DIY Network

Woodworking Repairs and Fixes, Pt. 3: Mistakes of the Hand From "Wood Works" episode WWK-513

In this segment, David Marks offers tips for repairing "mistakes of the hand" and demonstrates a special technique for "stretching" wood.

Materials may include:

Table saw
Band saw
Jointer
Hand scraper
Sandpaper
Yellow woodworker's glue
Syringe
Steam iron
Towels
Clamps and cauls
Wax paper
Chalk
Safety glasses or goggles

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

Safety Alert: Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses when
working with wood, power-tools, saws, drills, routers, etc.

"Stretching Wood"

If you have a unique piece of stock that you have a specific use for, but the piece is not quite long enough, there is a technique that my help you extend the piece and make it longer. It involves a single diagonal cut and some glue.

• At the band saw, make a diagonal cut from one corner of the board to the other.

• Run the newly cut edges of each diagonal over the knives of the jointer to flatten them.

• Slide the two triangle-cut pieces (figure A) together, positioning them along the diagonal until they form the desired length.

• Mark the positioning using a cabinet-maker's triangle (figure B).

• Join the two edges using yellow glue.

• Use stop-blocks to maintain the new length, and clamp the two pieces in position (figure C) until the glue cures fully.

• Once the glue has dried, trim one side on the band saw to get a straight edge, then cut the board to final width on the table saw (figure D).

This is a simple method to add several inches of length to a piece of stock. The process works especially well on darker wood which conceals the seam well.

	Figure E
	Figure F
	Figure G

Edge-Gluing and Veneers

If you have some stock that's not wide enough, consider increasing the width by edge-gluing several boards together (figure E). When edge-gluing boards, look for matching grain-patterns.

Another option for making your stock go further is to laminate inexpensive boards using veneers cut from finer woods. In this way, you save money by reducing the amount of the more expensive woods that you'll need for a project.

Occasionally, bubbles or "blisters" will form in a veneer in an area where there is an insufficient amount of glue in that particular spot on the substrate. To repair a blister, drill two small holes -- each about 1/32-inch (figure F).

Use a syringe to squeeze yellow glue into the blister until it pops out of the other pinhole (figure G). Add wax paper, a caul and clamp to add pressure on the blister and flatten it as the glue dries. In a few hours, the blistered veneer will be perfectly flat.

	Figure H
	Figure I
	Figure J
	Figure K

Fixing Warped or Dented Wood with Steam

If you have a board that is warped or cupped (figure H), here's a technique that may help. Note that his method will only work on a board that is only slightly cupped.

Try applying a wet towel to the warped side and slowly heating the towel with an iron (figure I). The steam will penetrate into the wood fibers, causing the board to bend toward the non-dampened side.

Dents in wood occur when the fibers of wood are compressed or crushed. By contrast, a gouge is when the fibers are cut or broken. A gouge is a difficult fix, and will likely require a patch or veneer covering to repair it. Small dents, however, are an easy fix.

Place a small amount of water onto the dented area (figure J) and cover it with a damp cloth.

Use an wood-burning tool or iron (figure K) to heat the cloth and create steam. The steam expands the crushed fibers of the depression, removing the dent. It's a good idea to remove dents before sanding.
In the segment that follows, David Marks offers tips for making clean cuts on plywood.

RESOURCES :

The Small Wood Shop (The Best of Fine Woodworking)
Author: Helen Albert (Editor)
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 1561580619

Woodworking Techniques: Best Methods for Building Furniture from Fine Woodworking
Author: Editors of Fine Woodworking magazine
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 1561583456

David Marks Website
David Marks, DIY's Wood Works host, is a master woodworker. For more information on cut sizes and project details, please contact him via his Website at www.djmarks.com

Fine Woodworking
A magazine devoted to high-quality craftsmanship in woodworking.
The Taunton Press Inc.
Website: www.taunton.com