Working to close tolerance with wood

[Adam W.]

I don't have such trickery in my shed.

 

[J-G]

J-G your comment about applying glue with a scalpel made me smile. I have resorted to a toothpick before now.

I did try with a finely sharpened 'stick' but the Titebond I'm using even picked up on that was too large to get in the 1.6mm holes so I resorted to the stick to get the glue out of the bottle and the scalpel to pick up a smaller amount to press into the holes.

 

[Jacob]

I did try with a finely sharpened 'stick' but the Titebond I'm using even picked up on that was too large to get in the 1.6mm holes so I resorted to the stick to get the glue out of the bottle and the scalpel to pick up a smaller amount to press into the holes.

small paint brush
They come in all shapes and sizes

 

[J-G]

small paint brush

Too 'floppy'.

 

[Jacob]

Too 'floppy'.

Buy "stiff" ones. There is a huge variety available. Or a cut down soft brush is stiffer.

 

[Distinterior]

I've seen people use disposable syringes to apply glue or resin in very small holes.... Seems to work very well!

 

[Fergie 307]

Suitable sized needle is good, held in a pin vice for ease of use. Ground to a spade tip and bent to a suitable angle its also good for putting lume on watch dials.

 

[johnnyb]

I have a thing that I try to do on every job. I try and give character. perfect stands in the way of good. especially with one offs. do multiples and you will acheive perfect.

I'm looking at an example. cedar shingles they aren't perfect being out of parallel chainsawn on the end different lengths. I could have ripped and rebutted everyone but much more attractive to

 

[johnnyb]

do the best you can. the imperfections add to its character( like humans!)

 

[XTiffy]

One of the "wind-up" quotes in the Royal Navy was that "Shipwrights measure to the nearest Ship". Not that such a quip would pass my lips!

 

[whereistheceilidh]

....which like many RN sayings has more than a grain of truth.
Those of you that work with wooden ships/boats will be at the opposite end of the scale to clock faces thinking about what gap or tolerance to leave in say carvel planking or frames, so that at launch or soaking the vessel is not cracked apart as it 'takes up', but is snug & leakfree.
A different woodworking skill.....

 

[Garden Shed Projects]

One of the "wind-up" quotes in the Royal Navy was that "Shipwrights measure to the nearest Ship". Not that such a quip would pass my lips!

Similar one on site, engineers work to 100th of mm and the chippies work to bang on!

 

[Adam W.]

.......Or the nearest house.

 

[J-G]

Some year ago I had a house with two chimney breasts downstairs which combined into one upstairs. To give me more room I decided to have the downstairs ones taken out and replaced by a single central one aligning with the upper floor. This also meant having the wall between the front & rear rooms removed.

As you can imagine I did all the design work which included a fitted fireplace having a 1200 x 300 x 25 Green Slate hearth. In discussion with the 'builders' I pointed out that to fit the 'fire' within the space the right side of the opening needed to be (IIRC) 3240mm from the front wall - - - - - There was a short 'pause' before I got the response "we work to the nearest foot" !

We laughed the comment off and I had to leave them to it. Upon my return I was somewhat miffed to see from the doorway (as I entered) that the Green slate slab was far from level. When I measured the height at each end there was a 20mm discrepancy. - - - and it wasn't that the floor was a different height! - - - the bubble on their level was way off. They were not happy that I made them lift and reset it -- they couldn't see the problem that the fireplace wouldn't ever be able to fit within the apperture due to the 'tilt'. I think that the 3240 measurement was within 5mm which was not a problem.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

They needed a new bubble for their spirit level.

 

[Yojevol]

They needed a new bubble for their spirit level.

Nowadays they have a virtual bubble on their mobiles.
Brian

 

[Garden Shed Projects]

.......Or the nearest house.

Fortunately I don’t build houses.

 

[mwinfrance]

Musos.....near enough for Jazz.

 

[aet1]

I did try with a finely sharpened 'stick' but the Titebond I'm using even picked up on that was too large to get in the 1.6mm holes so I resorted to the stick to get the glue out of the bottle and the scalpel to pick up a smaller amount to press into the holes.

Have you tried a syringe, it depends on the glue being used but I've used one for PVA, that got through the needle.

 

[J-G]

Have you tried a syringe, it depends on the glue being used but I've used one for PVA, that got through the needle.

No. I suspect that it would be more trouble than it is worth and certainly take longer to first fill a syringe and then dispense the small amount which may well 'cure' before I'd have time to turn the plug and position it over the hole.