Potpourri - July, Aug, Sept 2010

[swampgator]

Thanks for the info. Ron and Troy, I checked out the idea of using flocking. May try that first. If I can't feel comfortable, will go to Michael's or the local Hobby store to find some tacky glue and fabric backed felt to line the drawers as suggested by Mike. They are going to be shallow. This is being made from the root branches of a large cedar tree that was planted about 1952. When the cutters came to cut it down, they discarded these pieces. They are from 9" to 7" thick and I have cut them down to something that will fit the band saw. This is my first one for experimentation. The wife can't understand what I did so she's impressed. Now, have to figure out what method I am going to employ and get the rest done before Christmas. Thanks for the idea. Will go shopping this weekend. Love to spend the money to keep the economy flowing. Hehehehe!

From now on, going to try to avoid any product of China since they want to sink our Navy ships.

[burkhome]

I relined the drawers of a machinist chest with felt as well. The felt is thick enough that there is no need for cardboard backing. For thinner fabric like velvet, thin cardboard such as poster board or from a file folder works well. When you cut the cardboard be sure to make it a little undersized to allow for the fabric.

You could also try flocking fiber. I have no experience with this material but it looks to have potential.

http://www.woodcraft.com/Catalog/ProductPage.aspx?prodid=3880&ss=4e0315e2-59cd-4c5a-9604-bff90eac2223

Troy

I have used flocking several times for elaborately detailed interiors and if applied carefully it gives respectable results

[mickyd]

I relined the drawers of a machinist chest....

You could also try flocking fiber. I have no experience with this material but it looks to have potential.

http://www.woodcraft.com/Catalog/ProductPage.aspx?prodid=3880&ss=4e0315e2-59cd-4c5a-9604-bff90eac2223

Troy

Geez Troy, and all this time I thought my Harbor Freight workbench drawers were lined with felt. Thanks for ruining a good thing!! I find out now the stuff is 'flocking fiber'.

[horologist]

Geez Troy, and all this time I thought my Harbor Freight workbench drawers were lined with felt. Thanks for ruining a good thing!! I find out now the stuff is 'flocking fiber'.

Ahhhh, my work here is done!

Seriously, the flocking looks like a really great idea after cutting all those bits of felt for my machinist chest. No doubt there are unforeseen problems with this stuff as well.

I am surprised that the drawers of your workbench have this treatment. Seems like an excellent way to trap sawdust.

Troy

[swampgator]

This evening watched a DVD with George Vondriska making router boxes and he used the tube with the bits of fabric for flocking. Looked easy and great. Will try that first. Have some solid working knowledge on the other felt applicaques. Depending on the purpose of my boxes, will determine which box gets which treatment. I greatly appreciate all the input and comments. Great ideas. Thanks.

[mickyd]

Ahhhh, my work here is done!

Seriously, the flocking looks like a really great idea after cutting all those bits of felt for my machinist chest. No doubt there are unforeseen problems with this stuff as well.

I am surprised that the drawers of your workbench have this treatment. Seems like an excellent way to trap sawdust.

Troy

No dust on MY 'flocking fiber'!
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[mickyd]

Bought one of these last week after seeing the woodwhisperer using a pair while doing some close up inlay routing work. Great deal on Amazon....$7. Free shipping if you spend $25.

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http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001BL5NTA/ref=oss_product

Lenses are clear and not distorted. LED's throw some extra light. There are actually 3 levels of magnification....the exterior lens, a flip down set inside, and the single exterior flip lense. Real happy with it.

[pennview]

Steve, I've made a good number of jewelry boxes over the years and would line the bottoms mostly with black velvet. I've also used faux suede that was called doe skin, but most any dense fabric should work. I used mat board from an art supply store.

My procedure was to cut the mat board about 1/32 to 1/16" smaller in length and width than the inside of the box. Then cut the fabric so that it's about an inch larger all around than the mat board. Use spray adhesive to coat one side of the mat board and then center it on the back of the fabric and lightly press the mat board and fabric together.

Next, with the mat board facing up, I'd place a slat of wood about 5/8" wide against the edge of the mat board and trim the fabric using a rotary cutter.

Next, I'd fold that edge over the back of the mat board, but before doing that you need to trim the corners of the exposed fabric so that you don't overlap the material and create lumps. I trimmed these to something over 45 degrees. Leave a bit of material right at the corners so that when you fold over the fabric you don't see the mat board.

To secure the fabric on the back side, I used double sided tape from an office supply store, like Staples. It's made by Scotch and 1/2" wide. I'd apply it around the perimeter of the mat board and then fold the fabric over and press it into place. You could try the spray adhesive again here, but it gets a bit messy and could be transferred to the show side of the fabric.

When finished, there should be a relative tight fit to the inside of the box. The fit depends on the thickness of the fabric you're using and how much smaller you cut the mat board in relation to the inside of the box.

Here are a couple of pictures of a 3" x 6" walnut box and the fabric insert. Not the neatest of bottoms, but it's all hidden with a tightly fitting insert.

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[swampgator]

Art,

These are fine enough for the average user. I would venture that 99% of users would never look underneath to see how it is put together. Only the inquisitive mind such as those of us who are doing the woodworking and wondering how this stuff is made would even think to look underneath to see how it is made. Most everyone else would simply admire it as it is a fine job. Thanks for showing this. Great work and thanks for posting. Your explanation is exactly what I was thinking about before I heard about the flocking and saw it demonstrated on a DVD with George Vondriska. I have a whole series of his DVD's and he gives some really good points and has helped me to think about the whole process of a project rather than just the end product. I like to build things and I don't always have the quality of the process engaged until near the end and then have to retreat to get it up to the standard desired. Your explanation is great and your work is fine. Thanks for sharing. I learned something else.

[mickyd]

charlese
I missed your birthday on the 12th!!!:o Happy belated one.