Creative Woodworks & crafts 2005-03, страница 53
of wood more efficiently (see Fig. 1). On the other hand, the scroll saw is more versatile. It can be used for inside cuts and precision turns in smaller spaces. With its smaller blade, it produces a smaller kerf, allowing for tighter fits. The obvious assumption is that the two saws complement each other. This is true, but it is by no means necessary to have both. Some additional assets that make scroll saws so effective are: • The wide variety of blades available and the ease of changing those blades • The size of the throat of the saw (meaning the depth at which you can cut), which can allow for a larger cut to be produced (see Fig. 2) • Variable speeds for varyjDg hardness of woods • Dust blowing capabilities to maintain a clean surface, since precision cutting is of great importance. The scroll saws of this day and age are all magnificent, very technically sound machines. There are a wide variety of choices and an equally wide variety of price ranges to fit every budget. The Drill Press Another tool likely to be found in the average home workshop is a drill press. These can be free standing or tabletop models. This tool is useful in several ways: • It can be fitted with an auxiliary table and a few sanding drums for edge sanding (see Fig. 3) • It can be fitted with a flapper wheel disc for sanding pieces that have already been contoured (see Fig. 4) • It can be fitted with plug cutters to make hardwood dowels used in making wooden eyes for projects (see Fig. 5) • It can be fitted with various kinds of drill bits for their obvious purposes. Thickness Planer A small thickness planer is very useful in milling wood to the desired thickness, eliminating the need of unsightly shims used for dimensional work (see Fig. 6). Sanding and Contouring A tremendous amount of sanding and contouring is done the old-fashioncd way—by hand. Hie value of wood block sanders and bow sanders is immeasurable, especially on smaller pieces (see Fig. 7). When used with various grades of sandpaper, a simple palm or finish sander is effective for sanding larger pieces and rounding edges (see Fig. 8). The following sanding/contouring items are things that fall into the "not necessary" category. But they can sure make your life a lot easier should you have one lying around: • An oscillating spindle sander is used for edge sanding, ensuring a 90c cut (sec Fig. 9). This tool can take a lot of strain off your Fig. 1. The band saw armed with a 1/16" or a 1/6" skip-toothed blade provides the to quickly cut larger pieces of wood more efficiently Fig. 2. Note the size of the throat of the saw. an auxiliary table and a sanding flapper wheel disc for sanding drum for edge sanding. pieces that have already been contoured. |
