The Scratch Stock – Part I
I had a great day in the shop. I started by dimensioning stock for my next project which is now stickered and adjusting to the shop environment. I also started experimenting with hide glue . . . more on that in the future. I also made a scratch stock. After following Crazy Leg Federal Table forum project on The Rough Cut Show, I started working on developing skills anticipating building a similar table. I thought the scratch stock would be a fun little project to end a great day in the shop. Well, I was right and wrong on that account!
Version I - getting ready totest the retaining screws
Version I - system failure!My first scratch stock was inspired from a Garret Hack design built by Kari Hultman on her blog The Village Carpenter. Unfortunately, there was a sickening sound of splitting wood and mine broke in two pieces as I tightened the retainer screws. In retrospect the two screws likely produced too much force and I should have allowed more end grain length. Not about to be defeated and leave the shop disappointed, I powered up and built another with a slightly modified design.
Set-up to cut the blade blank from a card scraper
Using a hacksaw to cut the blade blank from a card scraperVersion II sports steel reinforcement that also serves to keep the blade secure from racking in the slot. These are quick and easy to build. Now I just have to get some time to shape the cutter!
Version II ready to be drilled
Version II completeUPDATE
Click here to see completion of this scratch stock with a quirk bead blade
Some interesting scratch stock resources:
Beading with a Scratch Stock - FWW
Scratch Stock – Kari Hultman • Village Carpenter
Scratch Stock Moldings – Shavings and Sawdust
The Venerable Bead – Lee Valley Project Article
5 comments:
Hey David,
Sorry to see the "system failure" on version #1. You know what they say...you can learn more from a failure than a success!
On version #2 will you have enough clearance to use it on curved pieces without some radius in the tool?
Waiting to see your next project.
--Mark
The Craftsman's Path
Mark -
Very true statement regarding learning more from failure than success.
This scratch stock will be for straight edges. I have plans to make a curved stock in the future.
Kind of fun making your own tools!
David
That's pretty cool David! I know when I took a class from Michael Fortune, he said always scratched in beads for inlaying and that he could do it in a fraction of the time it would take any other way. I watched him do a few and he was very quick.
Vic -
I will let you know how it works when I get the blade profile cut.
David
Very nice - I love a blog that can show me what might go wrong... that's more useful than a stack of books.
I've also started blogging from my (much smaller) shop - please stop by!
http://bowsaw.wordpress.com
Post a Comment