Question (from Dick in Palo Alto, CA) : Do you have any tips on storing my drills?Bruce Johnson: Here's one easy way to store your electric drill -- a "holster" that hangs on a pegboard rack. Make the holster is a scrap of 2x4 softwood (e.g., pine) by cutting two openings in it. The drill chuck fits in a large hole, and you can fit the power cord into a keyhole-shaped notch . Add two L-hooks to the back and you can hang the holster on the pegboard.
Question (Kyle in Morgantown, West Virginia) : What is the difference between hardwoods and softwoods?Bruce: This is an important question. A piece of hardwood stock will commonly be priced about twice as much as a comparable piece of softwood. Hardwood is a common term used to describe trees like oak, maple, cherry and walnut. These types of wood are typically used for high-quality woodwork and furniture making. Softwood is a term used to describe trees like pine, fir, and cedar. These are typically used for construction work. If you're not sure what type of wood a particular piece is, here's a test: softwoods can easily be dented fairly easily with the tip of your thumbnail. If the wood can't easily be dented in this way, chances are good that it's a hardwood. Knowing about this difference is a good lesson for anyone. Even if you're not into woodworking it's good to know the differences in wood before you buy furniture or cabinetry.
Question (from Wendy in Conway, Arkansas): What is the best way to paint over wood veneer cabinets?
Bruce: When painting wood, the important thing to know is that paint sticks to primer better than it does to bare wood. The first step to painting over your veneer cabinet is to sand the cabinet. Once the surface is sanded, clean away all the dust with tack-cloth. Next, apply a primer coat, making sure that the primer is well stirred. Prepping and priming the wood in this way provides a good surface for the paint to adhere to. After the primer has dried, you can paint over it with a paint of your choice. Paint that is applied over primer will be less likely to peel later than if it were applied directly to the bare wood.
Bruce's Time-Saving Tip: Reviving a Dull Finish Without StrippingIn today's tip, I'm going to show you how to revive a dull finish on an antique -- without the need for stripping the old finish. If you have an old piece of furniture that's looking dull, but the finish is not peeling, give the finish a pick-me-up by rubbing a piece of fine-gauge steel wool in the direction of the grain. Then you can apply an oil-based spray stain to the furniture. Simply spray it on and wipe it off. It will blend in and cover the nicks and scratches. You should choose a stain that's one shade lighter than your piece because the stain will darken as it dries. It's a good idea to test the stain in an inconspicuous area. Avoid using a water-based stain on wood that's been finished because it might lead to blotches. Follow this technique and you'll give your furniture a new look without spending all that time stripping it.
