Question (from Patricia in Cleveland, Ohio): Is there a product that will protect my furniture but is safe for my new pet? Bruce: Citrus-based cleaners and polishes are ideal for furniture due to their cleaning properties and protective oils. Natural orange oils are also safe with pets, and if you're worried about your pet scratching the furniture, you'll be happy to know that many cats don't like the citrus smell. Spray citrus polishes on a rag, rather than directly onto the furniture, then wipe it on.
Question (from David in Knoxville, Tennessee): I just bought a house with marine board siding. What is it and how do I patch a hole in it?
Bruce: Marine board was originally a name for a building material used on house exteriors after the 1940s. It's now considered too expensive for use in home building, but you see it on a lot of older homes. Often the term "marine board" is now used as a generic term referring to any plywood-type material used on a house exterior. Holes should be patched to prevent moisture from getting inside the wood. The instructions for repairing marine board siding are the same as repairing wood siding. If the hole is small, simply patch it using an exterior-patching product. Apply the patch to the hole as you would a hole in drywall. Apply it to the hole so that it mounds up slightly. Once it dries, sand it and touch up with paint.
Question (from Jim in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma): Is there a tool I can use to sand the curves in the molding of my unfinished headboard?
Bruce: To sand curves, try wrapping sandpaper around a short piece of plastic tubing. You want the tubing to be smaller than the curve. You can tape the sandpaper in place with double-sided sticky tape or if you buy flexible tubing, you can slice the tube and slide the sandpaper into the slit for a tight hold. Use it to sand your molding, including the areas in the curves. It can be re-used several times.
Bruce's Woodworking Tip:
"Polyurethane Finish -- Stirred, Not Shaken"We use polyurethane varnish in so many jobs, but I've seen many projects ruined because someone shook the can of polyurethane before using it. Never, ever shake polyurethane. It introduces bubbles that will just end up on your finish. Instead, simply stir the varnish in the can in a figure-8 pattern using a stirring stick. Also stay away from foam brushes when working with polyurethane as they can also add air-bubbles.
