An old guy in a Tacoma supply house showed me a seam trick I still use

This was maybe 15 years back, I was grabbing some seam tape and a guy, had to be in his 70s, was watching me. He just said, 'Kid, you're gonna burn that seam before you roll it, right?' I told him yeah, of course. He shook his head and said, 'Nah, you gotta hit it with the iron after the roll, just a quick pass. Melts the glue up into the backing for good.' He walked me over to a scrap piece and did it right there on the floor. The seam practically disappeared. I've done it that way ever since. Anyone else pick up a little trick like that from an old timer that stuck?

4 comments

4 Comments

emmamason2mo ago

My grandpa taught me a similar trick for tight corners with a wet rag.

keith882mo ago

Actually my grandpa always used a dry rag for corners, said a wet one could warp the wood over time.

the_eric9d ago

Yeah my grandpa was the same way about the dry rag in corners. I actually picked up a trick from an old painter I worked with years back. He'd take a regular dry rag and spray just a tiny bit of furniture polish on the corner of it before wiping. It picks up the dust without leaving any moisture behind and kinda protects the wood at the same time.

henry_murray2mo ago

My old man swore by a dry rag too, @keith88, said water was the enemy of good wood.