Some of the most useful woodworking tricks come from looking at familiar materials and tools in a new way. A microwave, a piece of kraft paper, some flexible tubing, and an old plug cutter might not seem to have much in common, but each can solve a frustrating problem in the shop.
In this edition of Woodsmith Quick Tips, four contributors share practical ideas for working with dowel joints, improving a finished surface, clamping curved assemblies, and speeding up repetitive clamping operations.
1. Dry Swollen Wood Dowels for a Better Fit
Humidity can cause wood dowels to absorb moisture and swell. When that happens, a dowel that previously fit a drilled hole may suddenly be too tight, making assembly difficult or preventing the joint from closing completely.
Dana Myers of Beaverdale, Iowa, ran into this problem when her dowels wouldn't fit their mating holes during humid weather. Her solution was to dry the dowels in a microwave in short, 30-second increments. Removing some of the absorbed moisture allowed the dowels to return closer to their original size.
It's a quick way to address a fit problem caused by moisture rather than an incorrectly sized hole. Before assembling the joint, check the fit of each dowel and make sure it can be inserted without excessive force.
Woodsmith Tip: If you try this technique, use only plain, unfinished wood dowels without metal or other inserts. Heat them cautiously in short intervals, monitor them closely, and allow them to cool before checking the fit. Overheating wood can scorch or ignite it.
Shop tip submitted by Dana Myers, Beaverdale, Iowa.
2. Polish a Wood Finish with Kraft Paper
After sanding through the grits and applying the final coat of finish, you may still notice slight surface roughness or variations in sheen. Sometimes all the surface needs is a gentle final polishing.
Phil Huber of Urbandale, Iowa, uses a simple piece of kraft paper for this task. After finishing a turned platter, he rubs the surface with the paper to smooth out minor imperfections and create a more consistent sheen. Kraft paper has just enough mild abrasiveness to polish the surface without the aggressive cutting action of conventional sandpaper.
This technique is especially useful when a finish is already in good condition and needs only a light touch before the project is complete. Work gently, check your progress frequently, and avoid rubbing through the finish.
Woodsmith Tip: Allow the final coat to cure sufficiently before polishing, and test the kraft paper on an inconspicuous area first. The results will depend on the type of finish and the sheen you're trying to achieve.
Shop tip submitted by Phil Huber, Urbandale, Iowa.
3. Use Surgical Tubing to Clamp Curved Woodworking Projects
Clamping a project with curved, tapered, or irregular edges can be a challenge. Traditional bar clamps work well on flat, parallel surfaces, but they aren't always suited to assemblies that lack convenient clamping points.
Chris Fitch of Winterset, Iowa, came up with a flexible solution while gluing up a bandsaw box. Instead of trying to position conventional clamps around its curved shape, he used surgical tubing. The tubing stretches and conforms to the workpiece, while the latex surface provides grip to help keep it from slipping.
To use the technique, stretch the tubing around the assembly and wrap it tightly enough to apply even pressure to the glue joint. Once the parts are aligned, tie off the tubing to hold everything in place while the glue dries. You can adjust the number of wraps and the length of tubing to suit the size and shape of the project.
Woodsmith Tip: Check that the tubing applies pressure where it's needed without shifting the parts out of alignment. Use a protective barrier if there's a risk of the tubing marking a delicate surface or contacting uncured finish.
Shop tip submitted by Chris Fitch, Winterset, Iowa.
4. Tighten Bar Clamps Faster with a Plug Cutter and Drill
When you're working with a bending form or another jig that requires repeated clamping, tightening and loosening several bar clamps can become tedious. Turning each clamp handle by hand takes time, especially when you need to reposition the workpiece between operations.
John Doyle of Ankeny, Iowa, found a clever way to speed up the process while using a bending form to shape pieces of copper. He noticed that the gaps between the teeth of an unused 1" plug cutter were large enough to fit around the handle of his bar clamps. By chucking the cutter in a drill, he could use the drill to turn the clamp handles instead of adjusting each one by hand.
The technique made repeated clamping and unclamping much faster, saving time throughout the bending process. It's an inventive example of repurposing a tool for a task beyond its original purpose.
Woodsmith Tip: Use a low drill speed and a light clutch setting, and keep the plug cutter fully clear of your hands. Because plug cutters have sharp teeth and aren't designed as clamp drivers, a purpose-made clamp driver is the safer option for frequent use. Avoid using drill power for final tightening, which could damage the clamp or workpiece.
Shop tip submitted by John Doyle, Ankeny, Iowa.
Simple Shop Tricks That Save Time
These four quick tips demonstrate how a small change in technique can make a noticeable difference in your woodworking. Whether you're dealing with swollen dowels, putting the final touch on a finish, clamping an awkward shape, or adjusting clamps repeatedly, the solution may be simpler than you expect.
The next time a task slows you down, take a look around your shop. A familiar material or tool might offer a new way to get the job done.
