Sanding American Black Walnut

[Chems]

I've worked with ABW a few times now but can't remember if this is the norm when sanding does it often lighten in colour when the dust gets a bit mixed in? I've put some spirits on and when darkened it looks fine I'm just not sure its normal or if its some horrible effect of the gorilla glue mixing in. The stuffs is a nightmare, turned a few hours build into a few days having to remove all the mess.

 

[Mr Ed]

I think you're fine, as I recall the dust will look lighter.

Ed

 

[OPJ]

Sanding makes any timber look lighter until you put the finish on (it is more noticeable on darker woods). I wouldn't worry about the Gorilla glue unless you have large, visible stains around the glue joints, especially if they still show through after you've wiped it with white spirit.

 

[Chems]

Thanks, puts my mind at ease.

I've got the stains off, but had it been normal PVA one wipe with the tissue and a little light sanding would have seen me right.

 

[Jake]

The stuffs is a nightmare, turned a few hours build into a few days having to remove all the mess.

What exactly did you do with the stuff? Did you try to wipe it off while wet like PVA?

 

[Doctor]

I use PU glue all the time, it is far easier to clean up than PVA, just don't do anything until it is dry, then a blunt chisel cleans it all off in one hit.

 

[Chems]

I tried whilst it was dry, this is the normal original gorilla stuff, but no joy it was so sticky it just stuck to the tissue I use. So I thought leave it till morning. Whereas PVA normally comes off together with a chisel, like you get the whole drip off, this all cracked and came off leaving trail marks on the wood. Then to sand of it was really difficult as its obviously a very good glue. Piff! I dunno I'll stick to the PVA thanks!

 

[GJP60]

The color change you experienced is quite normal. The wood will also change in color over time. It becomes a more grey/brown with age. The wood is also somewhat toxic. I always wear a respirator or mask when using walnut.

 

[BradNaylor]

I've got a full day ahead of me glueing lippings onto ABW veneered MDF. I have tried PU glue for this job in the past but don't like it and have gone back to quick drying PVA. I don't wipe it off;just let it dry and then trim the lippings with a router followed by a quick sand.

And yes, sanding lightens the colour of dark woods - the finishing process will darken it again.

Incidentally, a problem with PU glue is that if you don't get every trace of it off by scraping and sanding then it can make itself visible over time through the finish. I only discovered this when revisiting a client I had done some work for a year or so previously and noticing unsightly marks around some glue lines that certainly hadn't been there when the furniture had been delivered.

 

[Chems]

Glen, isn't all wood dust slightly toxic really?

Brad, I hope I've got it all off but glad to see I'm not the only one who hates the stuff. Which quick dry PVA do you use?

 

[yetloh]

Wood dust generally is treated as potentially carcinogenic but ABW is nastier than many others, so good dust collection is a sensible precaution.

Jim