Have you ever asked someone--spouse, partner, fellow woodworker--if a part of a project you were working on was OK, or if it needed to be tweaked or redone?
I've discovered, over and over, that you already know the answer--that it's really not up to your usual standards, but you were hoping that no one would notice.
Perfectionism has its ups and downs, but if you strive for it, your results are likely to be a lot better than if you didn't.
Saturday, August 30, 2014
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Open Segmented Bowl in Woodworker's Journal
For anyone curious about making an open segmented bowl with the scroll saw, check out my article in the October, 2014 issue of Woodworker's Journal.
I was pleased when I finally figured out how to do this type of bowl, and encourage bowl makers to give it a try. Nice thing about it is that you can use many profiles, not just circles. The bowl featured in WJ has a wavy edge and curved sides, and makes a nice first project of this type.
I was pleased when I finally figured out how to do this type of bowl, and encourage bowl makers to give it a try. Nice thing about it is that you can use many profiles, not just circles. The bowl featured in WJ has a wavy edge and curved sides, and makes a nice first project of this type.
Friday, August 15, 2014
New sander coming
I've been working on a "bonus" project, made with wood left over from a new bowl, and I needed something different for a lid. So, I took the lid I had made, which looked kind of ordinary, and cut it into segments.
As I was sanding the segments, it occurred to me that I really needed a larger inflatable drum than the one from the Guinevere system. I asked around on the forum to see what's used, and found that I could get one that would chuck into my SandFlee or drill press. I found a small set at Klingspor that looked like a good place to start, and I should have it next week.
When I needed some small carving burrs, I found that I could use my Dremel and flex shaft, which cut costs tremendously. I don't mind spending if I have to, but it's nice to be able to work with what I have.
New projects should be appearing in the next few issues of Scrollsaw Woodworking & Crafts, so you can see the results of my new efforts. And I must admit that I'm having a really good time!
As I was sanding the segments, it occurred to me that I really needed a larger inflatable drum than the one from the Guinevere system. I asked around on the forum to see what's used, and found that I could get one that would chuck into my SandFlee or drill press. I found a small set at Klingspor that looked like a good place to start, and I should have it next week.
When I needed some small carving burrs, I found that I could use my Dremel and flex shaft, which cut costs tremendously. I don't mind spending if I have to, but it's nice to be able to work with what I have.
New projects should be appearing in the next few issues of Scrollsaw Woodworking & Crafts, so you can see the results of my new efforts. And I must admit that I'm having a really good time!
Sunday, August 3, 2014
A comparison of rounded sanders
Round-ended sanders are absolutely necessary for sanding the inside of scrolled bowls with curved sides, ripples, or petals. Before the availability of the Guinevere system from King Arthur's tools, anyone wanting a tool of this type had to construct it themselves.
The specific sanders from King Arthur's Tools that I use constantly are the large and small round inflatable sanders. The rubber "ball" inflates with a small pump, and uses sleeves of various grits. Although the sanders can be fidgety at times, they are extremely effective. In addition, repairs can be made to the inflation mechanism, and the rubber ball itself can be replaced if necessary. The large sander costs about $44, small about $40, sleeves are about $3.00 each, and the pump is about $11.
I was not aware of any other product that had a rounded configuration until I came across one offered by Seyco, called a "rounded end cup sander". The configuration is similar to the KA product, but it is made of soft foam covered by a non-removable sandpaper sleeve, attached at the top with tape. It is available in four different grits, and costs about $7. Curious, I bought two of the coarsest grits at the Fox Chapel Open House in May, and just got around to testing them out.
To start with my conclusion, if you are serious about bowl sanding, go with the King Arthur product. Although the initial outlay is greater, the $7 replacement cost of the Seyco product will quickly add up. A set of four sanders, one of each grit, costs $28. A set of assorted sleeves from KA for the large round sanders costs $11.
In terms of performance, even the coarsest grit from Seyco was not effective for that all-important initial sanding. In addition, the stem, which is glued to the foam, quickly came unglued. I did like the size, which was intermediate, but found the longer configuration not as easy to use as the more ball-like KA product. The fact that it's ready to use is handy, but you pay for it in an inferior performance and greater ultimate price. And, for many projects, you absolutely need the small size of the KA product the get into those tight lower curves.
If you're curious about this type of sander, there's no harm in buying one or two Seyco sanders to test them out. And if you already have the KA system, you may find the medium size of the Seyco product handy at times.
However, as most of us quickly learn, there's no substitute for a quality tool!
The specific sanders from King Arthur's Tools that I use constantly are the large and small round inflatable sanders. The rubber "ball" inflates with a small pump, and uses sleeves of various grits. Although the sanders can be fidgety at times, they are extremely effective. In addition, repairs can be made to the inflation mechanism, and the rubber ball itself can be replaced if necessary. The large sander costs about $44, small about $40, sleeves are about $3.00 each, and the pump is about $11.
I was not aware of any other product that had a rounded configuration until I came across one offered by Seyco, called a "rounded end cup sander". The configuration is similar to the KA product, but it is made of soft foam covered by a non-removable sandpaper sleeve, attached at the top with tape. It is available in four different grits, and costs about $7. Curious, I bought two of the coarsest grits at the Fox Chapel Open House in May, and just got around to testing them out.
To start with my conclusion, if you are serious about bowl sanding, go with the King Arthur product. Although the initial outlay is greater, the $7 replacement cost of the Seyco product will quickly add up. A set of four sanders, one of each grit, costs $28. A set of assorted sleeves from KA for the large round sanders costs $11.
In terms of performance, even the coarsest grit from Seyco was not effective for that all-important initial sanding. In addition, the stem, which is glued to the foam, quickly came unglued. I did like the size, which was intermediate, but found the longer configuration not as easy to use as the more ball-like KA product. The fact that it's ready to use is handy, but you pay for it in an inferior performance and greater ultimate price. And, for many projects, you absolutely need the small size of the KA product the get into those tight lower curves.
If you're curious about this type of sander, there's no harm in buying one or two Seyco sanders to test them out. And if you already have the KA system, you may find the medium size of the Seyco product handy at times.
However, as most of us quickly learn, there's no substitute for a quality tool!
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