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Woodworking/Questions Answered by Expert joseph DeMartino
| Subject | Date Asked |
| I need help identifying a bandsaw | 11/9/2011 |
| Q: I've aquired an old iron bandsaw from a craigslist buy. It's a nice bandsaw, but there's no marks to ... A: Tom i wish like a son-of a-gun that i could be more helpful to you but without a little bit more ... | |
| wood floors | 8/19/2011 |
| Q: I had engineered stained floors installed they used acetone on the floors now there is a white ... A: first thing i must ask is who in the world did this and why the heck would it be applied to anything ... | |
| Trouble with Palm Sander | 7/21/2011 |
| Q: I am having trouble getting sheets of sand paper to stay on my square palm sander without them ... A: i gotta tell ya in my 30yrs. of woodwork as well as furniture for the last 12yrs.i"ve not come ... | |
| ice chest or wagon back | 1/4/2011 |
| Q: I recently purchased this bank of ice chest doors and associated common frame, with hopes of turning ... A: it looks like a unit i did back in '99 or 2000.it was a restaurant unit.inside was lined with ... | |
| sanding table covers | 12/2/2010 |
| Q: We build custom cabit doors and have several sanding station tables. We are encountering minor ... A: gee,i wish i had a solid answer for you but truth is i've thought of only a couple of things,sort ... | |
| Flat sanding | 10/31/2010 |
| Q: I have a simple question for you. I have cut several pieces of rosewood and ebony into ... A: sounds to me as though your materials have dried unevenly.i'd suggest one of two things you might ... | |
| Walnut tree | 10/2/2010 |
| Q: I have a 24 in diameter walnut on mo property. It has a crotch about 8 reet off the ground. I ... A: sorry to have kept you waiting.yes,barry i am certain there are mills available to you.i do not,i'm ... | |
| Subfloor | 8/17/2010 |
| Q: I recently bought a house and the floors are extremely squeaky and bouncy in places. I am trying to ... A: i know it has to be confusing when you get different answers from different contracters.i will tell ... | |
| Thinning Minwax Oil Based Stain | 8/14/2010 |
| Q: We will use minwax oil based stain for Oak hardwood floors We have a Cypress Tongue and Groove ... A: before i answer your question,i'd like to make a suggestion. there are two things you might consider ... | |
| Tambour Doors | 8/1/2010 |
| Q: I am making a toy box for my Grandson. It looks like a Treasure Chest and it has a Tambour Door. I ... A: sorry to have taken so long to get back to you,let's take a look. what i do whenever i have a ... | |
| refinishing | 3/24/2010 |
| Q: I have a new finished oak vanity to put in my bathroom, I don't like the color, I want a dark ... A: yeah you can,sort of.first thing you should do is to try to sand as much as you find possible to ... | |
| woodwork stain | 2/28/2010 |
| Q: I live in a century home with extensive woodwork. Wood appears to be a reddish oak and has what I ... A: if the woodwork you speak of is as extensive as you say and the building over 100 yrs. old are you ... | |
| Pergola Materials | 1/24/2010 |
| Q: DeMartino, I am going to build a pergola in my back yard and I have heard that besides the treated ... A: well although i've seen it used dozens of time red ceder is not the wood i use.now the number one i ... | |
| finish | 1/7/2010 |
| Q: Have a slab of white oak about 2" thick 30"x 18" still has some bark on it need to clean and apply ... A: well,to tell you the truth a great deal depends on the design you want to use as well as the grain ... | |
| blotchy stain on beechwood stairs | 11/23/2009 |
| Q: I have just built a new home. I have Brazilian mahogany floors and I wanted the steps and railing ... A: i wish i were'nt going to start any trouble but i must tell you that i think the primary cause for ... | |
| Teak flooring | 11/16/2009 |
| Q: I need some teakwood flooring for a bathroom to place near the floor of a bathtub that is strong ... A: i'm not sure if you are aware or not but when i need a specific wood or or perhaps size i go to a ... | |
| Wooden Ice Box | 11/13/2009 |
| Q: I have an antique ice box that has been in my family for 75+ yrs, & had been painted & not in great ... A: many yrs ago my dad had a real estate firm he'd opened back in the forties in N.Y.and alot of the ... | |
| color matching red oak and white oak flooring | 11/8/2009 |
| Q: Just had hardwood installed in the bedrooms. Flooring contractor installed raw white oak BUT the ... A: there are a few different things i'll tell you.first off,let me ask you if you had a contract or at ... | |
| what to use for a clear coat after stain | 11/5/2009 |
| Q: Can you please tell me if I should use a brush or cloth to put my clear coat after I got the stain ... A: the answer to your question is yes and no.absolutely,it is if it's something you've done before.if ... | |
| what to use for a clear coat after stain | 11/5/2009 |
| Q: Can you please tell me if I should use a brush or cloth to put my clear coat after I got the stain ... A: application depends on what it is you're going to apply.if it is,for instance,a shellac then you'll ... | |
| Island Butcher Block cut to short | 10/30/2009 |
| Q: I had my contractor order a Island Walnut Butcher block with a inch ogee, I paid the Distributor ... A: sorry to hear of your trouble.though i do understand your frustration,i'm afraid that in this case ... | |
| Preparing log for table | 10/24/2009 |
| Q: I just pulled out 2 large logs, approx. 2 feet in height with a 18 inch diameter. I want to make end ... A: i'm afraid you don't have much choice.first,if the bark is loose as you say,by all means,remove. ... | |
| Preparing log for table | 10/24/2009 |
| Q: I just pulled out 2 large logs, approx. 2 feet in height with a 18 inch diameter. I want to make end ... A: first,let me tell you it's nice to hear when someone is doing this sort of thing as oppossed to ... | |
| high build poly wonI't cure completely | 10/13/2009 |
| Q: We removed the old poly from the floors but are not restaining. We cleaned them according to ... A: no,it does'nt sound as though you did anything incorrectly.the first thing that comes to me is ... | |
| Staining Exterior Marine Plywood | 10/7/2009 |
| Q: I have a 4' X 4' X 1" piece of marine grade plywood that will be used outdoors as an entry ramp to ... A: well,first off,i'm unsure i'd stain at all.what i would do in that sort of environment is strictly ... | |
| 43 year old slab of wood | 9/27/2009 |
| Q: I have a slab of Pine that my father cut 43 years ago. It was the smallest piece they cut from this ... A: first off,if that's a clear pine you're speaking of,i'm jealous.honestly if you have a piece that's ... | |
| Colored glaze just on the trim of kitchen cabinets | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: How can i put color glaze just on fancy trim and molding without getting it on any other part of the ... A: there are a couple of different ways to apply a glaze.when i need to i specifically use a two inch ... | |
| different wooden floor and bannisters | 8/28/2009 |
| Q: please can you advise us in regards to buying wooden flooring for our entire main level, we have an ... A: in short term response,absolutely!i do alot of woodwork with multiple different tones and ... | |
| repairing coffee table | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: I have a lovely coffee table which has become a bit scratched and has some cup rings on it and I ... A: please forgive me for it seems as though the response that i sent to you when i first received your ... | |
| lacquer problem | 7/26/2009 |
| Q: I'm having a problem with a chalking coming to the top. i used a nitrocellulose lacquer and about 2 ... A: sounds to me as if you are probably dealing with a porous wood most likely a pine. what you're ... | |
| Routing | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: I have to cut a T-slot, 1/8" below surface. The slot must measure 7/8" wide and 1/4" high. A 3/4" or ... A: sorry to make you wait.it's hard to believe you can't find a site somewhere.try some of these. ... | |
| Minwax stain on old cabinet | 6/1/2009 |
| Q: I made a huge huge mistake >.< I bought some cabinet knobs to install in my kitchen cabinets but ... A: sorry i did'nt get rt. back to you.you'll need to apply a little denatured alcohol to make full ... | |
| Hope chest finish | 5/16/2009 |
| Q: I am building a hope chest out of Scandinavian soft pine. It looks good so far. I have decided to ... A: no,i've never used either one.two things that i use for a sealant almost exclusively unless ... | |
joseph DeMartino
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
there is not a lot of questions that i'm unable to answer though most referring to home building i do have a lack of extensive knowledge.
Experience
i have been a woodworker for 26yrs.have worked for carpenters doing
custom interiors in some very expensive homes and offices in some commercial buildings as well.anything interior i've done.for the last
11yrs.i've had my own shop.i focus both on restoration as well as accurate reproduction of furniture.focus on primarily 19th and 20th. century.do alot of early to mid 18th century.if i don't know the
answer i have a book relating to it.very into antique
Organizations
i belong to, the national trust for historic preservation
carpenters and joiners of america
antique furniture restorers of america
Education/Credentials
i am primarily self-taught.served a four yr. apprenticeship with a phenominal dutch man,jen(john)derrickson.other than that,on the job.
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