Main > Woodworking
Woodworking questions (non-arcade related)
RickDIII:
--- Quote from: NoOne=NBA= on April 24, 2006, 11:44:15 pm ---The few tips I'd give are:
1) Make sure that you get STRAIGHT pieces of wood.
If you don't START with straight wood, you won't end up with straight wood.
Real wood can warp after the fact as well, which is something to keep in mind.
2) You need to use a sealer/primer on pine before you stain it.
If you don't, the stain will be very uneven, as parts of the wood are denser than other parts, so they accept the stain differently.
I had to learn that one the hard way.
3) Dark stain will cover up alot of the character in the wood.
Not a real warning, just something to keep in mind again.
--- End quote ---
#1 is a great tip, if you get this wrong the whole project gets difficult. Just wanted to throw my $.02 in - When you select your boards make sure you look at them from the end...looking down the piece of wood. This will help you see whether the board bows either up and down or side to side.
clite_rad:
A few more things about working with pine:
1. Pine is a soft wood; it will dent if tools or other items fall on it. This may be the look you are going for a "distressed" look but it will effect the way the stain is absorbed.
2. Make sure you acclimate the wood to your home. Bring it home, lay it flat, then let it sit a day or two. Wood (especially from Home Depot) can be high in moisture content and even if the board was flat when you bought it when it dries it can warp.
3. Stain both sides of the wood even though it may not show. Pine is very pourous and if you don't seal both sides of the wood it will dryout faster on one side than the other and potientally warp.
4. Give the boards a light sanding with 220 grit paper before you stain. Pine has a natural tendancy to "yellow" over time and having a fresh surface for the sealer to absorb into will give your stain a more even look.
5. All wood will contract and expand over time; depending on the joints you are using you will want to leave some room for the wood to move.
I'm also curious why you chose pine? Is it costs or does that match the style you are looking for? I love to work with maple - it is a much harder wood and the grain patterns are outstanding. Don't take that the wrong way- just wanted to share some options - I've made many pine projects (the headboard on my bed is made of pine).
If you don't have access to other woods locally here is a place that I get mine from: http://woodworkerssource.net/
Good luck!!
AtomSmasher:
--- Quote from: clite_rad on April 25, 2006, 03:34:09 pm ---I'm also curious why you chose pine? Is it costs or does that match the style you are looking for? I love to work with maple - it is a much harder wood and the grain patterns are outstanding. Don't take that the wrong way- just wanted to share some options - I've made many pine projects (the headboard on my bed is made of pine).
--- End quote ---
Thanks for the advice. I chose pine because at home depot they had a choice of pine or oak, and oak was at least 5x more expensive then pine. Do you think I should get my wood from a local lumber yard and get Maple or something else? As I said earlier, I'm fairly new to wood working and really have no idea which woods are better for what.
tivogre:
Don't use a stain.
Use a DYE.
You buy it in concentrated powder or liquid and add to denatured alcohol to get the color you want.
This will even out the grain color and get a unified, non-splotchy look.
clite_rad:
--- Quote from: AtomSmasher on April 25, 2006, 03:48:37 pm ---Thanks for the advice. I chose pine because at home depot they had a choice of pine or oak, and oak was at least 5x more expensive then pine. Do you think I should get my wood from a local lumber yard and get Maple or something else? As I said earlier, I'm fairly new to wood working and really have no idea which woods are better for what.
--- End quote ---
As for the wood preference - that is a personal choice. I noticed you said you where building a bed; with a stronger wood you might be able to eliminate some bracing.
I like to go to the lumber yard as they have better selection of wood - prices are usually better as well. To help determine what wood you would like to use; go to the lumber yard and ask for some scraps of different kinds you like, then try some different stains/dyes on them to see what you like.
As for your plans maybe you could share them with us and we could give you some feedback on the design. I'm sure this board is not the place for this type of project so PM me if you want I'd be happy to give some feedback.
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