Woodworking Tools — beginner

Comparing Restorer to Makita 9741 Brush Machine

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Comparing Restorer to Makita 9741 Brush Machine

When I have 2 machines that accomplish the same task in the shop it's only natural to compare the differences.  Here I have Makita and Restorer - both with hours of use and ton of completed projects.  From my point of view there are some advantages to both, depending on the work to be done.  Let's narrow in on the main differences to help you choose which sander is the right one for your woodworking shop.

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Top trick for working with reclaimed wood

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Top trick for working with reclaimed wood

How do you preserve the character and beauty of reclaimed wood and get the clean functional finish?  You use wood filler!  I have a one brand that I've had much success with and I'd love to share my process for using it.  Wood filler can be sanded and stained like hardwood so it's the perfect assistant for your salvaged wood projects.

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Mirka Sanding System

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Mirka Sanding System

There is one thing you can always count on when it comes to working with wood... sawdust.  Sawdust everywhere.  The amount I have to sweep everyday has drastically gone down since I added this unit to my shop.  Let's go over the reasons why I love the Mirka Sanding System.

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The Slabstitcher

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The Slabstitcher

One of the expected challenges when working with reclaimed wood is CRACKS.  When working on my projects I thoroughly inspect all the wood both for it's character and it's strength.  If the existing cracks can be worked with then I pull out my top secret weapon for crack stabilization.... the SLABSTITCHER!

 

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How I use the RESTORER to age new wood

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How I use the RESTORER to age new wood

I am a huge advocate for reclaiming lumber and using it to build modern furniture with a rustic farmhouse style.  However, there are times that I must use new wood from the store!  Giving new wood the look of natural barn wood takes a few steps to replicate both the texture and the color.  I'm sharing with you my tried and true process during a faux beam build.  These beams were getting installed near some of my barn wood furniture and they needed to match.

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