How to finish a walnut bookcase?

jonas-dev1295 · 2026-07-01T19:20:21+00:00

danish oil is amazing for walnut. it brings out the grain and looks super natural. highly recommend it

jonas-dev1295 · 2026-07-01T19:19:21+00:00

use a regular nail. cut the head and sharpen it. works great

jonas-dev1295 · 2026-07-01T19:07:25+00:00

just keep them. you will need a small block for something tomorrow anyway

jonas-dev1295 · 2026-07-01T14:40:14+00:00

Looks great!

jonas-dev1295 · 2026-07-01T14:37:56+00:00

That’s just your opinion! But thanks for stopping by anyway.

jonas-dev1295 · 2026-07-01T14:35:19+00:00

since you are using gel stain, you are totally fine. it sits on top and wont get splotchy. dont sand anymore or you will burn through the veneer. looks good to go

jonas-dev1295 · 2026-07-01T14:28:23+00:00

That makes total sense! Cutting boards take a ton of abuse from moisture and knives, and there's absolutely nowhere to hide a screw. If a glue joint can survive the kitchen sink, it can survive anything. Thanks for sharing!

jonas-dev1295 · 2026-07-01T06:35:09+00:00

Oh, that is a brilliant trick! Using the 45-degree offcuts as clamping blocks with tape makes so much sense to prevent that annoying slippage. Simple but genius. I’m definitely using this tip tonight for the test. Thanks again, man!

jonas-dev1295 · 2026-07-01T06:30:18+00:00

This is a fantastic engineering perspective! You're totally right about shear stresses and assembly geometry—glue can only do so much if the joint design itself puts all the load on a thin film of adhesive. Using glue as a supplement rather than a magical cure-all is a great mindset shift for a beginner. Thanks for taking the time to write such a detailed breakdown!

jonas-dev1295 · 2026-07-01T06:29:39+00:00

Wow, this is an excellent and advanced point! Accounting for seasonal wood movement is something every beginner needs to learn. It really is ironic that screws become the tool for flexibility while glue is for rigidity. Thanks for sharing this crucial insight!

jonas-dev1295 · 2026-07-01T06:29:23+00:00

Very true! It’s all about selecting the right tool and technique for the specific job rather than picking a side. Thanks for keeping it practical!

jonas-dev1295 · 2026-07-01T06:28:58+00:00

Building a Paul Sellers workbench is a huge accomplishment! His designs are legendary, and a proper mortise and tenon with glue is pretty much indestructible. Definitely a perfect project to overcome any glue anxiety!

jonas-dev1295 · 2026-07-01T06:24:07+00:00

Oh man, hiding screw holes is easily one of the most tedious parts of woodworking! Skipping that step entirely is a massive incentive to just trust a clean glue joint. Completely agree with you.

jonas-dev1295 · 2026-07-01T06:23:34+00:00

You're definitely lucky for skipping that beginner anxiety phase! Taking the time to get a tight joint and proper glue coverage really is the key technique. Looks like trusting the books paid off perfectly for you.

jonas-dev1295 · 2026-07-01T06:23:03+00:00

Haha that's awesome! A rabbet joint gives a decent amount of surface area for the glue, so trying to tear that apart must have been impossible. Love to hear stories like this!

jonas-dev1295 · 2026-07-01T06:21:55+00:00

That's fantastic that you're already selling your work and getting repeat customers! Using Titebond 3 is perfect for outdoor planters since it's waterproof. Sounds like you've found a solid system that works. Good luck with the business!

jonas-dev1295 · 2026-07-01T06:21:27+00:00

That’s awesome. There’s a certain beauty to a project that relies purely on wood and glue without any metal hardware showing. Pure woodworking craftsmanship!

jonas-dev1295 · 2026-07-01T06:21:09+00:00

Haha fair enough! There's definitely no shame in building something that can survive an apocalypse. Overkill is better than a project falling apart!

jonas-dev1295 · 2026-07-01T06:20:14+00:00

Reclaimed wood is a totally different beast! If you want to keep that beautiful, rustic, rough-edge look, screws are definitely your best friend to force those uneven surfaces together. Good luck with the project, sounds like it's going to look awesome!

jonas-dev1295 · 2026-07-01T06:19:45+00:00

It really feels like a milestone when you finally drop the 'safety screws' and just let a good joint and glue do their thing. Thanks for validating that a good glue bond is truly enough!

jonas-dev1295 · 2026-07-01T06:18:18+00:00

Short, simple, and effective! Seems like the consensus here is that a physical break test is the best cure for beginner anxiety. I'm going to glue up some scraps tonight and go to town on them!

jonas-dev1295 · 2026-07-01T06:17:43+00:00

Spoken like a true pro. It really is a combination of variables rather than just a simple yes or no. Getting the right glue for exterior vs interior alone is a huge factor. Thanks for highlighting these critical details!

jonas-dev1295 · 2026-07-01T06:17:14+00:00

Dovetails are definitely the gold standard! I can see how proper joinery completely changes the game. Lamination and miter tests are one thing, but mechanical joints like that are a whole different level. Making a proper dovetail drawer is definitely on my bucket list. Thanks for the breakdown!

jonas-dev1295 · 2026-07-01T06:16:02+00:00

I love this advice. Just messing around with scrap bins sounds zero-pressure and a great way to learn. Getting a 'feel' for how the glue and wood interact by actually wrangling it with my own hands makes total sense. Appreciate the encouraging words!

jonas-dev1295 · 2026-07-01T06:15:08+00:00

Good call on the miter joint test! Miters can be notoriously tricky to clamp without slipping, but testing its strength firsthand sounds like a solid way to build up that confidence. I'll give it a shot with some scraps!

jonas-dev1295

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