Email from a builder:
"Hi, I have a question for making the Planets sculpture: How did you cut the 1/8 ply caps? They're a little too small for me to be willing to shape on the belt sander.
Also, in case you might want to know, you left 3/4" stock off the materials list (for the spacer between the frame and arms).
After many pieces flying out of my hands and a few broken parts, I can say that I am almost finished and should have a picture or video for you by the end of the school year."
Here are my answers written in red font:
How did you cut the 1/8 ply caps? They're a little too small for me to be willing to shape on the belt sander. I made my caps by first cutting them at the scrollsaw and then touching them up at the 1" bench top belt sander. A bench top circular sander would work fine here too, but a little secret to keep the caps from falling between that gap between the sander and the sander's table is to clamp a sacrificial scrap of wood closer to the sanding belt.
If you didn't like the sacrificial table idea above, you could round your caps using the cap-on-a-stick idea, too.
In case you might want to know, you left 3/4" stock off the materials list (for the spacer between the frame and arms) Actually it is listed there in the cryptic measuring system known as Nominal Lumber sizes. It is the second entry down in the Materials List where it says "1x4 Hardwood Stock". You'll have enough 1x4 left after making your frame to also make the spacer. Here are a couple of links to help explain Nominal Lumber sizes. As you will see a 1x4 is actually 3/4" in thickness. http://mistupid.com/homeimpr/lumber.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumber
After many Pieces flying out of my hands and a few broken parts, i can say that I am almost finished and should have a picture or video for you by the end of the school year. It is always exciting when a new mechanism begins to run on its own. Please be sure to send pix when you get yours completed.
"Hi, I have a question for making the Planets sculpture: How did you cut the 1/8 ply caps? They're a little too small for me to be willing to shape on the belt sander.
Also, in case you might want to know, you left 3/4" stock off the materials list (for the spacer between the frame and arms).
After many pieces flying out of my hands and a few broken parts, I can say that I am almost finished and should have a picture or video for you by the end of the school year."
Here are my answers written in red font:
How did you cut the 1/8 ply caps? They're a little too small for me to be willing to shape on the belt sander. I made my caps by first cutting them at the scrollsaw and then touching them up at the 1" bench top belt sander. A bench top circular sander would work fine here too, but a little secret to keep the caps from falling between that gap between the sander and the sander's table is to clamp a sacrificial scrap of wood closer to the sanding belt.
See the picture above of the sacrificial table attached to my belt sander. You'll be able to see from the picture that it has been sacrificing for a very long time (no, those are not blood stains from getting knuckles too close to the sander).
The next step to either rounding the caps, or in the case of the Planet's design, beveling the caps, is to mount the cap through its center hole to an appropriately sized rod (1/8" in this case). Then mount the rod into a hand drill, turn on the drill, and come at the running sander, at the proper angle, with the rotating cap-on-a-stick.
If you didn't like the sacrificial table idea above, you could round your caps using the cap-on-a-stick idea, too.
In case you might want to know, you left 3/4" stock off the materials list (for the spacer between the frame and arms) Actually it is listed there in the cryptic measuring system known as Nominal Lumber sizes. It is the second entry down in the Materials List where it says "1x4 Hardwood Stock". You'll have enough 1x4 left after making your frame to also make the spacer. Here are a couple of links to help explain Nominal Lumber sizes. As you will see a 1x4 is actually 3/4" in thickness. http://mistupid.com/homeimpr/lumber.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumber
After many Pieces flying out of my hands and a few broken parts, i can say that I am almost finished and should have a picture or video for you by the end of the school year. It is always exciting when a new mechanism begins to run on its own. Please be sure to send pix when you get yours completed.
Aloha. Clayton
