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POSTBAG In your own write...

84 The Woodworker & Good Woodworking October 2019 http://www.getwoodworking.com

LETTERS

REALISING A

CHILDHOOD DREAM

TOOTHPASTE POLISHES WORKSHOP NOISE LEVELS

Hi Tegan,

I’ve attached a list of American toothpastes (many of which are sold in

the UK). Against each toothpaste is a number, which is an FDA abrasive

factor (called the Relative Dentin Abrasivity – RDA) with higher abrasives

having a higher number. In the UK, if a toothpaste has the label ‘extreme

whitening’, this tends to indicate a higher abrasive number and subsequent

‘coarse’ polishing action. Toothpastes are generally in the 4-12um (micron)

range. A comparison with readily available grit comparison charts places

toothpastes in the 1,200-5,000 grit category.

Rupes commercial polishes (coarse, medium, fine) are 1,500, 2,500,

3,000 grit respectively (ultra-fine is higher still), so I regularly use a set of

toothpastes that have RDA values between 100 and 40 to provide a high

gloss sheen to acrylic and other finishes (e.g. melamine, French polish, etc).

It is much cheaper than the dedicated coarse, medium and fine polishes

available. The toothpaste can be mixed with mineral oil or a mineral oil/

beeswax solution, depending on the surface being polished.

With best regards, Dr Colin R. Lloyd

Dear Tegan, I wonder if you can assist?

I would describe myself as a hobby woodworker and my skills include

woodturning, routing, carving and generally making small projects.

This is not a business, but a relaxing occasional weekend hobby in

a garden shed. Maybe a couple of hours each weekend if I am lucky

and not every weekend. However, we are, and have been, for the last

two years, experiencing difficulties with a neighbour (next door but one).

They have complained about the noise I make because of my

woodworking hobby, including saying that this is a residential area not

an industrial area. They have reported us to the council, and following

investigation, this complaint was dismissed. My wife and I have reported

them to the police, on several occasions, for harassment and taking images

of me in the garden and shed on their mobile devices.

I am aware, as a regular reader of your magazine, that there are many

people who have a hobby of woodworking, which they do in their garden

shed. There are many manufacturers that make products for the likes of

me and many others for their hobby, so what are we to do?

Do other readers experience similar difficulties? And if so how are they

resolved? Do you have legal representatives who would be able to offer

free legal advice?

Any suggestions, legal advice, or names who we may contact would

be much appreciated.

Thank you, Barry Fearnley

Hi Barry, as a woodworker myself, fortunately I’ve not had any experience

like that, so far! These neighbours sound unpleasant, but I guess it’s down to

what the overall sound levels are and whether your shed is well insulated, etc.

Some power tools are obviously noisier than others, though it’s usually the higher

frequencies (rather than the lower ones) that can be annoying. So a screaming

router is likely to sound louder than a sander, for example, though their sound

pressure levels may be very similar. I suggest we open this up to other readers

so we can share and hear their comments/stories. So if anyone has experienced

anything of a similar nature, or indeed has any advice they can offer Barry,

please do email the Editor here: [email protected] and

hopefully someone can offer some assistance.

Regards, Phil Davy

Hello Tegan,

I hope you like these photos of my coffee table.

The oak slice came from a stack of oak logs, which

LETTER OF THE MONTH

A list of American toothpastes accompanied by their

individual FDA abrasive factors

Hi Colin, thanks for

sharing this. I’ve had

a look online, and

as you say, this hack

is widely acknowledged

by woodworkers,

although the use of

it does seem to divide

opinion! Incidentally,

white toothpaste can

also be used to remove

water stains from wood,

so it seems it has many

uses. I’m glad this works

for you and I’m sure

other readers will have

their opinions too.

Best wishes, Tegan

Paul’s coffee table build was certainly a labour

of love, but most definitely worth it

Close-up of the stunning oak slice, complete with

inlaid details, star and dovetail tie

were left over from some site clearance on a

construction job I was working on back in 1996.

I treated myself to a chainsaw and spent some

time after work cutting the logs up into useful

pieces. I eventually got around to working on this

slice last year. The first job was to trim the big

crack and fill it with the offcuts of cherry and

beech. Next, I set up timber rails for the router

and trimmed both sides to give an even thickness

slice, then I inlaid the star and the dovetail ties,

a yew plug to a defect, a little bit of filler here

and there and planed and sanded it all flat. I glued

and screwed a piece of 20mm ply to the underside

to stabilise the top. The legs were turned from

some old mahogany from a pre-owned piece

of furniture. I pre-cut mortises into the legs for

the stretchers, then drilled and wedged the legs

into the top. The stretchers were retro-fitted,

hence the wood brackets and the centre joint.

I used sanding sealer and Danish oil for the finish.

As a young child, I remember being fascinated

by the growth rings of a tree so this project has

been the realisation of a childhood dream! I’ve

spent more than 100 hours and just over a year

of my retirement making a table from a slice

of oak, which is 130-years-old.

I enjoyed the July edition and was inspired by

the Windsor chair article. Are you able to advise

as to where I might be able to obtain plans for

a sack back chair?

Kind regards, Paul Deketelaere

Hi Paul, what a beautiful piece! I absolutely love it,

and the story behind it is also very touching. I think

your best port of call for chair plans is the Windsor

Workshop – https://thewindsorworkshop.co.uk/

windsor-chair-plans/ – I hope they’re able to help.

Best wishes, Tegan