Some of you have been wondering how I finish pieces to exactly 60° for my Impossible series. Basically I cut them to 60° on the tablesaw, a little oversize (experiment) and then finish sand them on the drum sander using this Jig. It works equally well on a planer/thicknesser.
Fairly simple to make. You take a rectangular section of timber (lumber). Shorter in thickness than the width of the piece you are planing/sanding. Set your tablesaw blade to precisely 60°. I use a vernier protractor these days but the kind of set square you find in a school geometry set works almost as well. Saw through the length roughly in the centre of the wood.
Flip one piece 180° lengthways, so that they both have their larger end downward.
And screw them to a piece of MDF. The next bit is very important. Attach an end stop at one end to prevent the timber you are planing/sanding from shooting back and hitting you in the gut (or worse). Like so
Its painful. I speak from experience. This end will obviously be the one closest to you and the back end as the work goes through your machine. Thats it. Just place the thing to be machined to 60° in it and plane/sand.
As my friend from comparethemeerkat.com would say ‘Simples!’
-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging. http://www.theartofboxes.com
11 comments so far
Sheila Landry (scrollgirl)
home | projects | blog
5923 posts in 1085 days
#1 posted 987 days ago
This is so cool! Isn’t is wonderful when something so simple can make things so much better? What a great tool Martyn. It is great for you to share it with everyone!
Sheila
-- Contributing Editor, Creative Woodworks and Crafts, Sheila Landry Designs http://www.sheilalandrydesigns.com "Knowledge is Power"
SPalm
home | projects | blog
4098 posts in 2047 days
#2 posted 987 days ago
Sweet. Simple enough. I like it.
Someone ought to perform a comparison of a rotating power tool ejecting a piece of wood with a trebuchet, and see which will throw it farther.
Steve
-- -- I'm no rocket surgeon
blockhead
home | projects | blog
1423 posts in 1474 days
#3 posted 987 days ago
A nice simple solution Martyn. Thanks for sharing!
Steve- I like that idea!
-- Brad, Oregon- The things that come to those who wait, may be the things left by those who got there first.
BertFlores58
home | projects | blog
1527 posts in 1087 days
#4 posted 987 days ago
Martyn,
Thanks for the idea of this jig, I tried this one with trapezoidal at 95 degrees and 85 degrees angle (yours 60 deg.) but I was not so sucessful. I just planed it manually which is more tiring and adjusted it with a filing, Your idea had put a light on my next move when I do the rectangular design. Now, I have already realized how really difficult those projects you do. A little mistake will let you do it again. In fact, I am very selective now with the wood I used. Endgrain cuts can easily breaks when cutting it to shape. Thanks for postiing your jigs.
Cheers,
-- Bert
patron
home | projects | blog
12048 posts in 1506 days
#5 posted 987 days ago
AH !
RIG – A – JIG
this one is right up there
with
SOAP – ON – A – ROPE
a classic for sure
-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle
mafe
home | projects | blog
8055 posts in 1255 days
#6 posted 987 days ago
Simplicity are the key, you opened the door.
Really nice and simple solution.
Best thoughts,
Mads
-- Mad F, the fanatical rhykenologist and vintage architect. Democraticwoodworking.
BritBoxmaker
home | projects | blog
4003 posts in 1202 days
#7 posted 987 days ago
I am the stupid in KISS (keep it simple stupid)
-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging. http://www.theartofboxes.com
RonPeters
home | projects | blog
709 posts in 1046 days
#8 posted 987 days ago
Cost to do the repair $300…
$1 for the part…
$299 for knowing how to do it…!
-- “Once more unto the breach, dear friends...” Henry V - Act III, Scene I
BritBoxmaker
home | projects | blog
4003 posts in 1202 days
#9 posted 987 days ago
?!
-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging. http://www.theartofboxes.com
BritBoxmaker
home | projects | blog
4003 posts in 1202 days
#10 posted 986 days ago
Thanks Dennis I get the joke, now. Doh!
-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging. http://www.theartofboxes.com
lumberdustjohn
home | projects | blog
1162 posts in 1332 days
#11 posted 984 days ago
Thanks for the post.
I will try this soon
-- Safety first because someone needs you.
Have your say...