Getting rid of pencil marks
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Hi,
I just rewatched Paul’s video where he applies shellac to the tool box. At the beginning he uses sand paper to ‘erase’ the pencil marks.When I tried this on my carrying tote this only smeared the pencil marks over a wider area and then I had to plane them out. Needless to say I haven’t tried it since.
My pencil is a standard HB pencil. The wood is pine. Any ideas why this happens?
Thanks.
Wesley23 August 2014 at 11:38 am #61567Hmm…don’t know, Wesley. Maybe try some tests on scrap wood with different pressures on your lines and sanding?
23 August 2014 at 12:36 pm #61569Weslee, An HB pencil is hard and can leave an imprint on your wood even if you get the “lead” off. You need to use a basic number 2, no HB.
There are erasers and then there are erasers….Make sure yours is soft or new as a hard dried out eraser will smear. Also, get the white kind of eraser which I think is a gum eraser. Much better choice.
When all else fails, use Naptha. Works every time.
17 September 2014 at 8:31 pm #90369I have had similar problems: the only answer I found is light pencil marks and erase with a cum/plastic eraser before I sand because afterwards the pencil lines will just ignore the eraser. I don’t know why either
Weslee,
Mars plastic eraser by Staedtler, in my opinion, is the best eraser commonly available. I’ve used one drafting and I have started to keep one in the woodworking toolbox. I just used it today actually on some douglas fir.
When marking with a pencil, be sure to not push too hard into the wood as the graphite will go too deep and have a tough time getting it out with sandpaper. The plane works too though.
It should cost about a dollar at Staples or Office Depot in the US. The erasers are made in Germany, so you still should be able to get them if you live elsewhere.
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