Hey ppl,
I'm almost ready for final assembly and finishing of a cabinet about
52" high.
It's made mostly of maple and has four purpleheart legs roughly 1.5"
square.
I have gotten more skin damage from purpleheart splinters than
anything I've worked with before. Just this afternoon I ripped a
choice piece of thick skin off my left index finger when I caught it
on a crack that ended in a sharp splintery point.
I need to be sure the person who receives this, doesn't get splinters
in her dainty white hands.
Will finish sanding and some rubbing, plus applied finish (clear
shellac) be enough to avoid splinters on the long exposed edges?
Any better suggestions? Afraid bevelling is asking for trouble with
this material. Hate to round off the edges, but if that's the only
sure way, I'll do it
TIA!
James
[email protected]
Even if you want the look of a sharp corner, you should at least "break" the
edge. I do this by taking a piece of 320 grit and hand sanding the corners.
It doesn't take a lot, just enough until the corner has a slight radius.
Any finish, other than hand-rubbed oil, needs this radius for integrity of
the finish. Also, the finish will help stop splintering.
Preston
"brocpuffs" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hey ppl,
>
> I'm almost ready for final assembly and finishing of a cabinet about
> 52" high.
>
> It's made mostly of maple and has four purpleheart legs roughly 1.5"
> square.
>
> I have gotten more skin damage from purpleheart splinters than
> anything I've worked with before. Just this afternoon I ripped a
> choice piece of thick skin off my left index finger when I caught it
> on a crack that ended in a sharp splintery point.
>
> I need to be sure the person who receives this, doesn't get splinters
> in her dainty white hands.
>
> Will finish sanding and some rubbing, plus applied finish (clear
> shellac) be enough to avoid splinters on the long exposed edges?
>
> Any better suggestions? Afraid bevelling is asking for trouble with
> this material. Hate to round off the edges, but if that's the only
> sure way, I'll do it
>
> TIA!
>
> James
> [email protected]
>
>
Sounds like you got some REAL dry Purple heart.Break the edges with some 220
paper wrapped around a block or cork or felt sanding block. Try using 3
coats of any film finish. Oil finish won't count.
"brocpuffs" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hey ppl,
>
> I'm almost ready for final assembly and finishing of a cabinet about
> 52" high.
>
> It's made mostly of maple and has four purpleheart legs roughly 1.5"
> square.
>
> I have gotten more skin damage from purpleheart splinters than
> anything I've worked with before. Just this afternoon I ripped a
> choice piece of thick skin off my left index finger when I caught it
> on a crack that ended in a sharp splintery point.
>
> I need to be sure the person who receives this, doesn't get splinters
> in her dainty white hands.
>
> Will finish sanding and some rubbing, plus applied finish (clear
> shellac) be enough to avoid splinters on the long exposed edges?
>
> Any better suggestions? Afraid bevelling is asking for trouble with
> this material. Hate to round off the edges, but if that's the only
> sure way, I'll do it
>
> TIA!
>
> James
> [email protected]
>
>