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Bottle balancer jig

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Project by Kindlingmaker posted 1606 days ago 8790 views 143 times favorited 9 comments Add to Favorites Watch

This jig is made entirely from fall offs, mostly 3/4” ply. The jig base is wider and longer than the ramp for ease of clamping to the drill press. The wood for the balancer is cut at a 40 degree bevel on one end and 90 degrees at the other end with a total length of 10”. The beveled end lays flat on the jig and rests at the bottom stop. A 1 1/4” forester bit is used to cut the 30 degree angle for the bottle neck using the drill press. Any thickness or width of wood can used. Notice that the bottle is nearly horizontal with both balancers. Using the jig the total time for making a balancer is 15 minutes. The distance from the point of the beveled end, (bottom), to the center of the bottle hole is about 7”.

-- Never board, always knotty, lots of growth rings




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9 comments so far

View motthunter's profile

motthunter

2129 posts in 1997 days


#1 posted 1606 days ago

that should work well.. thanks for showing it

-- making sawdust....

View scottb's profile

scottb

3648 posts in 2525 days


#2 posted 1606 days ago

great idea.

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Van Gogh -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

View woodworm's profile

woodworm

14105 posts in 1788 days


#3 posted 1605 days ago

Nice jig, thanks for sharing with us.!

-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.

View winecountrywhimsy's profile

winecountrywhimsy

99 posts in 1546 days


#4 posted 1506 days ago

I have seen other ballancers that have the hole drilled at 90 degrees and then router the edge with a 1/4 in. roundover bit. That way, the bottle can move in and out and as it does, the angle changes to where it ballances. I tried it last weekend. I used a wine barrel stave and cut both ends at approximately 45 deg. After a few adjustments on my bottom angle, it ballanced perfectly. And with the rounded over hole, I can use all types of bottles, tall, short, heavy, etc. and they all ballance eventaully. Amazing.

Thanks for sharing.

-- Todd @ winecountrywhimsy Sonoma County, CA

View a1Jim's profile

a1Jim

89151 posts in 1775 days


#5 posted 1506 days ago

Good jig well done

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

View degoose's profile

degoose

6620 posts in 1552 days


#6 posted 812 days ago

I like the way you think… I think I will try this… but I will provide lateral support to avoid slippage on the drill press.

-- Drink twice... and don't bother to cut... @ lazylarrywoodworks.com.au For lovers of all things timber...

View Kindlingmaker's profile

Kindlingmaker

2650 posts in 1724 days


#7 posted 812 days ago

degoose – Since these photos were taken I made a large drill press table and the jig is clamped to that and a small clamp to hold the wood to the jig.l I used it once without clamping the wood to the jig and I have the remains of the wood hung above that drill press as a reminder to never do something that stupid again!

-- Never board, always knotty, lots of growth rings

View degoose's profile

degoose

6620 posts in 1552 days


#8 posted 812 days ago

That was what I was getting at… Tried something similar myself… only once though…..

-- Drink twice... and don't bother to cut... @ lazylarrywoodworks.com.au For lovers of all things timber...

View cupcake's profile

cupcake

7 posts in 783 days


#9 posted 762 days ago

Looks to me as a great , quick, money maker, gift, and easy Project thanks!!

-- f8s7keys@verizon.net

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