Woodworker's Journal 2010-34-1, страница 27
PROBLEM: You want to protect your lungs from fine wood dust in the shop, but wearing a mask fogs up your glasses. SOLUTION: Choose filter masks that feature an exhalation valve. These masks allow the warm, moist exhalation from your breath to escape instead of creeping under the upper edge of the mask and fogging your safety and/or prescription glasses. Disposable masks with exhalation valves are affordable and comfortable to wear. To get the best lung protection, as well as prevent fogging, press the disposable mask's nosepiece down so that it conforms closely to the contour of your nose and cheekbone. Alternately, choose a rubber half-mask respirator that uses replaceable filter elements. For the best fit with a half mask, choose the size (small, medium, large) that fits your face best. PROBLEM: When vacuuming up around the shop, you inadvertently suck up screws, small tools and chunks of wood big enough to clog or damage the vacuum's hose. SOLUTION: Fastening a piece of metal screen over the end of the vac's hose keeps larger items out while permitting sawdust and dirt to be sucked through. Cut out a square piece of metal screen or hardware cloth (available at hardware and home supply stores) that's about two inches larger than the diameter of the vacuum hose. I found that screen with a 1/2" x 1/2" mesh is about right to trap most things you want to keep, while not clogging up with sawdust too easily. Wearing thick work gloves, press the screen over the end of the hose nozzle so it covers it like a small cap. Then, trim off the excess and tape the screen in place with duct tape. PROBLEM: You want to varnish or shellac your project, but you don't know if the can of finish you have is too old to be good any more. SOLUTION 1: Here are two things you can do to prevent a too-old finish from ruining your project: 1. Write the date on each can of finish the day you purchase it (TIP: don't buy any "new" cans of finish that have a thick layer of dust on them; who knows how long they've been sitting on the store's shelf). Some finishes, like shellac, may have a shelf life as short as six months, while others may last a year or two. When in doubt, try the finish on a scrap of wood, to make sure it applies and dries properly. SOLUTION 2: You can keep finishes from skinning over and oxidizing by filling the empty space in an opened container with an inert gas, such as Bloxygen. Sandor Nagyszalanczy is a furniture designer/craftsman, writer/photographer and regular contributor to Woodworker's Journal. His books are available at www.sandorsworkshop.com /fMORE ON THE WEB Visit our homepage and click on this icon to see a list of the woodworking supplies recommended in this article (and to get information on where you can purchase them). Woodworker's Journal Ferbruary 2010 27 |
