Repairing plywood - or Dad's been landed in it again !

[cambournepete]

Don't think I can help with the problem, but I think your daughter is to be applauded for trying to re-use something.
All too often these days perfectly usable material is just thrown away.

Remember: reduce, re-use, then recycle!

 

[beech1948]

Oldwood,
I was being a bit tongue in cheek and also a bit serious. Those who complain its only a pallet should have a rethink re flexible thinking. I don't see any reason to match the wood at all and some extreme contrast may give a slightly ironic twist to the overall construction.

Keep laughing.
Alan

 

[SketchUp Guru]

I've deleted my suggestion to leave it looking weathered which evidently wasn't appreciated by the OP. I meant it in all seriousness and was not teasing or making sport of anyone but it appears it wasn't welcome. Lesson learned.

 

[OldWood]

Sorry Dave that you felt you had to delete your comment - I cannot remember now quite what you recommendation was, but I'm afraid the initial reactions here on this subject were pretty aggressive and almost unpleasant so I was perhaps being unduly sensitive to any comment.

I suspect that the reason for the failure of all and sundry to appreciate what my daughter saw in the item in that she recognised it as a pitch pine surface which is now pretty rare and may well not be in the ken of the contributors. Interestingly a jewelry friend who came in raved over the potential of the surface which has a had an area lightly cleaned up to see if it is what was hoped for.

Photos of the finished item will be posted in due course and hopefully the detractors will eat their words.

Rob

 

[Benchwayze]

Run a 1" (25mm) x 1/4" (8mm?) rebate all around and let in some Douglas Fir or pitch pine say 1" by 1/2".

If you get a good match it will hardly be noticed and it will also thicken up the edges of the top. Best of luck cleaning the top veneer though.
Bleach it before sanding?
Regards

John

 

[Benchwayze]

You could french polish it..

In all seriousness if it's pitch-pine, you could try...
But the resin can be a problem with some finishes. the best alternative I used was a good waxing.

Pitch-pine can look very nice of course, but the grain can be very pronounced and it looks a bit like Damascus steel at times. Which might be okay come to think!

John

 

[OldWood]

Thanks, John, about the advise on finishing - the finish was going to be the next question after wondering what the bleaching would do ? What's the reference to Damascus steel ?

At least my daughter is learning something and is quite happy cleaning up the metalwork on the steel brush on the grinder, polishing the little brass inserts and so on - all the chore jobs . We routed several mm's off all round last night and were pleased how well they came up. The corners are pretty tired but will respond similarly once I've read up the book on template work and done some practise runs.

Rob

 

[Benchwayze]

Rob,
Damascus steel is the very fine stuff they use for making 'top class' knives. It has a wild grain pattern a bit like taffeta; with wavy pronounced lines looking like wood grain. Like so...


http://www.damascussteel.co.uk/

Ash can have this effect too. Again, Pitch-pine can look very garish in the grain. Nice if you like it! I'm easy myself..

John

 

[cambournepete]

The "grain" is caused by folding the steel multiple times when making a blade;
A quick Google came up with:

 

[Benchwayze]

The "grain" is caused by folding the steel multiple times when making a blade;
A quick Google came up with:

GMTA or FSD!
Cheers Pete!