You know these very interesting electric gadgets that are found in most workshops called an “iron”? They have a flat surface, and are pointed at one end. They get really hot too. These unique implements have great uses in the woodworking shop:
Transferring templates:
Make a good photocopy of your design with a photocopier that uses toner (ink jet printers do not work). Turn your template over, and run the iron over your design and the ink from the paper should transfer to your wood. This is a great way to make a very accurate transfer if you have a complicated design.
Taking minor dents out of wood:
Take a damp cloth, lay it over the dented wood, place the iron on top and let it steam for a second or two. The steam causes the wood grain to expand and the dent is magically removed.
Bending thin pieces of wood:
Take a damp cloth, lay it over a thin piece of wood, place the iron over this and you can bend the wood.
Removing veneer:
Run a hot iron gently across veneer and the adhesive should heat and release old veneer.
Ironing those wrinkly shop aprons
What?? Who would have thunk?
Good list.
I think the veneer would have to have been glued with hide glue for this to work.
I need to try it for bending wood – my steamer set up (used for windsor chair parts) is quite a bit more complex and maybe not really necessary for thin strips. I’ve used pipes heated with a blowtorch and that works OK for narrow strips and inlay.
My very extensive research (engineer by profession) shows that a wrinkled shop apron is 99.44% as effective as a non-wrinkled apron.
But image is everything 🙂
While your statistics are accurate, Bob, the style points lost by such an operation can never be regained, according to my research. Of course, I’ve also heard that 82% of statistics are completely made up, so there you go…
Cheers!