I need a bit of quick help regarding a woodworking "emergency".

My SWMBO volunteered me for a little trip through a minefield. To wit,
the son (whom I don't know) of my neighbor (whom I barely know) asked
my wife if I could help him with a little woodworking project. She
said sure.

When he came over to formally ask me to help (two nights ago), it turns
out that he wants to make a jewelry box. For his girlfriend. Who
lives in Washington DC. He is leaving Sunday. He has no woodworking
experience. Or wood. Or plans.

Because of my schedule, that left us with two evenings and part of
Saturday and a bit of Sunday morning to get this box made and finished.

Tonight we hope to get the box assembled, and get the first glue-up
done so that it will be ready for corner splines to be installed in the
mitered corners.

My largest concern is how to finish it. My garage is unheated and it's
chilly now in Seattle. I would have liked to do a quick shellac
finish, but it's too cold to dry properly in the garage and too smelly
for the house. I am thinking some kind of paste wax finish might work.
Any ideas?

Thanks for any advice. I really don't want to ruin this project. It's
not a good idea to make your neighbors mad at you, even if you don't
talk often. Also, the kid seems very nice, and it would be good for
him to have a positive experience with woodworking.

wrote:
....
out that he wants to make a jewelry box. For his girlfriend. Who
....
My largest concern is how to finish it. My garage is unheated and it's
chilly now in Seattle. I would have liked to do a quick shellac
finish, but it's too cold to dry properly in the garage and too smelly
for the house. I am thinking some kind of paste wax finish might work.
Any ideas?
....

What is the wood choice? Might make some alteration in suggestion,
particularly regarding stain/no stain/color, etc., but for a box given
the restrictions you mention, I'd suggest one of the commercial rubbing
oil finishes like the original Minwax or similar. You can get the
level of luster you desire by combination of how finely you sand the
piece and number of coats and it can be applied and rubbed out in an
evening. It isn't that bad odor-wise so can be done at the kitchen
table if it is really cool that evening to help some, as well. If
possible, I'd give it a full day and then use a paste wax over it.
Either way, it will last well and is easy to renew at any time.

wrote:
I need a bit of quick help regarding a woodworking "emergency".

When he came over to formally ask me to help (two nights ago), it turns
out that he wants to make a jewelry box. For his girlfriend. Who
lives in Washington DC. He is leaving Sunday. He has no woodworking
experience. Or wood. Or plans.

Because of my schedule, that left us with two evenings and part of
Saturday and a bit of Sunday morning to get this box made and finished.


You gotta learn to say no! But now that you're this far, I think I'd
bring it in the house, warm it up and rub it down with warm mineral
oil. It wouldn't have been my first choice of finish for a jewelry
box, but it doesn't smell and will pop the grain and make it look
really nice for a while. Maybe later when the lustre begins to die, he
can rub on some tung oil finish or Waterlox.

DonkeyHody
"Every man is my superior in that I can learn from him." - Thomas
Carlyle

For a quick finish consider shellac, either blonde or orange. You can put on
several coats in a few hours. The orange shellac adds a nice amber color.

You could also consider just using a paste wax like Butcher's or Johnsons. A
few coats right on the bare wood with a hand polished surface on the last
coat looks great and holds up quite well. It'll also only take you a few
hours to do, and you can (should) do it in the house where it's warm. I've
done several small projects like this and they turned out really well.

--
Charley


"dpb" wrote in message
oups.com...
wrote:
...
out that he wants to make a jewelry box. For his girlfriend. Who
...
My largest concern is how to finish it. My garage is unheated and it's
chilly now in Seattle. I would have liked to do a quick shellac
finish, but it's too cold to dry properly in the garage and too smelly
for the house. I am thinking some kind of paste wax finish might work.
Any ideas?
...

What is the wood choice? Might make some alteration in suggestion,
particularly regarding stain/no stain/color, etc., but for a box given
the restrictions you mention, I'd suggest one of the commercial rubbing
oil finishes like the original Minwax or similar. You can get the
level of luster you desire by combination of how finely you sand the
piece and number of coats and it can be applied and rubbed out in an
evening. It isn't that bad odor-wise so can be done at the kitchen
table if it is really cool that evening to help some, as well. If
possible, I'd give it a full day and then use a paste wax over it.
Either way, it will last well and is easy to renew at any time.

wrote:

My largest concern is how to finish it. My garage is unheated and it's
chilly now in Seattle. I would have liked to do a quick shellac
finish, but it's too cold to dry properly in the garage and too smelly
for the house. I am thinking some kind of paste wax finish might work.
Any ideas?


Not the most elegant, but you have time to put on three coats of
water-based polyurethane. You might also be able to find some shellac
in a spray can. I found some once that took about 1/2 hour between
coats. Either finish will last longer than a wax or oil-based finish.
Do it in the house where it's warm.

Explain to him the problems with applying the finish in those conditions
and ask him what he want you to do. Give him his options and put the
responsibility for success on him.

As long as I gave it my best effort, I would not lose a bit of sleep
over this project.

wrote:
I need a bit of quick help regarding a woodworking "emergency".

My SWMBO volunteered me for a little trip through a minefield. To wit,
the son (whom I don't know) of my neighbor (whom I barely know) asked
my wife if I could help him with a little woodworking project. She
said sure.

When he came over to formally ask me to help (two nights ago), it turns
out that he wants to make a jewelry box. For his girlfriend. Who
lives in Washington DC. He is leaving Sunday. He has no woodworking
experience. Or wood. Or plans.

Because of my schedule, that left us with two evenings and part of
Saturday and a bit of Sunday morning to get this box made and finished.

Tonight we hope to get the box assembled, and get the first glue-up
done so that it will be ready for corner splines to be installed in the
mitered corners.

My largest concern is how to finish it. My garage is unheated and it's
chilly now in Seattle. I would have liked to do a quick shellac
finish, but it's too cold to dry properly in the garage and too smelly
for the house. I am thinking some kind of paste wax finish might work.
Any ideas?

Thanks for any advice. I really don't want to ruin this project. It's
not a good idea to make your neighbors mad at you, even if you don't
talk often. Also, the kid seems very nice, and it would be good for
him to have a positive experience with woodworking.

wrote in message
ups.com...
I need a bit of quick help regarding a woodworking "emergency".

My SWMBO volunteered me for a little trip through a minefield. To wit,
the son (whom I don't know) of my neighbor (whom I barely know) asked
my wife if I could help him with a little woodworking project. She
said sure.

When he came over to formally ask me to help (two nights ago), it turns
out that he wants to make a jewelry box. For his girlfriend. Who
lives in Washington DC. He is leaving Sunday. He has no woodworking
experience. Or wood. Or plans.

Because of my schedule, that left us with two evenings and part of
Saturday and a bit of Sunday morning to get this box made and finished.

Tonight we hope to get the box assembled, and get the first glue-up
done so that it will be ready for corner splines to be installed in the
mitered corners.

My largest concern is how to finish it. My garage is unheated and it's
chilly now in Seattle. I would have liked to do a quick shellac
finish, but it's too cold to dry properly in the garage and too smelly
for the house. I am thinking some kind of paste wax finish might work.
Any ideas?

Thanks for any advice. I really don't want to ruin this project. It's
not a good idea to make your neighbors mad at you, even if you don't
talk often. Also, the kid seems very nice, and it would be good for
him to have a positive experience with woodworking.


I would go with some Watco Danish oil. Rub it in well, wipe it dry and be
done with it. (You will have some lingering odor however)
I'm not a fan of lacquer finishes but that would be another way to go. (Deft
"Clear Wood Finish" is available in spray cans)

Max

Mapdude wrote:
Explain to him the problems with applying the finish in those conditions
and ask him what he want you to do. Give him his options and put the
responsibility for success on him.

As long as I gave it my best effort, I would not lose a bit of sleep
over this project.

wrote:
I need a bit of quick help regarding a woodworking "emergency".

My SWMBO volunteered me for a little trip through a minefield. To wit,
the son (whom I don't know) of my neighbor (whom I barely know) asked
my wife if I could help him with a little woodworking project. She
said sure.

When he came over to formally ask me to help (two nights ago), it turns
out that he wants to make a jewelry box. For his girlfriend. Who
lives in Washington DC. He is leaving Sunday. He has no woodworking
experience. Or wood. Or plans.

Because of my schedule, that left us with two evenings and part of
Saturday and a bit of Sunday morning to get this box made and finished.

Tonight we hope to get the box assembled, and get the first glue-up
done so that it will be ready for corner splines to be installed in the
mitered corners.

My largest concern is how to finish it. My garage is unheated and it's
chilly now in Seattle. I would have liked to do a quick shellac
finish, but it's too cold to dry properly in the garage and too smelly
for the house. I am thinking some kind of paste wax finish might work.
Any ideas?

Thanks for any advice. I really don't want to ruin this project. It's
not a good idea to make your neighbors mad at you, even if you don't
talk often. Also, the kid seems very nice, and it would be good for
him to have a positive experience with woodworking.


I just recently had a similiar "emergency" and had one night to get a
finish on a small item. Outside finishing was not an option due to the
weather.
Here's what I did. Get a can of spray lacquer. Get a box fan and put it
on a table next to a window with the airflow pointing out. Make a small
booth around the fan using duct tape and cardboard. You will want to
get the jewelry box on a lazy susan or a small block of wood or a nail
board so you can turn it without touching it. You can get easily get
three coats or more on in one night with minimal or no sanding between
coats. If you're adept with a spray can the final coat will need no
further attention. There will be very little smell in the house.
Is this safe or environmentally responsible? Probably not, but it is an
"emergency."

My largest concern is how to finish it. My garage is unheated and it's
chilly now in Seattle. I would have liked to do a quick shellac
finish, but it's too cold to dry properly in the garage and too smelly
for the house.

Three coats of shellac... in his warm house....buff with wax&wool the next
day.

Thanks for all the good advice.

I am wondering about glue. I can do the primary glueup using regular
woodworking glue and bring it into the house to cure, but on Saturday
we need to cut slots for, and install decorative splines into the
corners. I would like a fast-curing glue so he can install the
splinesand and apply finish and install the hardware AND install felt
lining, all on Saturday. Has anyone used those super glues for wood?

Thu, Dec 28, 2006, 7:59am (EST-3) doth mumble:
snip My largest concern is how to finish it. My garage is unheated and
it's chilly now in Seattle. I would have liked to do a quick shellac
finish, but it's too cold to dry properly in the garage and too smelly
for the house. I am thinking some kind of paste wax finish might work.
**Any ideas? snip

Yeah. Garage too cold? Take it in the house. Too smelly? Take
it in the kid's house. No, on second thought, take it in your house.
That'd serve your wife right.

Have a lonnng talk with your wife.



JOAT
It's not hard, if you get your mind right.
- Granny Weatherwax

wrote:

I am wondering about glue. I can do the primary glueup using regular
woodworking glue and bring it into the house to cure, but on Saturday
we need to cut slots for, and install decorative splines into the
corners. I would like a fast-curing glue so he can install the
splinesand and apply finish and install the hardware AND install felt
lining, all on Saturday. Has anyone used those super glues for wood?

Never going to happen.

Sounds like you are in a cold climate.

Adhesives along with coatings don't do well when the temperature
drops, especially anything below 60F.

You may get an initial cure, but to fully cure requires added time at
low temps.

If you truly want to screw things up, try to fight mother nature.

DAMHIKT

Lew

On Thu, 28 Dec 2006 07:59:36 -0800, bsa441 wrote:

I need a bit of quick help regarding a woodworking "emergency".

My SWMBO volunteered me for a little trip through a minefield. To wit,
the son (whom I don't know) of my neighbor (whom I barely know) asked
my wife if I could help him with a little woodworking project. She
said sure.

When he came over to formally ask me to help (two nights ago), it turns
out that he wants to make a jewelry box. For his girlfriend. Who
lives in Washington DC. He is leaving Sunday. He has no woodworking
experience. Or wood. Or plans.

Because of my schedule, that left us with two evenings and part of
Saturday and a bit of Sunday morning to get this box made and finished.

Tonight we hope to get the box assembled, and get the first glue-up
done so that it will be ready for corner splines to be installed in the
mitered corners.

My largest concern is how to finish it. My garage is unheated and it's
chilly now in Seattle. I would have liked to do a quick shellac
finish, but it's too cold to dry properly in the garage and too smelly
for the house. I am thinking some kind of paste wax finish might work.
Any ideas?

Thanks for any advice. I really don't want to ruin this project. It's
not a good idea to make your neighbors mad at you, even if you don't
talk often. Also, the kid seems very nice, and it would be good for
him to have a positive experience with woodworking.

IMO, Minwax wipe on poly doesn't look bad at all and doesn't have any
more odor than paste wax. Dries fast too.

--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

I routinely work glued pieces as little as 1/2-hour after gluing... so long
as the joint will not be stressed much. Soemthing like a box joint is going
to hold together just fine after 10 minutes. The joinery does all of the
heavy lifting, the glue just locks it in place.

Be careful not to glue cold wood. before you start working make sure that
your wood is at indoor temp. It's not good enough to slap glue on a 40
degree (F) workpiece and bring it indoors.

Regards,

Steve



wrote in message
oups.com...
Thanks for all the good advice.

I am wondering about glue. I can do the primary glueup using regular
woodworking glue and bring it into the house to cure, but on Saturday
we need to cut slots for, and install decorative splines into the
corners. I would like a fast-curing glue so he can install the
splinesand and apply finish and install the hardware AND install felt
lining, all on Saturday. Has anyone used those super glues for wood?

I keep an air brush filled with General Finish Water Poly for small
projects. I think you can
spray that indoors. I spray in my basement. You can put on 3 coats in less
than 2 hours.
You may be able to find it in a spray can.
Ted
wrote in message
ups.com...
I need a bit of quick help regarding a woodworking "emergency".

My SWMBO volunteered me for a little trip through a minefield. To wit,
the son (whom I don't know) of my neighbor (whom I barely know) asked
my wife if I could help him with a little woodworking project. She
said sure.

When he came over to formally ask me to help (two nights ago), it turns
out that he wants to make a jewelry box. For his girlfriend. Who
lives in Washington DC. He is leaving Sunday. He has no woodworking
experience. Or wood. Or plans.

Because of my schedule, that left us with two evenings and part of
Saturday and a bit of Sunday morning to get this box made and finished.

Tonight we hope to get the box assembled, and get the first glue-up
done so that it will be ready for corner splines to be installed in the
mitered corners.

My largest concern is how to finish it. My garage is unheated and it's
chilly now in Seattle. I would have liked to do a quick shellac
finish, but it's too cold to dry properly in the garage and too smelly
for the house. I am thinking some kind of paste wax finish might work.
Any ideas?

Thanks for any advice. I really don't want to ruin this project. It's
not a good idea to make your neighbors mad at you, even if you don't
talk often. Also, the kid seems very nice, and it would be good for
him to have a positive experience with woodworking.

Stephen M wrote:
I routinely work glued pieces as little as 1/2-hour after gluing...
so long as the joint will not be stressed much. Soemthing like a box
joint is going to hold together just fine after 10 minutes. The
joinery does all of the heavy lifting, the glue just locks it in
place.
Be careful not to glue cold wood. before you start working make sure
that your wood is at indoor temp. It's not good enough to slap glue
on a 40 degree (F) workpiece and bring it indoors.

Regards,

Steve


That's a very good point.

Or Preval units available in many stores for finish of choice. Suggest
waiting for wax after the full cure of whatever finish. Buy a can and
include it in the gift package for her to be involved also.

On Thu, 28 Dec 2006 15:19:10 -0500, "Bigpole" wrote:

I keep an air brush filled with General Finish Water Poly for small
projects. I think you can
spray that indoors. I spray in my basement. You can put on 3 coats in less
than 2 hours.
You may be able to find it in a spray can.
Ted
wrote in message
oups.com...
I need a bit of quick help regarding a woodworking "emergency".

My SWMBO volunteered me for a little trip through a minefield. To wit,
the son (whom I don't know) of my neighbor (whom I barely know) asked
my wife if I could help him with a little woodworking project. She
said sure.

When he came over to formally ask me to help (two nights ago), it turns
out that he wants to make a jewelry box. For his girlfriend. Who
lives in Washington DC. He is leaving Sunday. He has no woodworking
experience. Or wood. Or plans.

Because of my schedule, that left us with two evenings and part of
Saturday and a bit of Sunday morning to get this box made and finished.

Tonight we hope to get the box assembled, and get the first glue-up
done so that it will be ready for corner splines to be installed in the
mitered corners.

My largest concern is how to finish it. My garage is unheated and it's
chilly now in Seattle. I would have liked to do a quick shellac
finish, but it's too cold to dry properly in the garage and too smelly
for the house. I am thinking some kind of paste wax finish might work.
Any ideas?

Thanks for any advice. I really don't want to ruin this project. It's
not a good idea to make your neighbors mad at you, even if you don't
talk often. Also, the kid seems very nice, and it would be good for
him to have a positive experience with woodworking.

Thu, Dec 28, 2006, 9:29am (EST-3) doth query:
snip Has anyone used those super glues for wood?

Yes.



JOAT
It's not hard, if you get your mind right.
- Granny Weatherwax

wrote:

My largest concern is how to finish it. My garage is unheated and it's
chilly now in Seattle. I would have liked to do a quick shellac
finish, but it's too cold to dry properly in the garage and too smelly
for the house. I am thinking some kind of paste wax finish might work.
Any ideas?

How about you and he apply the finish in his house (or in his
basement)?

Mark