| Project by jack1 | posted 34 days ago | 419 views | 1 time favorited | 12 comments |  |
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Every so often I get asked to make something I have never made before and, every so often, I make the foolish decision to get a plan to make this something. I always learn new and unique ways to use good old anglo-saxon phrases during these periods of my life…
This was a tough project because of all the angles and compound cuts to make this work. The walls of the tower for example are about 60 degrees with the inside edges at 30 degrees so that they fit snuggly in a tapered hexagonal shape. The pier posts have 5 different angles, the motor house top had to have 3 faces cut on a tenoning jig, there’s more but I’ll stop.
I am always humbled when trying to follow plans that have only line drawings but little or no direction or usable cutting lists… I realize that as old as I am, I still can’t read people’s minds… ARGGGGGH!
It is done, the person I built it for is happy. I could do it again with less pain but am not going to buy any more plans, period. Why do they all think we have no other tools but jig saws, wood putty, files and a few extra years to waste??? Now I’m really done. ;0)
-- jack -- measure once, curse twice!
12 comments so far
a1Jim
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16598 posts in 470 days
posted 34 days ago
Nice windmill
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon
jack1
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375 posts in 920 days
posted 34 days ago
I think I know why Don Quixote was consumed with fighting windmills, he must have bought the same plan as I did… ;o)
-- jack -- measure once, curse twice!
patron
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2376 posts in 233 days
posted 34 days ago
you did good jack .
now find something else to do .
something you like ,
something simple .
a canoe ,
or a piano ?
-- david ,new mexico ,allheart
jack1
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375 posts in 920 days
posted 34 days ago
How about a couple of Stickley chairs? I have a commish to copy 2. Am i not crazy?
?!? No plans though. I have one to measure in person. Bedda!
-- jack -- measure once, curse twice!
Splinterman
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4827 posts in 254 days
posted 34 days ago
Hey jack,
Sweet windmill…..good job.
-- I will just keep doing it till I get it right.
stefang
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1644 posts in 227 days
posted 34 days ago
Nice job Jack. If we all had one of these in a little larger scale maybe we could power our workshops with them. LOL
-- Mike, American in Norway
Russel
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2057 posts in 831 days
posted 34 days ago
Most impressive. I’ve consider building one of these for the yard because they look really slick. However, with your inspiration, I think I’ll pass. ;-) Really nice work.
-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.
jack1
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375 posts in 920 days
posted 34 days ago
Don’t let me discourage you. The kit for the wheel house and arms and plans are not too $$. There were just a few things mentioned above that were iffy. I’ve gotten use to this sort of thing so I’m getting good with an angle gauge and always practice on a scrap before I do it on the final product. It’s quite heavy and I imagine if my paint is tight, it should last many years. I would recommend a lighter grey and maybe window panes for the door too.
-- jack -- measure once, curse twice!
dustyal
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443 posts in 368 days
posted 34 days ago
Should have improvised and put a window in the door. Off hand, I don’t see any serious building code violations. Perhaps a ramp for the handicap if you open it to the public for tours… Like, you would be handicapped if you forgot to duck for that big blade as you enter the door! LOL
Talk about tools… at least you have a real table saw with one of those Bissemeyer fences… I have neither. LOL, again.
Seriously, nicely done… I can just imagine the problem with all those angles. Thanks for posting.
-- Al H. - small shop, small projects...
Napaman
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3483 posts in 969 days
posted 33 days ago
nice!
-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...
toyguy
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714 posts in 730 days
posted 33 days ago
I have always considered plans as just a “guide line”..... Ya done good !
-- Brian's Table Top Toys http://home.mountaincable.net/~bgraham/
dustbunny
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314 posts in 188 days
posted 32 days ago
I would like to order one of these with a pair of matching wooden clogs !
Jack, great job, you learned some new skills, practiced some old ones,
and the windmill still looks great ; )
Lisa
-- I inherited the woodworking gene and it's gone into overdrive.......