Series editors' preface - Wood Tools

Table 10.2 Cramping/clamping devices
Type/principle Examples
the file may vary from 4 inches (100 mm)
down to needle files, depending on the size of
the repair. These tools give excellent control
and allow good visibility of the levelling
process.
Principles of conserving and repairing wooden furniture 449
Screw action (spiral inclined plane) C- or G-clamps, hand screws, Jorgensen clamps, bench vices, rods and
screw-jacks from an overhead surface
Wedge action (inclined plane) Wooden wedges, folding wedges used in opposition to each other,
temporary or permanent staple-like iron ‘pinch dogs’
Cam action (revolving wedge) Eccentrically drilled spools fastened to a back-board, Klemsia cam
clamps
Twist tensioning (shortening of a cord Tourniquets, toggle and rope, ‘luthiers’ clamp
by twisting)
Band clamps Tensioned by screw, lever, ratchet etc.
Elastic (organic elastomeric polymers) Rubber bands, surgical tubing, inner tube strips, rubber and cloth ‘elastic’
bands, old pantyhose etc.
Spring action (metal or wooden spring) Spring clamps, Ulmia mitre clamps, old mattress or upholstery spring
sections, clothespins, bulldog clips etc., springy sticks from an overhead
surface or wall
Fasteners Nails, screws, staples and rivets
Weight Lead and iron weights, plastic bottles filled with lead shot, atmospheric
weight (vacuum veneering)
Air pressure Inflatable presses
Magnetism Small magnets can be used on opposite surfaces of a board to exert
gentle pressure
Adhesive Rubbed joints, hammer veneering, cyanoacrylates and quick setting
epoxies, pressure-sensitive tape
Figure 10.8 Files ground for levelling repairs
The surface of the file is ground smooth. The edge is
then ground at 90° to the flat surface and shaped as
required (e.g. flat, slightly rounded or skewed).
Grinding the edge produces a burr
10.1.12 Preparation of repair for
finishing
The repair is shaped using standard stock
removal tools such as planes, spokeshaves and
cabinetscrapers. Some shapes, such as barley
twist legs, may have required the use of coarse
rasps and files. A cabinetscraper may be used to
execute final shaping and to prepare the wood
for finishing. The wood should be tooled to the
point that the shape is correct rather than relying
on abrasion to complete the shaping
process. As with levelling the repair, the process
of surface preparation should never result in the
removal of finish or wood from the original
surface next to the repair. The pre-finishing
process for a new part can be divided into two
basic approaches: abrasion and burnishing.
A wide range of abrasive materials have been
used to prepare wood in the past (Figure 10.9).
Abrasive papers have been in use for nearly
two centuries (Mussey, 1987). Commercially
available abrasive papers can be used to
smooth the wood. The degree of smoothness
required will depend largely on the original
surface. Abrasive papers will help to level out
tooling marks and other irregularities in the
wood. It may be necessary to use a cork or
rubber block to support abrasive paper. A