Re: diluting glue: This was true, but the last few bottles of "Grandma Stovers" I bought was already thinned a lot so be careful not to overdo it. Check it first. I was use to the thick stuff and added water before I realized it is now thinner. Thought it might be a fluke but the other bottle(new) was also thin. It should be about the consistency of thick syrup for regular wallpaper, but for pre-pasted thin it more as the paste on the back of the wall paper absorb a lot(especially if it is full size wall paper which I generally use).

Anita McNary-Haynes

Dremel Tool: I recently purchased a Sears Variable Speed Rotary Tool, which is their version of the Dremel Rotary tool.  Other then using it for sanding, I have been lost.  I just discovered that Dremel has an Internet site - www.dremel.com with a section of woodworking projects and directions.  It has been helpful for me in trying to learn what I can do with it. Dremel also has a book called "175+ Uses".  I called Dremel (800-437-3635) to find out about purchasing one and they are sending me a free copy!

Susan Crawford

Dremel Accessories: Widget Supply carries a great bunch of Dremel accessories and other tools. I ordered diamond burrs, teensy drill bits, brass brushes, and sanding & cutting disks last Sunday; they arrived on Wednesday! Great prices, too! http://www.widgetsupply.com/index.html

Lee Menconi

Mitre tool: I have used my mitre tool for several years now with no problem.  I never use soft wood (Pine or Bass wood) the wood will crimp when cut. Using hard woods for furniture, window frames, doors , etc. you will never have any trouble.  The first time I used mine it did the same thing. I returned it and they told me  about soft woods. Try it and you will see the difference.

Dan  & Jane

Yes Glue: For those that use Yes glue, instead of thinning it with water, you can zap it in the microwave for a few seconds and it softens it.  Zap longer and you get liquid.

Fannye

Hand-held Mitre Cutters: I never use soft wood (Pine or Bass wood). The wood will crimp when cut. Using hard woods for furniture, window frames, doors , etc. you will never have any trouble.

Dan & Jane

Dobson Miter Rite: I have the Dobson and yes it does make extremely fine cuts as was mentioned before, but unless you're doing a lot of odd angles--like 22-1/2 or 65,--save your money for something else.  As you noticed there is no way provided to cut two things the same, you have to make something up yourself and hope it doesn't move while you saw.  Mine has been gathering dust for several years. Have you tried clamping a stop block inside your mitre box after you cut the first piece?  A tool you might find useful is the true sander, also sold by MicroMark.  It's very useful for ensuring two pieces of wood are the same size.

Rose Stout

Hide glue: You can get liquid or solid hide glue at most woodworking specialty stores.  It is made from animal hides.  Solid hide glue is heated in a special pot and should be thrown out daily.  Liquid hide glue is manufactured by Franklin and is often used where a slow set is desirable. Both are made from animal hides and hot hide glue was used on furniture for centuries before stronger, easier to use glues were invented. I have never used it for miniatures. To acquire try http://www.rockler.com or call Woodworkers Supply 800-645-9292 for a catalog.  These are both excellent companies.

Pam & Pete Boorum

Blade Covers: Another use for those cylindrical pencil sponges that come three to a pack is to slip them over the blades of your   Xacto knives when not in use. They are available in office supply stores such as Office Max and Office Depot.

Jeanette Zanio

Roo Glue: Dean Jensen of Rainbow Design (rainbowdj@aol.com) has Roo Glue, both kinds, in fact - the wood glue, and another for non-porous materials. It's good stuff.  No web site so far as I know, but you can e-mail him.

Mary

Xacto "cases": Find someone who smokes cigars. The "tubes" those come in work wonderfully for storing your Xacto in your tool box. 

Jo A Cohrs

Precautions: Whenever possible, when using a Dremel, four things to remember:

First, try to work with both hands making contact somewhere. In other words, brace your hands together with the workpiece in between, and you can avoid some wild jumps and slips. For instance, I often hold the workpiece in my left hand, working with my right on the piece. My right thumb is extended out and pressing on the back of my left thumb, which is holding the workpiece. This serves as a smooth pivoting point and as a bracing mechanism to help with a less shaky cuts as well as add strength and leverage to our control of the machine, and keeps the pink finger bits away from the cutting edge.

Secondly, when cutting near the upper or furtherest edge (away from you), you should stop before getting to that edge. As you may have already noticed, the cutter can often grab that edge and literally drag your hand around and under the workpiece. This results sometimes in serious damage to the pink finger bits that are holding the underside of the workpiece. It's absolutely the best idea to turn the workpiece around so that you can address the work at the edge by pulling the Dremel toward you. This also reduces damage to the edge because you have more control.

Third, if working on wood, most cutters should be worked at high speed. Crank up the speed to about 3/4 speed or soĽno need in going all the way up, but halfway is a bit slow. You have more control over the tool at those speeds with cutting tools. However, not so fast with the sanders. These would just burn the wood. If working on metal, bone, etc., each has an optimum speed to work with. Know your materials.

And finally, this caveat: The tan to brown stuff with the distinct grain and hardness, is the wood. The soft pink to brown stuff with no grain but sometimes a bit of hair, are your fingers. Don't cut the pink stuff.

Dave Pierce

Safety Tip: Those spongy things that fit on pens or pencils also fit on x-acto knives and keep them from rolling off the work bench and ending up point down in your leg!

Patricia A. LeBeau

Roo Glue: Roo Glue is available from Rainbow Design or Sandy's Lace and Trims. Ask your favorite miniature shop to order it or contact RB or Sandy’s. Both MiniRoo for wood and Roo for Metal and Plastic are available.

Dean Jenson

The Jarmac table sander is my FAVORITE tool. I use it for shaping and filing and everything. Every time I have a visitor to my studio they end up ordering one from me. Just use the self-adhesive sanding pads and they peel off when you are ready.

Sue Thwaite

For the new people, I have found that when working with glues if I keep a bottle of Goo Gone handy with Q-Tips and paper towels it save a lot of clean up time when you are done. Messy fingers leave messy work.

Sandra Smith

Precauions: I HOPE YOU aren't cutting off with a saw blade in the Dremel. That is an absolute NO NO! The Dremel should be anchored down andthe blade should be cutting through a table. There have really been some very serious injuries using a saw blade in a Dremel. Please do not use saw blades in a Dremel unless you absolutely know what you are doing. I don't. Use cut off fiber discs to cut off but then use goggles as the discs can explode.

Bill Hudson

Ribbon shredders: Just about any craft store or card store will probably carry ribbon shredders - with the ribbon, naturally.  They have a little row of 'teeth' - look like little pins - spaced evenly apart to 'cut' the ribbon in nice neat strips.  A party supply store may have them too.

Laura

Rulers: The thin flexible ruler with the little slots to make pencil marks through is probably an Incra. They have a number of configurations available, and with a sharp pencil, you can be very precise. I have seen them in woodworker's stores and catalogues and I believe Post Tool carries some of them.

Jeanne

I usually use a little super glue (ZAP-A-GAP is my preferred brand) to glue those brass hinges in place, then I just push the little nails into the holes (if present). The glue holds the hinge nicely in place and will help keep you from pulling all your hair out while you install the nails (I say this from experience - LOL).

Laura