Woodworker's Journal 1982-6-5, страница 43

The Gift Shop

(Cont'd)

Laminated Shoehorn

by Sam Allen

This laminated shoehorn not only makes a nice gift, it's a great way to use up those postcard size scraps of veneer left over from your last project.

The laminating form is made from l'/i inch PVC water pipe with a wall thickness of approximately 3/32 inch. Although it is called IVi inch pipe, the actual outside diameter is closer to 2 inches. Because of the thin wall thickness and the inherent spring of PVC, the same size pipe is used for both the male and female parts of the form.

Start making the form by cutting two 8 inch lengths of the pipe. Next, cut one piece in half, lengthwise. Use sandpaper to smooth out any irregular

ities in the surface of the pipe. By-using both halves of the form, you can laminate two shoehorns at once. Three worm-gear hose clamps (the type used on automobile radiator hoses) provide the clamping power (see Photo 1).

One shoehorn requires three or four pieces of veneer approximately 2 inch x 7 inch. The number of pieces depends on the veneer thickness; try for a finished thickness of around V» inch. Spread liquid-hide glue evenly on each piece of veneer and stack them in one of the half-pieces of pipe. Press the piece of pipe that was not cut in half into the form that contains the veneer. If you are only making one shoehorn,

snap the other half of the pipe on opposite the half containing the veneer so that the clamping pressure will be uniform. If you're making two at a time, load the second half with veneer and place it opposite the first half.

Now slip the three worm-gear clamps over the form and tighten them until the veneer is uniformly pressed into the form (see Photo 2).

After the glue has cured, remove the lamination from the form and cut it to shape. Round the edges and drill a '/» inch hole in the small end. Give the project a thorough sanding, then apply an oil finish.

Spaghetti Measure

Trying to judge how much spaghetti to prepare for the family dinner is usually a guessing game at best, and more often than not the cook makes much more than anybody can ever hope to eat. Now here's help - a gauge that tells exactly how much spaghetti to serve for one, two, three, or four portions.

Ours is made from red oak, but just about any wood from your scrap box can be used. It's an easy project to make, so if you are looking for something to sell at craft fairs or gift shops, you may want to consider this one.

You'll need a piece of Vi inch thick stock that measures about 3Vi inches wide by 15 inches long. If you don't have Vi inch material, resaw ³A inch stock on the table or band saw. Transfer the profile from the grid pattern to the stock, then cut out with a band or saber saw. Lay out the hole location before drilling the holes to the diameters shown. We used a spade bit to

cut the Vs inch hole, an expandable bit to cut the 1 Vs and 1 Vi inch holes, and a hole cutter for the l³/« inch hole. Also add a ³/s inch hanger hole.

Sand thoroughly, rounding all cor

ners and edges. An application of Behlen Salad Bowl Finish (available from Wood Finishing Supply Co., 1267 Mary Drive, Macedon, NY 14502) provides an attractive non-toxic finish.