Panel drying and finishing

[Ron Nossaman]

> Like Ron N., I don't put a finish on the panel prior to ribbing. Ron 
> somehow has perfected a technique where he lets the glue set up to some 
> point - I'm not sure whether it is just gummy or cured - and then scapes 
> it off clean. I've seen his boards and they are real clean. I have tried
> that and I just end up gouging wood and generally making a mess of 
> things. I'm sure I'm not doing it properly. 

Perfected would be great. Unfortunately, I nick panels pretty 
regularly too, but mostly get away with it. I wait until the 
glue is "leathery", so I don't goo up the area worse. I've 
done it with the glue overnight dry, but it does more damage 
then when it's just tough and pliable. I use a long paring 
chisel, sharp but not super sharp, with a small low angle 
curved back bevel on the flat side so the edge doesn't dive 
into the wood. The chisel lies flat on the panel or on the 
side of the rib, and I push it along the glue line, 
alternating between rib side and panel face until I get it 
all. Works for me.

Ron N