Creative Woodworks & crafts 2004-09, страница 58

by Lorry Goodwin

Introduction

The alligator snapping turtle is one of the oldest animals on Earth. Its life span often exceeds 100 years. The snapping turtle has a "lure" in its mouth that attracts small creatures and fish. As the turtle sits on the bottom of a stream or pond, if holds its jaws agape and wiggles the fleshy lure on its tongue. A small fish moves toward what appears to be a worm. Just as the fish is about to devour the luring morsel, the powerful jaws snap shut and the fish becomes the tasty treat. Here is our version of this ancient and proficient hunter.

INSTRUCTIONS

Mark, cut, sand, deburr and fit

Begin by studying the pattern. Determine the types of wood you desire and know to be obtainable. Look for

58 • Creative Woodworks §. Crafts September 2004

interesting grain movement and color in the wood (see Fig. 1).

Transfer the pattern onto tracing paper. This will allow you to see the grain of the wood to be cut. Using transfer paper (black for lignter woods, white for darker woods), mark the first piece of wood and cut it out.

It is important to deburr every piece that is cut (by sanding the back edges) so that the pieces will lay flat. Also sand the cut edges on an oscillating spindle sander or a drill press with an auxiliary table in order to create a smooth, square, 90" angle for the proper fitting of the pieces (see Fig. 2).

Select the next piece of wood. Adjust the pattern, slide the transfer paper between the pattern and the wood, and place the first cut piece into its position on top of the pattern. Using the pattern and the adjoining edge of the first pi^ce as guides, mark the second piece (see Fig. 3).