Popular Woodworking 2002-06 № 128, страница 32
the result from the width and divide by two. The equation looks like this: [W - (D - W)]/2 = R. For example, if you're making a pencil post 21/2" wide, the diagonal measurement is 317/32". Plug these values into the equation, and you'll find the radius of the transition curve should be 47/64". Mark the radius on both sides of each corner, then cut the curves with a coping saw. Rotate the stock in the jig so the faces are 45° to the blade. Cut the corner tapers, stopping when you reach the transition curves. Between each cut, back the jig out of the saw and rotate the stock 90°. After cutting the tapers, smooth the sawed surface with a block plane, scraper and sandpaper. Don't cut too deeply when you plane or scrape! You just want to remove the saw marks; you don't want to change the symmetrical shape of the post. Tip: To get the smoothest surface possible when cutting with your band saw, use a blade with milled teeth. Ordinary band saw blades are stamped and set, but most woodworking suppliers carry a better brand of milled blade. They cost about twice as much as an ordinary blade, but they save an enormous amount of work when you need an accurate cut and a smooth surface. PW Nick Engler is the author of more than 50 books on woodworking, plus countless articles. Currently, he's helping kids across America build ribs for a full-size replica of the first true airplane, the 1903 Wright Flyer. Cut the corner tapers up to the transition curves. Be careful not to cut past the curves; stop the moment the waste falls away and back the stock out of the saw. Plane and scrape the saw surfaces just enough to remove the saw marks.The pencil-post jig holds the post for this operation; just clamp the base to your bench. CENTENNIAL FLYER UPDATE In our quest to build a Wright 1903 flyer using ribs made by children, we're about halfway to our goal of 74 ribs - the total number of wing ribs in the frame of the airplane.And we've begun to make the other parts needed for this airplane: struts, spars, skids and so on. Dayton's oldest bookstore,Wilkies, decided it would be a great thing if we made these parts and put the Flyer together right out in the open. So Wilkies gave us the front portion of its store, an area about the size as the Wright brothers' workshop where they built bicycles and airplanes. Shopsmith Inc. - another community-minded business here in Dayton, Ohio - also helped out by equipping our shop. We're busily making the parts and putting together the Flyer with a Shopsmith Mark 510 and a dozen other Shopsmith power tools and accessories. Wilbur and Orville never had it so good. If you'd like to watch us work, the "Centennial Flyer Workshop" is located at Wilkies on Fourth and Ludlow streets in downtown Dayton. Every Saturday is kids' day. We have rib-building workshops and other activities in the shop or the bookstore. Check out www.wright-brothers.org and follow the links to the Centennial Flyer pages. Our final "Return to Kitty Hawk" is fast approaching.We'll be flying the 1900,1901 and 1902 Wright gliders at Jockey Ridge State Park in North Carolina on Oct. 5-8,2002.As always,you're welcome to come. Kids sign the ribs they made at a recent rib-building workshop. 30 Popular Woodworking June 2002 |
