Question (from Dan in Lake Forest, Illinois): What's the best way to sharpen a chisel?Bruce : And it's important. When chisels dull down, they don't cut the wood as cleanly. Sharpen chisels using a sharpening stone. Typical stones come with fine grit on one side and coarse grit on the other. Which side you use will depend on how dull or nicked your chisel is. Always use honing oil on the sharpening stone. The trick to sharpening is holding the blade at the right angle and grinding the edge, then smoothing the back side of the blade as well.
Question (from Linda in Kennesaw, Georgia): My entertainment center is pressboard with veneer on the side and wood on the front. Cat urine has soaked into the wood. Is there any way to fix this problem without rebuilding the unit?
Bruce: Wood soaks up liquids like a sponge, and cat urine can be a big problem. Though it usually won't cause long-term damage to the wood, the odor is unpleasant and hard to remove. In fact, chances are good that you can't remove the odor entirely. If the wood on your entertainment center does not feel soft or have a problem with dry rot, you can try sanding the area and then refinishing and resealing it with a finishing-oil such as tung oil or polyurethane. Since you can't get the smell out, the idea is to "seal it in."
Question (from Marcy in Rapid City, South Dakota): I want to put a picket fence in front of my house, but I am not sure what material or style to use. Do you have any suggestions?
Bruce: Picket fences are a classic. They were popular around Victorian houses, and they're enjoying a comeback today. You do have several choices when it comes to picket fences. There are plastic fences that can look quite good and require less maintenance, but they tend to be more expensive. As for wood fences, one of the most common materials is pressure-treated pine. It is treated to resist water and rot, and last the longest of all the wood fences. Cedar is relatively expensive, but has a natural resistance to the elements. The least expensive choice is ordinary #2 pine. If you select this budget option, it's critical that you paint or stain the wood right away or it will rot.
Bruce's Woodworking Tip: Brushing On Polyurethane for a Smooth FinishWhen applying a polyurethane finish to wood, a common mistake is to apply too much polyurethane with the brushstrokes. Once you've stirred the can of polyurethane, dip your brush into the liquid to a depth so that only about the bottom 1/2-inch of the bristles are coated. As you apply the polyurethane to the wood, use the bristles to brush it out and work it into the wood -- using the tip of the brush to force the polyurethane into the pores of the wood. Follow this technique for a smooth finish coat.
