SSWC 36 Cutting Elegant Spirals article discussion thread

[marshall]

Bobd the video was so useful and I thank Mr. Bruce Pratt for this Pattern , I'm not going to make one now but their is some possible plans for the future . I just wish I had the talent to come up with something so great as this , one great mind ..............................Marshall

[Bluebird]

Thanks a ton for this video Bob! Now I understand! I couldn't figure out how to do this when I saw the article. This is really cool!

[Bruce-P]

Now that many/most/some of you folks have received Issue #36, and that this article (pp 46-49) was a first attempt at describing a new cutting technique, I would appreciate comments/suggestions/questions on the instructions in the article, and on the cutting of the spiral candlestick.

Also, would people be interested in additional patterns incorporating spirals and similar elements?
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Thanks,

Bruce P.
designs001@comcast.net

[Scrolling Days]

I think this section and the accompanying online video is the highlight of this issue. I can't wait to give that a try.

[Scrolling Days]

Originally Posted by Bruce P

Also, would people be interested in additional patterns incorporating spirals and similar elements?
-----------------
Thanks,

Bruce P.
designs001@comcast.net

Yes!

[Sally]

Yes, Yes, Yes!

[will8989]

The video is great! The pattern fantastic! My "elegant" cutting was less than elegant!!! Need more practice with the circular blade.

Betty

[Northstar]

I echo what Betty said. My first try needed a lot of sanding. Had some pretty rough saw marks. This was my first time using spiral blades. Going to practice though. I think these would make excellent Christmas gifts.

I'm going to make some wind spinners and tree ornaments too.

And Yes, I would like to see more patterns similar to this. Thank you Bruce, for a unique technique.

El

[Bruce-P]

A couple of pointers which might help:

1. Be sure your fence is well secured to the table, and the dowel is kept fimly against the fence during cutting (except at the beginning and end!).

This technique depends on the blade moving up and down as a straight line:

2. Put as much tension into the blade as it will tolerate (and not break too quickly).

3. Cut slowly, let the blade to the work - if you deflect the blade by cutting too agressively, it will recoil when you pause, and take a bite out of the spiral.

4. If you can adjust the "agressiveness/tilt/forward angle" of the blade, make it as vertical as possible (see this thread for more details forward angle of blade) .

Note: I developed this technique on a saw with parallelogram arms, so I don't actually know how smooth a spiral is possible on C-arm or fixed foward blade angle saws. If the blade motion cannot be adjusted to true vertical, I would guess that the highest speed on the blade, coupled with very slow stock feed rate would minimize the problem.

5. For sanding, I have found that a small diameter drum sander on a drill press works well. If you play around with the angle of presentation of the spiral to the drum sander, you will find a positiion at which the spiral fits snuggly against the drum sander and you can be sanding both the walls and the floor of the spiral groove at the same time. (If you assume the drum sander defines the "12-6" axis on a clock face, with the spiral behind the drum sander, the best orientation for sanding is about "10-4" to "11-5" depending on the diameter of the drum sander.)

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Bruce P.

[Doc249HMCS]

Great article and a great video!
Thank you for sharing it.
Don