Glue spreader

[derekcohen]

Those old and cheap hanging butter knifes that we bought 20 or more years ago make fantastic glue spreaders.

Not only are they stainless steel, and so easily cleaned, but you can actually put the glue on the knife (as if it were butter) and spread it more accurately on the parts you wish to cover with glue.

Think I should send this one in to FWW?

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Driver]

Derek

You should certainly send it to FWW. It's about time they had a bit of fair dinkum Aussie content.

Incidentally, you could probably use the same butter knife as an applicator for Max Factor Knacker Lacquer. It would be sufficiently blunt and, if wielded with care, would undoubtedly enhance the cluster lustre.

You might care to point this out when you submit your idea to FWW. They'd be fascinated, I'm sure. :D

Col

[silentC]

I thought a spoon would be better for that, Col ;)

Derek, what do these butter knives look like? I've been using margarine for years now and have never seen one.

[jackiew]

never overlook the kitchen when in search of that specialist tool .... my personal favourites are

1. cake skewers ( officially they are for checking your cake is cooked inside ) but I've used them for many DIY type tasks. But buy a set of your own as they do occasionally get bent and you might have to answer a few questions when the legitimate owner goes to bake a cake and finds the skewer has had an accident ( though you could always blame it on Uri Geller ).

2. an old kitchen knife that I "acquired" from a boyfriend. For some reason modern cutlery seems to be thick and chunky, visit your local op-shop for knives with flexible thin blades. excellent for spreading, paint stirring, scraping.

[ozwinner]

Originally posted by jackiew
never overlook the kitchen when in search of that specialist tool .... my personal favourites are

Any knife for a screw driver.
Heel of my shoe as a hammer, the realy high heel is the best.
Front door key as marking knife.
Mixmaster as a drill.
Blender for stirring paint.

Only Jokeing.:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Cheers, Bob Willson

[jackiew]

knife for screwdriver - yep done it
key - for marking - yep done it ( and for opening cellophane packets )
shoe for hammering in - yep done it

have seen a blender used to mix paint ... just don't set the speed too high :D

[Bob Willson]

Hi LBD

Thou shalt not take the name of the **** *** *** in vain!

Beware the everlasting wrath of ***

PS that should be 'joking' :D :D :D :D

[echnidna]

A cheap plastic handled paintbrush is the best glue applicator you can get. they apply glue evenly.

You don't even need to clean them after use just drop them in a container of water.

[SteveI]

The plastic handled foam paint brushes - with the foam removed are also useful as an applicator

[Barry_White]

An old credit card isn't too bad either.

[derekcohen]

Now here is a hint - one of these will spread glue, the other won't.

:D

Derek

[ozwinner]

OK ,I give in which one is it? :confused:

Al

[silentC]

Ahhh, one of those...

My Mum has a set of them but she still uses them, unfashionable type that she is.

[Driver]

Originally posted by silentC


My Mum has a set of them but she still uses them, unfashionable type that she is.

In that case, she probably wouldn't thank you for using them to spread glue - not to mention MFKL! :D

Col

[jackiew]

looks like one of those knives in a kids cutlery set .... i'm sure i've still got one of those somewhere

[Wood Borer]

For gluing those fine (handcut of course) dovetails I make a cheap and disposable brush from a satay stick.

Soak the satay stick in water for a few minutes to soften it up and then fan out the end by hitting it with a hammer on an anvil or equivalent. Any splinters that are loose can quickly be removed.

Advantage of this one is that it is small, cheap, easily accessible but best of all you don't need to clean it whilst you are mopping up excess glue, making sure the project is square, adjusting clamps and apologising to SWMBO for being a little bit short with her when she passed you the wrong clamp when the glue was almost set etc.


- Wood Borer

[derekcohen]

I really like using the old butter knife for spreading glue. All kidding aside. Basically it is a cheap version (if you have old knives lying around) of a spatula, which I saw Rob Cosman use on his video Hand-cut Dovetails (and also Advanced Hand-cut Dovetails).

These butter knives have quite thin blades and are, therefore, quite flexible. I have long used stripped-down-to-the-core foam brushes, old paint brushes, bits of veneer, etc. But the butter knife/spatula works the best. Yes, I know it is not disposable - but it is cleanable (just wipe it down). The problem with the others is that they "gunk-up" - after one or two applications, even before you have considered tossing them in the bin. They are a hassle.

A spatula with rounded edges is not going to scratch timber. I'm going to make a couple to glue inside dovetails.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Bob Willson]

I'm going to make a couple to glue inside dovetails.

How strange. :)

[Theva]

Butter knifes are handy when one wants to inspect their teeth; used as a dentist’s mirror.

Theva
:D :D :D

[Robert WA]

Spreading glue is easy, just give the container a shake without checking that the lid is on firmly.

Spreading glue where you want it to go is what this thread is all about. As to that, I accumulate plastic cutlery, knives and spoons, at every opportunity.

Next time you order a sweet and sour pork from your local Chinese take-away, tell them it is to be shared among 5 people and 7 kids and "Please can I have some cutlery for everyone, please. I meant to bring some but the kids were playing up and I forgot."

[MrFixIt]

Originally posted by derekcohen
Now here is a hint - one of these will spread glue, the other won't.:D
Hi Derek

The one on the left (in your posted photo) is used for spreading tile adhesive :D:D

Regards

Peter

[Sir Stinkalot]

I use broken hacksaw blades.

[journeyman Mick]

Good idea Stinky, except where do you get them from? I've had the same blades in both my hacksaws for years now. ( I have a 14" cutoff saw, a 9" grinder, several 4" grinders and an oxy set):D

Mick

[Zed]

I like to reuse an old handsaw. you can make all sorts of stuff :

Glue spreader
face roughener
scrapers
push stick for table saw (I like the rubberised handles - very comfy...)
washers (seriously!!):D
etc etc...

remember recently where AWR had a comp on where they reused pallets from the states ? they should run one for reusing old handsaws and see what people come up with.

[silentC]

face roughener


Ahhh, that explains the Avatar :D

[soundman]

also remember the dishwasher dosen't know the difference between cutlery and spanners.

Just make sure it finishes before swmbo comes home.


don't forget the rinse aid.

[gatiep]

Derek

Take your set to the yacht club....yachties used to love them......they could hang them in the galley, maybe you can sell them and buy another plane! They are very safe, as it is impossible to cut yourself with them in rough seas

Cya

Joe