Making a Pattern

  The first thing to include is my two finger hold down in use as promised. 

You can see this  jig allows me to hold the wood very close to the saw. This situation doesn't happen very often but often enough that it needed attention.

 The other thing I thought I'd show today was the process I generally use for making patterns and templates. 

 Often I am inspired by something I've seen on the net, there are a nearly infinite number of gifted people with an infinity of good ideas to be inspired by, or just copy. When I can I give credit for the idea, in this case I don't know whence the original design came.

   Initially I make some sketches on scrap paper and then a finished drawing in a serious art note book.

  I use these books because the paper is almost as heavy as Bristol board, but with a matte finish. It is 190 grams per square metre vs. 200 - 250 for Bristol board.* In this case my drawing is for a scroll saw pattern.

You could cut this pattern out with a coping saw and a band saw without too much trouble, the scroll saw is just easier.

  Next I make a copy of the pattern using my computer printer on ordinary printer paper. This way I keep the heavy paper pattern in a folder for later use. The light paper pattern is glued to the wood and cut out on the scroll saw.

 In this case I glued the pattern onto a piece of 1/4 inch Baltic birch and cut it out.  Since I like this pattern and expect to use it often I'll trace it onto the wood the next time rather than glue a print out onto the material. Tracing the pattern means I don't have to wait for the glue to dry, or clean it off the project after cutting it out.

Since it is a jig, it has to be red.

  I see this as a small trivet or a large coaster. A larger version could be used to protect a table top from hot dishes. We have a couple of palm trees in our house and this goes with the décor.

 Just by the by, here is a sketch that I did last evening in my note book.

cheers, ianw

p.s. bicycle season has begun here, finally.

Is that cool wood, or what!

* - If you keep your eyes pealed quality artist note books come on sale frequently. I bought my last books on a 3 for 1 sale. 

Table Saw - Shim Jig

 Every now and then you need a shim. There is something that fits a little less than perfectly and the problem can be fixed with a little wooden wedge. You can buy shim stock at a big box store, really the shim stock is just low grade cedar shakes and they cost money. Or you can cut the wooden wedges your self. I have cut many wedges with my band saw, but I like John's idea for using the table saw better. The result is more consistent and the cuts straighter. 

 John Heisz at I Build It.ca has a jig that makes making shims quick and safe.

A Shim Jig, not a Shindig. 

 This is a jig that you should have in collection of table saw jigs, you know, with you thin strip jig, your spline jig, your table saw sled etc.

 I especially like this shim jig because it has a system to hold the small shim after it has been cut lose.  A jig like this is something that I would make while I was supposed to be cleaning up the shop or when I was puttering around waiting for glue to dry. Jigs like this are always painted red or orange so that they doesn't blend into the back ground and get lost amongst the other bits of wood and incomplete projects in my shop.

cheers, ianw

Another Cool Shop Jig

  This is my second effort to write this particular blog.  My first effort disappeared part way through, without explanation and without any of it having been saved, as it is supposed to be.  If a tool in your work shop was as unreliable as our computers we would through it out.  Sadly we are held to ransom by the computer universe, and its knows it.

what was going on in my head just now

   Trying again:

    I know that many wood workers do not enjoy the luxuries that I do.  I have lots of tools and almost enough space. (space is like clamps).  Over the course of the last 10 years I have also been able to up grade the quality of many of my tools, so I can't ever blame the tools for mistakes. 

   Since not everyone has my good fortune or as supportive a wife I am always on the lookout to share ways to expand the scope of a tools uses.  Single purpose tools are nice but a multi-use tool can be better value.  Also there are tools that you only need a few times a year, making buying a special purpose tool a tough expense to justify.

  On Izzy Swan's web site and Facebook page and You Tube videos you can see a number of easy to make and use jigs that expand the possibilities of your table saw.   I wrote a blog on June 26 th where Norm Abram talks about choosing the correct saw for your needs and if you are of a certain age you were raised to believe that the table saw was the centre piece of your shop.  I am of that age. 

   The video I recommend for your viewing pleasure makes me think that though I have a six inch joiner, there are times that this method would not only give me a good edge but a parallel one too.   I especially like the trick of using wedges to hold the material in place.  Toggle clamps are good, but wedges are cheap and infinitely adjustable.