December 15/09 Meeting

December 15, 2009 Paul, Rick, Chris, Lawrence, Miles

Leo reviewed the bucket math. The best way to calculate the width of the staves is this way:

Lay out the circles as before..outer circle (top) and inner circle(bottom)
Calculate the circumference of the circles (pi x diameter)
Subtract the circumference of the smaller one from the larger one.
Divide this difference by the number of staves and this will be the difference in the width of the top of the stave compared to the bottom.
Lay these measurements out accurately on the taper jig, cut all the staves, and then procede with the beveling on the jointer.

Alternate method:

Cut the staves on the taper jig.
Put them all together to form a bucket using masking tape to hold them.
Then accurately measure the slope of the bucket.
Use this slope angle in the formula that was previously explained to get the correct bevel angle.
Proceed to bevel each side of the staves and glue them up.

Leo reminded us of the dangers of the workshop. A man was recently found dead beside the lathe. There was a bowl on the lathe that had blown and a broken cutting tool. Something hit him in the head and he died.

Leo and the group joined forces to help Paul figure out a way to flatten his benchtop, which has a wind. With some tinkering, it looks like the top can be salvaged and flattened to a serviceable state.

Plane a benchtop

December 1/09 Minutes

December 1, 2009 Rick, Paul, J Hiltz, J MacLean, Naq, Miles, Wilson, Lawrence, Roy


Mr. Hiltz and Rick and Chris have made good progress on the bucket, most with the turning completed.
Paul started a new one and has yet to turn it round.
Leo Discussed making a long straight edge.
Use two boards of equal thickness and width.
Joint each edge of each board on the jointer until all faces of each board can be interchanged with a perfect joint fit. All edges must all fit perfectly when aligned.
Leo discussed jointing (flattening) the top of a workbench.
Make the straight edges.
Flatten the end members first..

Then lay the straight edge lengthways down the length of the table along the first board suspended on two blocks of identical height. Use a feeler block and slide it under the straight edge and the first board and plane off any high spots on the bench top. Repeat this process for each board until the top is flattened. The feeler block is tapered slightly to insert it under the straight edge and a pencil mark across it is used as the register for exact alignment.

A wooden plane with a slightly concave sole works best for this job.