To capture magic dust for repairs and gap-filling, I used to go digging in my vacuum canister or dust-collection bags. That dust was almost always a mix of various species, however, making it a bad match for any one wood. Now I remove the dust bag from my sander, tape on a plastic sandwich bag, and sand a scrap of the wood I’m working with. That quickly delivers a pile of the right stuff. I’ve also discovered that Clear Gorilla Glue (a transparent PVA), mixed with the dust, creates a better-looking repair than other PVA glues. When I’m done I label the bag and save it for later use.

—DAVE WHITING, Townsend, Mass.

Illustrations by Dan Thornton
From Fine Woodworking issue #280

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Osmo Polyx-Oil

"If I had to choose one of these hard-wax oils to keep on hand, it would be Osmo Polyx-Oil. It’s relatively affordable and very easy to apply." -Adam Godet

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Festool Rotex FEQ-Plus Random Orbital Sander

The Festool Rotex is a top-of-the-line choice. On its coarse setting, it removed stock nearly twice as quickly as the second-fastest model. But that speed doesn’t mean you’ll have to wrestle with it. It’s no huge task to control it with two hands, and its long body gives you plenty of room to find a sweet spot while holding it.

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Liberon Steel Wool

Perfect for rubbing out a finish for a low-luster sheen.

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