Popular Woodworking 2004-11 № 144, страница 27

Tricks of the Trade

continued from page 22

Stronger Buttons

Traditionally, a tabletop often is fastened to the table's aprons using notched blocks called "buttons" that insert into slots in the aprons. This allows the top to expand and contract with seasonal changes without cracking. Buttons are typically fairly short, with the screw centered along the length of the button (as shown below top). For most circumstances this is fine. However, if a top is warped, a button of normal size may not provide the leverage necessary to pull the top flat. When this happens, I make longer buttons, locating the screw as shown in the illustration below. In this case, tightening the screw applies much more pressure. In fact, it works so well that I regularly use longer buttons now.

Percy Blandford Warwickshire, England

Typical-sized button with a centered screw

Longer button with screw offset towards end

Preserving Unused Finish

I've lost many half-filled cans of oil and poly-urethane that skinned over after sitting in a half-empty can for too long. I've tried crushing the cans and raising the level of the finish by adding marbles, but neither method works well with half a can of finish. Lately, I've discovered that the wine-preserving vacuum-pump devices sold in kitchen-supply outlets can do double-duty in your shop. You might already have the $7 pump (it won't get damaged if you borrow it for shop use). The rubber one-way valves that serve as "corks" cost less than a buck apiece.

To use, simply pour your finish into a beer or wine bottle, insert the cork and pump out the air. It works great. I have a bottle of wipe-on polyurethane that has not skinned over for six months (and counting).

Joe Wajszczuk Platteville, Wisconsin

Getting Shellac to Dissolve Faster

To make your shellac flakes dissolve faster, grind them up first in a coffee bean grinder. This greatly increases the surface area of the raw shellac flake s and reduces the amount of time between mixing and finishing.

You'll want to purchase a dedicated blade-style grinder for this operation - no one likes lac bug parts in their

morning cup o' joe. Inexpensive coffee bean grinders cost about $10 new, although they're al so pretty common at yard sale s. Grind the flakes no more than about 20 seconds, then pour them into a jar and add the alcohol.

Christopher Schwarz executive editor continued on page 26

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