Two questions:
1)Shoud tabletops of solid wood always be allowed to move even though painted with e.g. a primer and two coats of enamel both sides?
2) My new Mexican worker wanted to make a rubber of sawdust, soaked in mineral spirits to use occasionally on the plane sole for ease of planing. I said no, thinking potential consequences to the finish, although I know it’s commonly done in Mexico. Comments? I
Replies
1) Yes. Moisture transfer will be significantly slowed down by the paint, probably enough that full expansion or contraction will not take place before the season changes. But given enough time and the right humidity conditions the wood will expand or contract just as much as if it had no finish.
2) Never heard about using mineral spirits; it might affect some types of finishes but should be okay for a standard oil-based finish. I use wax on the bottom of my planes.
if it is jut mineral spiritis...won't be a problem. give the surface an hour or two before using any water based finishes.
But, mineral spirits won't leave anything on the plane sole to lubricate it. Perhaps he's used to surfacing woods that are very resinous and this cleans built-up resins.....allowing the plane to move over the surface more easily? Or maybe they add some wax or other lubricant to the sawdust/mineral spirits?
Thanks for your comments Ben & T. I think you're right T that it came from working wit resinous woods, which is mostly what's used here--pine.
Craig C.
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