Coin Cutting Project

[minowevie]

that's cool. how does the coin stay in the jig?? do you glue it in? or what. your friend Evie

[woodgeek]

It is held by friction around the rim Evie. I use rubber bands along the sides of the jig but small clamps can be used as well or bolts can be run through the body of the jig and wing nuts used.
Depending on the coin, when you drill the jig the top hole (the one that grips is slightly larger than the coin. You simply sand the split in the jig until it closes up to a snug fit.
I find jig making as interesting as cutting the coins but it's all good fun. Each coin I cut gets easier and in my view the learning curve is not as steep as with scrolling wood.

[wood-n-things]

Nice job and it seems as though you have that learning curve mastered...You have our permission to remove your helmet going around the rest of the curves but remain in your seat belt....

[minowevie]

that makes seance, thanks Wood.. your friend Evie

[ubgoofy2003]

Hi, Rod. That looks like a real good cutting. I haven't done any coins yet, but, tried the Tagua nut slice. Have you ever seen those? I did this one with a White Tail Deer on it. Perk

[woodgeek]

Thanks for the kind words Mike. I am sure I can find plenty more opportunities to crash and burn.
I hope more folks will try coin cutting. 3 Forstner bits (flat bottom bits with a spur center) 1 1/8", 1", and 7/8" is all the "special equipment" you need to make the jigs for American quarters and gold colored dollars.

I bought one of those Tagua nuts years ago meaning to try it out but somehow it got lost in the move. The deer looks real nice.
I used to be into pen turning real heavy but after a few hundred pens I found the medium kind of limiting (no offense meant to turners, just me). I don't think I will ever run out of ideas for scroll sawing.
Tonight I made some more jigs and drilled some coins getting them prepped for cutting tomorrow.
I have one of those cheap harbor freight drill presses and it has served me well for quite a while but it takes a lot of fussing to get a bit to run true so I think that is the next item on my upgrade list.

[woodgeek]

Another nice thing about coin cutting is that you can store a week's production in an Altoid tin.
Finished another gold Lady Liberty and started on a smokin' George Washington in the vein of the old "tramp art". Looking forward to doing a smokin' Lincoln penny as well.