I’ve been making a chest of drawers, my first chest of drawers. It’s been an experience to say the least. I’ve been making half blind dovetails on lipped drawer fronts, also for the first time. i’ve made several mistakes, but I’m learning to correct or hide them to some degree. The one that got my heart rate up was an accident. I was preparing to glue up the fifth of seven drawers and as I’m separating the pieces after the dry fit the drawer front fell off the assembly table and landed right on a corner. All the edges have a round-over. I ended up with a flattened corner as I’m about to spread the glue. Then I remembered the tip about putting a little water on a dent and sometimes they flatten out. So I quick grabbed some water and since I couldn’t wait for it to maybe regain it’s shape I also grabbed a small hammer. I hammered it like a blacksmith would hammer metal. It actually worked. I can’t even tell which corner it was. I have no idea who’s post I got that tip from, but whomever it was, thank you very much. That little tip saved me a lot of work.
I’m a grateful reader, Jim
My memory’s good, it’s just short.
Replies
Next time ( there will be at least one !) try applying the water as steam by applying a hot iron to a wet cloth on top of the ding. It will work on all surfaces. You hammering technique is interesting - I wouldn't have thought to do that!
Jerry
Jim,
"hammered it like a
Jim,
"hammered it like a blacksmith would hammer metal. It actually worked"
Did you heat it first with a torch, 'til it glowed a dull cherry red?
haha
Ray
woodworking like a blacksmith
No, but if I thought it would work I would have. I was desperate.
Jim
My memory's good, It's just short.
It pays to pay attention
The cabinet makers mark, a triangle of pencil lines, is what I use to orient my parts for assembly. I had taken extra care to fit the hand cut dovetails on the pine box I was building. I tapped it together with a rubber mallet and then, satisfied with the dry fit, used the cabinet maker's mark on the edges. My fatal mistake was flipping the box over before leaving the shop for the day. Upon returning to the shop the next day I had forgotten that I had marked the other side and made the cabinet maker's mark again.
After tapping the box apart I took the pieces to the table saw to plough a groove for the top and bottom to fit into and with the cabinet maker's mark I was confident which edge to put against the fence. With the top and bottom cut I was ready to assemble and quickly started gluing the pins and dovetails. I was dumbfounded when nothing fit as it had the day before but it did fit great before so I kept pounding with the mallet but things were still miss-fitting, too tight in some places and gaps in others and then I ended up splitting one of the sides and then I realized that I'd marked both edges and fooled myself into randomly orienting the edges to hold against the fence. I got three of the sides right and one wrong.
A few more blows with the mallet and a full days work went into the scrap bin, lesson learned. Too bad, it really had fit nicely the first time.
Bret
Your story is sad
Bret: Your story didn't work out so well, whereas I was lucky and had a happy ending. I'd rather be lucky than good. It's so easy to make mistakes, so good luck with your next box.
Jim
My memory's good, it's just short.
No pity, I've had my share of good luck also. It all works out.
Bret
similar experience
Although mine was not on the corner, I had a plane fall off the edge of my workbench and land on a large top of a chest I was making and made a hell of a dent. I first thought about adding an inlay (creative design :) ) but the location did not make sense. I too had heard of water. I soaked a wash rag placed it over the dent and used the wifes iron (she was not pleased) and that sucker lifted right out. Raised the grain like heck (red oak), but a quick sand and boom it was back to normal. I had another expereince with a piece falling and denting the corner and it wound up with an cockbead. Funny how design happend huh! Have a good one.
...and used the wifes iron....
Bones:
I just loved your comment ...with a piece falling and denting the corner and it wound up with an cockbead. Funny how design happend huh!... I have been known to 'change' a design or add some 'stringing/banding'. Not often but much more than I'd like to admit that I have made. I had a good belly laugh on that comment.
As for your use of your wifes iron... I keep a steam iron in the shop and a jug of distilled water to put into it. Tap water is a bummer on some woods like oak and others.
I think that steam iron was relatively inexpensive. It has a button that will apply a 'blast of steam' when wanted. It can be a life saver!.. Or would that be a wood saver? Maybe both?
Get a inexpensive steam iron for the shop and a good one for you wife! It sure cuts down on ironing time! Yes.. this old mad man can iron clothes. When I was a boy it was one of my chores before I could go out to play on Saturday morning. (NO steam irons then that I ever knew of..) A damp cloth I used, as you used saving your wood.
In fact, I enjoyed ironing my daughters fancy dresses and whatever. (Yes, they were allowed to wear 'jeans', they liked mostly dresses that their mother made for them.) These were dresses that made a young woman, look like a woman, and still look like a Lady. I am also the OFFICIAL bow tier of the family for the females around me. I have many.. One exception is my oldest daughter.. She hated dresses? We never forced her to wear them. She even bought a womans business suite for her wedding? She was still lovely BUT... Not what a father wanted to see at her wedding. She is very much a woman but does not like dresses? Not for me to reason why etc... 'The Charge of the Light Brigade as I remember.. I just do and die?'..
I have even had my daughters friends come over to iron their dresses and tie their bows before they were sent off to some party or whatever. I'd use a steam iron to 'refresh' the ends of the 'ladies' bows after I tied them. Steam will relax almost anything... Even wood!
I made ALOT of beer money in the Army ironing uniforms for inspection (when we knew it was comming)..
I think I posted in here some time ago about using steam (not a common steam iron) but a steam machine used for cleaning around the house such as draperies and such. I made a oak rocking chair (Two of them). After glue-up one chair sort of got out of line. I used my steam machine on the part for a few hours and all was well. I made a 'box' to cover the offending part. Steamed for a few hours and PRESTO! The offending part is still OK. I guess all of the other parts keep it in place. Not sure but it worked!
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