Spiral Work *LINK*

Re: Spiral Work

Garrett in Victoria

>There are a couple of ways to achieve spirals, one hard the other less hard.

The hard way is to turn a spindle of whatever diameter, mark it to indicate the distance between each spiral - i.e. how tight a spiral, wrap a piece of thin but strong carboard around the spindle using the marks as a guide, and draw a pencil line along the edge of the cardboard to show the spiral. Do this for each of the 2, 3, or 4 spirals you want, then start hogging out the waste by hand using chisels or any means you can devise, finish with rasps and files.

The less hard way is to buy a router lathe. If you can find an old Craftsman at a garage sale or flea market, that should do providing it's complete. You can also make one with a little effort. The router lathe consists of a couple of tubes supported by 2 end pieces and a saddle that slides along one of the tubes and carries a router. The end pieces have a simple headstock and tailstock. The headstock is connected to the saddle by a simple system of pulleys and wires so that as the saddle moves, the headstock rotates synchronously. Put a spindle in the headstock-tailstock, and a router will cut spirals alnog its length, the number and rate of twist being adjustable. If you can't find one, send me an e-mail and I might be able to help out.

Cheers, Garrett

Re: Spiral Work *LINK*

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In Jersey

>Scott,

If you're "sold" on Frog tools, so be it. However for the past 30 years I've been using Italian rifflers and rasps at a QUARTER of the price your site asks. Sculpture House carries them at link as well as different assortments at Wood Carvers Supply at other link.

M


Sculpture House

Re: No. 2 link  *LINK*

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In Jersey

>


WoodCarver's

Re: Spiral Work

John Lucas

>I cut my spirals by hand. After marking them off I use wood rasps to clean up the spirals. I don't know what brand my round one is. I've had it for years and use it mostly for small work. For larger spirals i use a patternamkers rasp I got from Highland hardware. This thing cuts very fast and doesn't leave scratch marks. I think it was about $40. Much less than the files you were looking at. I'll also use course sandpaper wrapped in a spiral around a dowel if I don't have the right size rasp.

If I need to duplicate severeral I will use a dovetail saw with a depth stop made of scrap wood to cut the initail groove for the spirals. This gives me the line to follow and also the depth needed.

I bought one of the Router Crafters on e-bay but it had a brocken part and I haven't had time to fix it. I do have plans for building a spiral cutter in one of my router books. Unfortunately all my books are in boxes right now since I just moved last weekend.

Re: Spiral Work

Joe Fleming

>Scott,

Stuart Mortimer has a book out on cutting spirals. It is a great reference.

For tools, consider the various sizes of files and rasps that Craft Supplies carries (including the book). They carry round microplanes for the larger spirals and small rat tail files for the tiny goblet stems.

The Auriou tools are excellent, but very expensive for this purpose.

Joe Fleming - San Diego

Re: Spiral Work

Keith Tompkins

>Hey Mark, I love my fine Italia....er, wait a minute....what the! "made in China"?

Anyway, these rifflers are great tools. Someday I'll get a better set.

Re: Spiral Work

Duane C.Leach

>Hi Scott

What you are contemplating requires a lot of hard work. By hand or by power tools it's hard work. I have done several of that type. I would post some pictures but just can't get it figured out. But Get Stuart Mortimer's books will be a good start. At times I will use any tool with a shar edge that I can find that will cut where I need to cut. Microplanes work great. If you are only going to do one or two then get one of those Wechier power carving kits. It has both rotary and reciprocating atatchments. Try using a small rabbet plane a Stanley No. 92 Works for taking the out side corners off. Also get cloth backed sand paper in 18" to 24" long by 1/4" to 1/2" widths.In all grits. Rap them around the bine and use a se saw motion. This will make the bines round. Also use stright grain Hard wood. Like Cherry and Walnut. Oak and Hard maple are too hard. Also all turning should be done before cuting the bines out. I hope This has been helpfull.

Duane

Re: Spiral Work

Scott Greaves, Blackfoot Idaho

>Thank you everyone! I appreciate the excellent information!

Mark - I am not particularly attached to the Froggy tools! ;-) Or should I say I am more attached to my money! Thanks for those two links - the other brands seem much more reasonable.

If I want machine cut spirals, I am well acquainted with Tracy and his Brother at Legacy. Very nice people! I may even buy one of their machines sometime. But I have an idea for some graduated spirals that I just don't think I can reproduce by machine, without resorting to a CNC! I liked Stuart Mortimers simple method of marking out the spirals, and think it could easily be adapted to the ideas I have been stewing on.

I knew there had to be other resources for the tools I would need. I realize this will be hard work. But I intend to make some form of spiral work for some time, so I want to do this right, and get decent tools.

Thanks again!

Scott.

Beall Lathe Wizard *LINK*

Fred in NC

>I don't have one YET ...


The Wizard is Here

Re: Beall Lathe Wizard

Bill Canaday

>Whoo hooo! And here I thought that all Beal made were buffs! I'll be back ... and next time I'll bring my wallet!