| Project by zombeerose | posted 117 days ago | 384 views | 0 times favorited | 14 comments | ![]() |
I created this unique combination triangle for entering into a tool making contest hosted by WoodCentral. I designed it accomplish three tasks that are common in my shop including accurate 45 and 90 degree angles, a ruler for measurements, and a marking knife for getting a precise line. The triangle is wide enough at 3/4” to stand up by itself so that it doesn’t need a third hand. The back of the triangle contains an elongated slot for storing the marking knife to protect the tip when not in use. A magnet is inset in the slot to keep the blade firmly in place. The knife was made from wenge and a polished reciprocating saw blade. Thin wenge wafers cover four ¾” magnets that are inset on the perpendicular sides of the triangle. The magnets allow the ruler to be interchanged as needed.
The ruler is quarter-sawn maple with macassar ebony inlays for each of the 113 individual markings at 1/16” intervals across the rulers length. A thin strip of the reciprocating saw blade is inlayed into the back of the ruler so that it can attach to the magnets in the triangle. The ruler was designed to be detachable so that it could swapped between two positions on the triangle or used independently.
All three corners of the triangle have paduak dowels that were specially turned on my lathe to provide added joint strength besides visual interest. Strips of 1/4” paduak were inlayed into the interior triangle edges for additional appeal.
All pieces are finished with a few coats of shellac followed up with spar varnish to provide UV protection and hopefully preserve the colors.
Completed 3-2008
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14 comments so far
Scott Bryan
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8497 posts in 265 days
posted 117 days ago
This is a wonderful project. Not only is it functional and useful but it looks good as well. I am sure that it gave you a lot of satisfaction in entering this in the contest.
Well done.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
MVWOODWORKS
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130 posts in 158 days
posted 117 days ago
Thats @#$% unreal ! Too nice to use. Thanks for sharing!
-- Pat, Colorado
GaryK
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8404 posts in 431 days
posted 117 days ago
That’s great! Do you have a bigger picture?
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
grumpycarp
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174 posts in 189 days
posted 117 days ago
Beautiful. Might I suggest adding a hook to one end of the rule? You could then use one end to lay out inside and the hook end for outside mark out.
miles125
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899 posts in 448 days
posted 117 days ago
Great piece of art even if you were to never use it! Excellent.
-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""
CharlieM1958
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3968 posts in 661 days
posted 117 days ago
That is one heck of a tool! If you don’t win the contest, I sure want to see what does.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Tony Z
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120 posts in 233 days
posted 117 days ago
Did you win???
-- Tony, Ohio
zombeerose
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29 posts in 598 days
posted 117 days ago
Thanks for all the comments! No I did not win but it was still lots of fun. If you click on the WoodCentral link in my first post, you can check out the rest of the entries and winners.
-- Maximize - Your Time, Your Experiencies, Your Life, Yourself!
Dusty56
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992 posts in 131 days
posted 117 days ago
ANY CHANCE OF REPOSTING LARGER PICS ??
-- Dusty56@comcast.net
zombeerose
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29 posts in 598 days
posted 117 days ago
I will definitely try to post larger photos :)
-- Maximize - Your Time, Your Experiencies, Your Life, Yourself!
TopamaxSurvivor
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17 posts in 119 days
posted 116 days ago
WOW, what a tool!
-- Topamax Survivor
Grumpy
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4808 posts in 294 days
posted 116 days ago
Very inventive & great piece of equipment.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
Bradford
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614 posts in 266 days
posted 114 days ago
Very impressive. I wouldn’t have thought about making my own. (YET)
-- so much wood, so little time. Bradford.
zombeerose
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29 posts in 598 days
posted 111 days ago
I found the original pictures so I replaced the pictures with larger versions.
Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts. :)
-- Maximize - Your Time, Your Experiencies, Your Life, Yourself!