How are cabinet scrapers used; are they pushed or pulled?
John Brock: I both push and pull cabinet scrapers. It depends on the grain runout and where I can best reach the workpiece. I think I have more control pulling, but I routinely do both.
Mark Hensley: I use them both ways. However, I get more power when I push.
Richard Jones: I use them both ways. It depends on which is most convenient, but I generally find it easier to push. I find it easier to flex the wide face of the scraper nearest me concave using my thumbs near the center and pulling the short edges towards me with my fingers.
Finishing Wormholes
When finishing, how do I deal with wormholes in wood: leave them open or try to fill them?
Greg Williams: This depends on the look you want. For a distressed look, the worms have made it unnecessary for you to put in the wormholes. If you don't want to see them, you must fill them. Look for a solvent or waterbased filler that, when stained, will look natural on your wood. Test the filler with your finishing schedule on a piece of wood as nearly identical to the item you are working, possibly in a spot on the piece that will not normally be seen, like the underside of a table or chair, to determine how it will look. To completely hide the holes, you may have to apply additional color for touchup or graining.
Laminate Appropriate for Stairs?
Is laminate flooring appropriate for stairs?
Carol Reed: Solve the issue of the nose of the tread with the material of your choice and then I don't see why not, assuming good adhesion with the tread substrate.
Michael Dresdner: There is no hard reason why not, but it certainly would not be my first choice, for three reasons. First, the high traffic on stairs might wear it prematurely; second, it might be too slippery; and third, it is not practical to refinish once it does wear, and in most cases, stair treads tend to wear sooner and are more labor-intensive to replace than flooring.
Replacing Old Broken Belt
How would I go about finding a replacement for the broken belt on my 15-yea- old, Chinese-made lathe? No one around here is familiar with the model.
John Brock: Measure the old belt and the sheaves, You can find just about any size belt at most automotive and tool suppliers, but I'd suggest you consider replacing it with a segmented style Power Twist Link Belt. It will give you more power transfer and quieter, more vibration-free operation.
John Brock: I both push and pull cabinet scrapers. It depends on the grain runout and where I can best reach the workpiece. I think I have more control pulling, but I routinely do both.
Carol Reed: Check with 
