Finishing tips and tricks

I save the "sample" credit cards that come in the mail and I save all my Lowes and HD merchandise cards (the ones they give you when you return something for store credit) and gift cards. I use them when scraping up old finishes. They are stiff enough, have rounded corners, and are free/disposable. And by "re-purposing" them, I am being a little "green".

A old switchplate makes an ideal scraper - used inexpensive plates are readily available at your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore and can be thrown away when finished.

WANT A quick scraper in a hurry or can't find where you last put it? Pick up a stainless rule even a six inch one can do the job of leaving a satisfactory finish when cleaning up bare wood. I have never had to buy one yet since 1948 and if the worst comes to the worst will use an old tennon or dovetail saw-don't throw them out.Chris,

I have to admit that every so often someone posts an idea that I wish I'd have thought of about 40 some odd years ago. This little wooden scraper idea could have saved me countless hours of filling little dig holes that I made whilst removing paint from old furniture we had. Back then it was just old furniture, now they're antiques.

Or to build your own heirloom hand scraper, go to: http://www.woodstore.net/finscrap.html Marlen @ WOOD