How to keep project clean/clean up pre oiling

[cavaliercapital]

Hi all - first project underway here. Ive tried searchign through the forum about a) how to keep timber clean during the work and b) cleaning up after ready for finishing.

aside from the no doubt obvious technical faults in my work, any tips on this one? Ive tried hand sanding (don't have a power sander), cleaning with water/soap, cleaning with Turps. Getting the blood off was a bit tricky (again, first project lots of errors including slicing thumbs open). It feels like tight gaps and areas where glue have been are real dirt traps and getting them clean is a struggle.


looking forward to any tips you can give!

PS - please dont judge either my dovetails or my inlays. As i said, this is my first attempt at anything remotely better then mere wood butchery.

thanks

 

[TheTiddles]

Some woods like oak, ask, elm with an open grain get dirty very easy, others less so.
Ideally for us hobby workers we finish as we go as there’s no 2-pac sprayer waiting at the end, that keeps it clean and helps remove the glue, then final finish goes over the top.
I’m fairly certain some of the lighter woods I’ve worked with have been finished before assembly and then I’ve removed most of that finish when I’ve prepared it for the final finish due to bad fits etc requiring more material to be removed
Aidan

 

[GarF]

Well done for getting stuck in.

Cabinet scraper is faster than sanding in a lot of situations. Inexpensive and will last a lifetime. Not difficult to sharpen- every YouTuber worth their salt has a tutorial

The cuts in your thumbs will actually help you here, as sticking plasters provide some protection from the heat you generate as you scrape.
G

Someone will be along shortly to talk about cross grain construction

 

[MARK.B.]

Use a small vac to remove as much of the dust as possible and use a tack rag before applying the finish and between coats as you denib. Avoid blowing the dust out if you can as this only spreads it around to settle all over the shop .

The cross grain construction of the Human thumb can be found ----------------

 

[cavaliercapital]

Thanks GarF appreciate that. Cabinet scraper Ill give it a go. I used Duct tape to cover the wounds.. hope that has a similar effect.

I dont know what cross grain construction is at this point.