deserves an award.

[@wendymoyer782]

Right!?! I nearly spewed my tea!

[@scottbennington2936]

Workman's comp is reviewing your claim...

[@SKTWoodDesign]

The entrance makes me laugh. Interesting

[@Njurk]

You watch him too. I’m a big fan of yours

[@JSeed47]

Hahahaha nice roll

[@Gamerock82]

So sick and tired of being asked for tips on processing of pallets. Best response ever, I honestly took a second to realize you were not doing some flaming voodoo to get those nails out. LOL. Instant subscribe.

[@natalierduerkop3389]

Deck Wrecker also works:) but I prefer fire method as well

[@shmaxo]

I REALLY hope that was hollandaise sauce, I know wood glue is non-toxic but having a beard, I can imagine the cleanup

[@CeeJayThe13th]

It has a very unpleasant taste as well. Don't ask.

[@robandtina]

@@CeeJayThe13th Depends if you were that kid in school...

[@CeeJayThe13th]

@@robandtina 😉😉 I wasn't *that* type of kid in school. But I am the type you can get to do sketchy stuff on a dare or who will do weird stuff out of curiosity. (FYI, wood glue is basically just school glue with some extra stuff in it)

[@duaneblewett8691]

Excellent video! I have watched many tips and tricks videos that pretty much are the same tricks over and over. Not the case here!! These are great.

[@FuzzyScaredyCat]

Just wait until it dries, then use a chisel....

[@bill50013]

I literally spit my scotch out with the pallet burning. Amen brother love this channel.

[@corknut23]

you should be more careful...thats no way to treat scotch.

[@ericrichter7933]

Shouldn’t you be drinking bourbon, not scotch, while watching this?

[@matthewjennerich7633]

@Jackman is crying right now.....

[@Davey768]

@@ericrichter7933 Mixed with Moths? No thanks!

[@ad982347]

Best use of pallets by far

[@kmonk7853]

"Sandpapers flippin expensive" as he's holding a festool sander lol 😅

[@baldwingraphics1041]

I was thinking the same thing!

[@jimbob6216]

Exactly frestool is one of the most expensive for saws and just about everything. But they are nice tools

[@wbwylie]

I have a Festool sander. I use it commercially. It's 24 years old. At $5 per year I don't consider it expensive.

[@jimbob6216]

@@wbwylie well that makes sense if you're using a commercially or for business. But most of these videos were watching including this guys are showing you how to do things yourself and have to save money. That's the difference.

[@kmonk7853]

@@wbwylie so you paid 120.00 for it?? That's a good deal.

[@tekkiboy]

Great vid! I will not be using method #2 to glue my cracks, thank you very much. The method for finding the center of a board also works for dividing a board into more equal pieces. If you want to divide a board into 3 equal pieces without fighting with crazy fractions just measure across the board like you did using a number that is easily divisible by three, say twelve, and then mark at four and eight and you have three equal pieces. I believe this method works no matter how many equal pieces you want.

[@grizzlygrizzle]

When I use that method, I also make a small line along the edge of the ruler, and use the ruler-side of that line where it intersects the measurement mark. I also use a fairly-fine mechanical pencil for marking measurements that need to be precise.

[@jasonroy56]

These were great! Especially the second tip on how to get the glue into a crack.

[@squarehead1]

Your center-finding trick also works with splitting anything in thirds, except you use a number that is divisible by 3-like 9 or 12. Tip a ruler to 0 and 9 and mark the spot where 3 and 6 intersect and you have a perfectly divided board into thirds.

[@christophercrews301]

Dude... I'm subscribing because of that glue #2 tip. Had me cracking up

[@asp4327]

I had only watched 1 or 2 of his videos, but after the pallet burning and the #2 glue method, count me as subscribed

[@gregcorwin8316]

I am still laughing over glue trick and the video is over! I also subscribed after seeing that!

[@coldwe]

OMG, why did I not know running the drill bit backwards first. Dang I’m stupid.

[@brynjolfureinarsson6038]

No you’re not, we just know more

[@wbwylie]

I discovered that accidentally by inadvertently starting to drill in the wrong direction so many times. Absentmindedness leads to great discoveries!

[@surfinturfer]

Wow! Ten seconds in and I know your doppleganger -- Dave Teiff -- right down to the funny, quirky personality! Anyway, down to the important stuff. Wiping down the wood with mineral spirits also raises the grain for most woods, making sanding more efficient for the next higher grit. I used to use water, but it takes longer to dry. Also, before using the mineral spirits, a quick hand-sand with the woodgrain using the same grit you just finished with on the sander will help remove swirls that you won't see until you apply a stain or finish. "Remove as you go" works best because 220-grit paper won't do as good a job on 80- or 100-grit swirl marks later. I learned this while turning pens and the wood surface is f l a w l e s s even under 10X magnification review (yeah, for a pen maybe it's the Nth degree, but some of us are wired like that...)

[@zenchronus]

My favorite tip that's helped me in woodworking: Download a fraction calculator app on your phone. It will save you HOURS.

[@RICOFURNITURE]

well ... i am using metric , no need for calculator :)

[@flowreader6755]

Or just switch to metric

[@zenchronus]

Here in America we prefer to build everything to the specification of a dead monarchs shoe. And converting things from imperial to metric and back when working with lumber, drill bits, table heights, etc is much more complicated than just downloading a fraction calculator app.

[@damienwatson3897]

Just a massive thank you for these videos. I have just started trying to learn how to do some basic woodworking (very very basic) so simple tips like the creating your own "guide" for re-drilling holes has helped me immensely. The removing nails from the pallet had me in stitches. Great stuff.

[@steveperreira5850]

I’ve been doing woodworking for a long time and have done a lot of stuff and watching this I learned some things. Well worth watching, I have some new and better ways of doing things.

[@McBadgersDad]

Best pallet wood video ever!!!

[@coloradograd]

The second method of gluing caught me by surprise. I couldn’t stop laughing! I love your humor and beyond that are some really great tips that are greatly appreciated! Your woodworking advice never gets old, it’s too entertaining……and informative. Keep it up!

[@nedrapollari894]

That was hilarious i couldn't stop laughing ether 😝😝😝

[@PeterFreese]

I was not expecting that. At all.

[@guyxmas7519]

Omg, watching this when everyone is sleeping sunday morning. I woke up everyone laughing so loud with the second metnod for gluing cracked board hahah ! !!!

[@HickeyTyson]

I never knew option 1 for getting glue into a crack, thanks for the helpful tip, now I can finally stop doing option 2

[@andrepoon]

Man... these videos are amazing. It’s like your dad telling you things that would take a lifetime of experience to learn

[@MissMolly3377]

And, he even has the dad jokes.

[@rikbitter]

A lot of woodworking channels use fancy camera tricks, but I appreciate your commitment to practical effects.

[@drgruber57]

When older you are, slide across bench, you won't! (Journeyman Yoda)

[@charlesbrownson7505]

As an amateur with woodworker, I typically feel overpowered with the entire process. Be that as it may, this shop plan gave me much clarity and effortlessness, because of woodplans.works my shop is like a master craftsmen's shop. And That's great!

[@chriseagle6501]

I've been a carpenter for 20 years......and yet I STILL learn something from these videos everyday LOL

[@iamkillball3000]

i was so invested and then the second crack fill method came in and i was laughing for like 10 min and had to rewatch the video

[@brazilianstyle4645]

LMAOOOOO!!! My wife said Wtf you laughing at so early in the morning i said this carpenter im watching is funny as shit. Awsome video.

[@christopherstromberg3070]

Talking about using scrap wood. Have you seen wood prices. I can’t afford to have scrap wood. I suppose if I try the sandpaper trick I might be able to afford it.

[@davidpeterson192]

Your pallet nail removal technique was fantastic.

[@ted9876]

An anti-glue squeeze out hack I use is I apply shellac to the surface when I dry fit the joint. It dries in a few minutes. Then do your glue-up and clamping. Shellac prevents the glue from getting into the woods pores so cleans up easily with damp cloth. No issues with glue stains when you apply finish. Not my idea, got it from Cam at Blacktail.

[@coreyg7255]

Instead of measuring out and adding twelve inches, I use ten inches. Much, much easier to add ten to any given measurement than twelve. A decade or three of carpentry/construction/cabinet making/screwing up has taught me a bunch of stuff, and you are teaching me more. Keep it up!

[@BariumCobaltNitrog3n]

You don't add twelve, you add ONE. One foot. Much easier than any number.

[@coreyg7255]

@@BariumCobaltNitrog3n Adding one foot is great, if you are measuring in feet. Adding ten inches works much better when adding in inches, such as when building cabinets or framing walls. If I need an interior measurement of an area to install a set of cabinets that is 86 3/4" long, how much is that in feet? It is easily measured as 76 3/4" plus 10".

[@BariumCobaltNitrog3n]

@@coreyg7255 That's a good point.

[@soundmandave21]

OMG, you crack gluing techniques had me rolling!

[@m.d.e.845]

I can't believe you messed that nice cherry board up to tell me how stupid I have been for so many years.

[@adderjack4604]

That method for getting the nails out of pallets is gonna save me so much time. Thanks, bro.

[@azizabdallah7845]

I'm sure, that I wasn't the only one, who foreseen how he planned to remove the nails from the pallets... Too funny 😂

[@tuffguy007]

Great entrance on this one particularly (hope you're okay). Anyway for me, best hand sanding block is a flat piece of 1.5" thick (or so) scrap hardwood cut to 4.5" width for adhesive-backed sandpaper. The sandpaper rolls are cheap (compared to round disks), blocks can be cut to any size and each fitted with different grit, and you can sand right up to corners.

[@grizzlygrizzle]

For hand sanding, I use Norton 3X sheet sandpaper whenever I can. For routine flat work, I use one of those 3M rubber sanding blocks that takes 1/4 sheet ripped into long strips, but I don't like 3M's adhesive-backed sandpaper because it leaves little gobs of adhesive on the block, and those compromise the flatness of it. Besides, the Norton 3X paper cuts longer and doesn't clog as quickly. For detail sanding, I wrap 1/16 of a sheet around a piece of an old credit card (cut lengthwise). -- I spent a bunch of years restoring century-old wooden entryways for three-story apartment buildings in the Boston area and finishing them with an alkyd-based marine varnish (Sikkens Cetol Marine-- NOT the Cetol products for house siding or windows and doors). These entryways had beveled-glass sidelights and toplights, many of them arched on top. In some places the built-up mouldings had more than 25 different surfaces to be finished, and some had Corinthian 1/2 columns with carved leaves and acorns on the capitals. In some parts, it was more like re-carving than refinishing, because there was so much UV degradation that had to be scraped off. Hundreds of hours of hand work on each one. I tried a couple of different power detail-sanders, but they were useless. -- Some of 3M's stuff is OK, but their sheet sandpaper sucks. Gator brand is OK, and some other brand from Finland I ran into, but I still stock up on Norton 3X whenever I see it. -- Discovering the utility of old credit cards for detail sanding "blocks" was a lifesaver. I cut them into strips about 7/8" wide, avoiding any raised numbers, and wrap the 1/16 sheets around them lengthwise. They are great for sanding inside corners and other grooves. For round concave troughs, I use milk-jug plastic, cut to rectangles sized so that the 1/16 sheet can be wrapped around them crosswise. The softer plastic takes the curve well, while its edges have enough stiffness to give a clean line where the trough meets whatever bounds it. -- The Sikkens Cetol Marine varnish was another great discovery. It lasts a lot longer than spar varnish or polyurethane (including the allegedly UV-protected polyurethane). Oily tropical woods like mahogany or teak should be wiped down with acetone or lacquer thinner just prior to the first coat, to remove the oils from the surface (for the sake of adhesion and to avoid splotchy coloration from the oils reacting with the varnish), but the manufacturers won't tell you that, what with the EPA looking over their shoulders. The Sikkens Cetol Marine stays a bit pliable and doesn't crack or crystalize, and maintenance is easy-- just wash it with TSP and a Scotchbrite pad, rinse, let dry, and recoat after a couple of years in marine environments, but 5-6 years on land seems to be OK. -- And for restoring those nice old brass kickplates and door handles, clean it up nicely, leaving in the little dings that give it character, and coat it with automotive clear coat. SEM sells it in a spray can, and it's available at auto-body supply stores. -- Good detail scrapers are hard to find. Craftsman used to make a "Handy Scraper / Utility Scraper" that had 6 blades that could be rotated 180 degrees, and I was lucky enough to get two of them, but they are long-since gone from the hardware shelves. The closest thing to it is the Hyde Countour Scraper 10450, but most of their blades are sharpened only on the ends, not on all edges, and three of the countours are concave, for scraping spokes and round spindles, which can be scraped with a straight blade (it's all going to get sanded, right?). The old Craftsman scraper had 4 concave blades, with radii of 1/8", 1/4", 1/2", and something around 3", and a couple of pointy pentagons, one tall and narrow, with a wide base, and the other short and wider, with a very wide base. The Hyde and the Craftsman handles will accept one another's blades, which clip on with a quick-release lever, and the blades are held at about a 15-degree angle off perpendicular to the handle. They scrape on the pull stroke. I recently had a metal fabricator with a CNC setup make some of the Craftsman style blades, because my old ones have been sharpened so much that there isn't much left of them. A higher-end set of fixed-blade (perpendicular to handle) scrapers is available at stortz.com, and I may spring for a set of them, because they're apparently made of carbon steel, not stainless, and the permanently-attached handles would make them easier to sharpen (and less often). (stortz.com also carries Klenk offset aviation metal shears, which I had years ago, and worked better than any I have seen since. No having to lift one flap above your cutting hand, a radical difference from the usual ones.) -- Hint of the day-- When you own some special, hard-to-find tools that are much better designed than the common variety, don't lend them out, even if it's to your boss.

[@tuffguy007]

@@grizzlygrizzle okay, this is such a great comment - years of very specialized and detailed work condensed into a KZbin comment. So special and greatly appreciated. I can confidently say that at some point I will try almost every recommendation you make here. Thanks so much for this enlightening and informative comment. I am going to make some sawdust now…