Expert: Jamie Yocono - 9/11/2007

Question
Hi

I am getting ready to refinish a 4 poster bed for my young daughter and I want to make it prettier then it is currently.  I was thinking of adding a wood appliqué to it, but I am unsure how to find a nice layout for it, attach it and finish it.  My plan is to paint the entire piece of furniture, so would I need to primer the appliqué before painting it?

Also, we are building a play stove for her and I was wondering if you knew where to get knobs that made that ratcheting sound when turned.

Thank you for your time and help!
Jessica

Answer
Hi Jessica,

While I've never used wooden appliques, I am familiar with them. There are quite a few places that sell them, but I am going to give you a few links to sites that offer a large selection, and slightly more reasonable prices.

Here are three:
http://www.cherrytreetoys.com/products.asp?dept=254&pagenumber=1
http://www.vandykes.com/subcategory/72/
http://www.rockler.com/CategoryView.cfm?Cat_ID=330

If I were attaching these, I would apply a very thin coat of wood glue to the back of the applique piece, and then lay it down on the area where you want it. To assure decent adhesion, I would put a heavy book on it. Clamping is probably too much pressure and could snap it, so a heavy book is probably better. Leave it overnight, and it should be fine. Don't put too much glue, or it will ooze out and look sloppy and bad.

As far as priming it- I would prime it after it's glued down, not before. So when you prime the whole bed, you'll prime the applique at the same time.

As far as the ratcheting knobs- what a cool idea, I've never seen them. But there are a few places that sell some unique hardware for toys. I just searched for about 15 minutes on those sites- didn't find anything at all remotely close to a "clicking" or ratcheting knob. My best suggestion- try to make one out of an inexpensive (and commonly available) wooden knob. Off hand, I can think of one or two ways I would try it. Sort of hard to describe, though. Remember how you put plastic straws in your bicycle wheels to make them click? I would try to fashion something after that concept. Like I said, it's sort of hard to describe here, though.

If you can't come up with something, you could always purchase an inexpensive real knob and simply use it without hooking it up. It would click on it's own. Better yet, you might get one off a stove that's been put out for trash. Or- it there an old scrap yard near you? I've gotten some pretty interesting (and funky) parts from my local Goodwill store. Clean it up a little, and paint it to match.... sweet.

OK, hope this helped. These sounds like fun projects, I hope they come out PERFECT! Good luck, write back if you need more help.

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com