Finishing

After the glue had a few hours to set properly, I removed the clamps and scraped the glue lines using a chisel. Doing this before the glue has cured fully, ensures that I remove all the squeeze out. By scraping with the chisel, I also ensures that no glue is left on the surface, which could be a big problem when applying finishing the piece.

I decided to use Osmo TopOil natural, which has white pigments. This will help preserve the light colors of the box, especially the white oak. I made two “push sticks” from some gash and made two holders for the box. The “finger” rests on the masking tape.

Normally, I would apply two to three coats of TopOil, but for this particular piece I figured that one coat is plenty. The box will see minimal wear, so no need to overdo it. I applied the oil liberally and let it soak, before I wiped off the excess. Osmo TopOil is a hard wax oil, so the surface will be well protected.

About a day later, the TopOil had cured enough to be handled, so I glued the strips of felt in place using contact cement. Or funny glue, as you can be a bit light-headed if you put your nose too close for any extended time. Don’t try that at home, folks!

I squiggled glue and spread it using a small stick. I masked off the box so that I didn’t get any glue where I do not want it. I then waited until the glue had dried and was not sticky any more.

You only get ONE chance to do this right – as soon as the two glued surfaces meet, Bob’s yer uncle! Thankfully you can just handle the pieces with your hands as the glue does not stick to your fingers, which makes it easy to place them correctly. I carefully aligned the felt pieces and laid them down, then pressed them firmly down while making sure no edges were misaligned. I then cut a piece of gash to fit inside the box, and squeezed the proverbial water from a stone using a pair of clamps. This ensured a permanent and solid bond. A rag protected the outside of the box from any marks, as my bench is a WORK bench – not the sacred altar for thumb twiddlin’. It is far from pristine.

And that concludes the build so far. Let’s move to the last page for some images!