Shop Notes
______________________________________
Shelf life For Finishes?
From General Finishes:
Product that is in an unopened can typically does not have an expiration date. Most products never sit on a store shelf for more than 1 or 2 years and even products that sit for 5 to 10 years, (which would be rare) would just need to be stirred up well and they would be fine. That time it takes for a product to go back , ONCE OPENED, can be difficult to say. Once air gets at the product it can start the drying process. Also depending on how well the can is sealed or the temperature at which it is stored can make a big difference.
To sum it up, your product is fine. After using it I would suggest putting some plastic wrap on the opened can and then push it down in the container until it touches the surface of the liquid. Then put the lid on tight. This will help keep it fresh for a long time.
Product that is in an unopened can typically does not have an expiration date. Most products never sit on a store shelf for more than 1 or 2 years and even products that sit for 5 to 10 years, (which would be rare) would just need to be stirred up well and they would be fine. That time it takes for a product to go back , ONCE OPENED, can be difficult to say. Once air gets at the product it can start the drying process. Also depending on how well the can is sealed or the temperature at which it is stored can make a big difference.
To sum it up, your product is fine. After using it I would suggest putting some plastic wrap on the opened can and then push it down in the container until it touches the surface of the liquid. Then put the lid on tight. This will help keep it fresh for a long time.
Make It - Don't Buy It!
Why buy something when you can make it? After all, isn't that what we do - make stuff?
Here are a couple ideas from Vicki Wilcox you can download:
Jig for making Pocket Hole Plugs
Making and Using a Ticking Stick
Why buy something when you can make it? After all, isn't that what we do - make stuff?
Here are a couple ideas from Vicki Wilcox you can download:
Jig for making Pocket Hole Plugs
Making and Using a Ticking Stick
Recalled Tools
Here is a link to a web site that has some useful info. Especially helpful is a page listing recalled Tolls:
Tools Critic
The Recalled Tools page is an extensive guide to the most popular tools recalled from the market due to safety concerns as well as information on how to tell if a product is affected and what to do in each case. This is a topic that it’s not widely covered online and many people are not aware of the risk they take on by continuing to use these power tools, especially since the manufacturers offer completely free replacement of the defective products in each case. Check it out and Bookmark it.
Tools Critic
The Recalled Tools page is an extensive guide to the most popular tools recalled from the market due to safety concerns as well as information on how to tell if a product is affected and what to do in each case. This is a topic that it’s not widely covered online and many people are not aware of the risk they take on by continuing to use these power tools, especially since the manufacturers offer completely free replacement of the defective products in each case. Check it out and Bookmark it.
Protecting Wood from Chuck Jaws
by Bill Fordney, from the Woodturning Chatter section of the October 2012 issue of American Woodturner
Download PDF File
FINISHING TIPS by Phil Colson - Woodturner
It's all about finishing. No matter how good your turned piece may look unfinished, finishing it will make your piece pop.
This tip is not about what finish to use, it's about what you do after you close the can or bottle of finish. How many times have you closed up your finish and put it on the shelf only to find it skimmed over the next time you open it? Air has leaked into the container allowing the dryer in the finish to start drying the top layer. We can't help getting a little finish on the rim of the container and thus possibly compromising the airtight seal.
What I have been doing for years to fix this problem is to simply store the container upside down. That's right, upside down. This puts the finish at the lid, blocking air from entering the container.
But what about those screw-on capped containers? For those, I use a wooden board and drill a hole just larger than the screw-on top and pop that container upside down. You will find that you can use every last drop of finish in the can. Another advantage of the upside down finish is when friends come over to your shop and see all the upside down cans, they will start to be concerned about you. This is not a bad thing!
Happy finishing and happy turning.
It's all about finishing. No matter how good your turned piece may look unfinished, finishing it will make your piece pop.
This tip is not about what finish to use, it's about what you do after you close the can or bottle of finish. How many times have you closed up your finish and put it on the shelf only to find it skimmed over the next time you open it? Air has leaked into the container allowing the dryer in the finish to start drying the top layer. We can't help getting a little finish on the rim of the container and thus possibly compromising the airtight seal.
What I have been doing for years to fix this problem is to simply store the container upside down. That's right, upside down. This puts the finish at the lid, blocking air from entering the container.
But what about those screw-on capped containers? For those, I use a wooden board and drill a hole just larger than the screw-on top and pop that container upside down. You will find that you can use every last drop of finish in the can. Another advantage of the upside down finish is when friends come over to your shop and see all the upside down cans, they will start to be concerned about you. This is not a bad thing!
Happy finishing and happy turning.