I had several requests to make more of my hexagonal tumbling blocks coaster. they are pretty streightworward to make other than the glue up procedure. the parts slide, crawl, jump and move….
so, i decided to make a jig:
to make it, you will need:
base board (mdf or plywood, 3/4” works best)
piece of mdf, slightly wider than your hexagon
1 bolt
start by gluing the offcuts from cutting the parts of the hexagon so they make the “press” from both sides.
make sure you have no glue in the “corner” (its actually better to file a little dent there)
now, rip the mdf to 1/3 and 2/3
take the 1/3, drill in it a hole that just bout fit the bolt. the bolt should screw in with some effort but not too much, it will break the mdf. countersink one side or the hole, put some wax (tallow?) on the bolt and bolt it in.
put some glue and brad it to the edge of the board (if its not on the edge, its going to be harder to use the spanner). make sure its 90 degrees!
now, take the 2/3, cross cut “dove tail” (blade at 15 degrees) in its middle (leave at lease 2cm on both sides)
hold the 3 parts together and brad the sides to the board (you can also use glue – i did not). put some wax on the middle part to ensure it slides smoothly.
screw the static side, wax the bottom and “press” and you are done!
perfect glue line every time.
-- The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep...
8 comments so far
patron
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#1 posted 980 days ago
well done .
simple !
-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle
moshel
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#2 posted 980 days ago
yes. i really liked the way the “dovetail” worked. going to try to make some more experiments with this, maybe a portable vise for working outside….
-- The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep...
degoose
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#3 posted 980 days ago
Sweet.
-- Drink twice... and don't bother to cut... @ larrysworkshop.wordpress.com For lovers of all things timber...
SPalm
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#4 posted 980 days ago
That’ll do it. I like it.
Steve
-- -- I'm no rocket surgeon
BritBoxmaker
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#5 posted 980 days ago
Simply brilliant.
-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging. http://www.theartofboxes.com
matai
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#6 posted 980 days ago
Very efficient design. Do you have a jig for gluing multiple hexagons together, or is that less problematic? Do you have to put something under the pieces in your jig to stop squeeze out sticking them to the base?
-- Dave, Christchurch NZ
moshel
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838 posts in 1856 days
#7 posted 979 days ago
many hexagons glued together are “self aligning” to a degree. its not fun when they are small, though.
the problem is that making such jig for a single glue up seems like a waste.
the base is waxed. even with wax, titebond III still manage to stick to a degree!!!!
-- The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep...
daltxguy
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#8 posted 979 days ago
Clever…and of course you can never make just one!
I usually use packing tape under my glueups to prevent gluing to a jig or the bench
-- If you can't joint it, bead it!
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