Barley Twist

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Stuart

After finding a natural barley twist while holidaying in Queensland, Geoff has sent a couple of photos in of a barley twist lathe that he has acquired (but yet to use).

It is interesting to study, just to see how simple an arrangement it is, and with a little bit of work, pretty easy to duplicate – especially (but not limited to) those with Torque Workcentres.

It would be pretty easy to add this functionality to a real lathe (but NOT switching the lathe on!!!) A lathe with an indexing ring would be excellent for this

Barley Twist Lathe

Barley Twist Lathe

Barley Twist Lathe detail

Barley Twist Lathe detail

I’m not sure the drive mechanism for this lathe – it may be from pushing the router sideways, but I suspect you manually turn the black winder in the second photo.  In that photo, you can also see an indexing ring, which is essential for setting the workpiece to the next start location.  Depending on the combination of how far around the workpiece is indexed, the router bit chosen, and the setting for how fast the router moves relative to each rotation of the workpiece will dictate resulting effect.

A barley twist lathe can be regarded as a glorified Beall Pen Wizard (or is it the other way around – the Beall is a miniature barley twist lathe?!)

Beall Pen Wizard

Beall Pen Wizard

Back to Geoff’s lathe – I can’t see how the gearing is regulated, but I assume it can be changed.

So that is a barley twist lathe.  Do an image-search on Google for Barley Twist will reveal over a million examples of this ornamental feature being used in different projects, with varying degrees of success!  In some instances it is beautifully complementary to the overall object.  In some other cases, it has obviously been included without any understanding of how such an ornate feature should be used.

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Flai Router Bits

Posted on November 7, 2010 by Stuart

After experiencing what the Flai blades can achieve particularly with respect to finish, and therefore the quality and sharpness of the carbide I was rather interested to see what their router bits could achieve, and I wasn’t disappointed.

They don’t have a particularly large range of profiles sadly, but what they have does work particularly well.

Flai Router Bit

The carbide has quite a leading (shear) angle, so it is slicing rather than just chipping, and that will have some bearing on the result. In addition, the relief angle (back of the carbide) is also pronounced, producing a sharper leading edge. It is a variable-profile grind (at least that is what I’m calling it), where the relief grind is not just at a flat angle off the back of the carbide, but instead changes direction to match the profile, keeping the resulting angle consistent as the profile direction changes.

The shaft has been lasered, including the brand, and also the maximum router speed. (In this case, 18000 RPM)

Hardwood

Running the bit through a typical Australian Hardwood – Jarrah, and the result is shiny without tearout – a “Real Smooth Shave” (noone ever seems to get my movie references, or that there are movie references that get included in some articles, so here’s a hint!!)

The Flai bits have a “FlaiArmor” coating which is an excellent friction reducer, is anti-adherent, diffuses and disperses heat, and is stable in water and solvents.

Imported into Australia by Promac, and available through supplies such as Carrolls Woodcraft Supplies

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The Rabbit of Caerbannog

Posted on November 4, 2010 by Stuart

Otherwise known as “The Grand Rabbet” (Probably better known as the “Legendary Black Beast of Aaaaarrrrrggggghhhhh”, but that is another matter).

Grand Rabbet

The kit from CMT (sold in Oz by Carbatec) consists of a 2″ rebate bit, and 16 different sized sleeves to produce a wide range of rebates, with a final sleeve with a matching diameter to the bit itself, turning it into a giant pattern copying bit. There is also a packet of spares for the actual double bearings, spacer sleeve, washer and hex bolt that are used as part of the assembly.

Assembly

Working from left to right, you have the 2″ rebate bit (which is obviously of significant size!!), heavy chunk of carbide on each flute and a decent shear angle as well, so the bit creates a slicing action rather than a straight chipping one (producing a better finish/less tearout).  The first bearing is then added, along with the spacer sleeve (this fits in between the two bearings, and sits in the middle of the rebate sleeve).  You then have one of the range of rebate sleeves to choose, depending on the size rebate required.  A second bearing fits in the top recess of the rebate sleeve producing a very smoothly operating product.  The is capped off with the washer and hex bolt to lock everything onto the router bit.

Rebate Set

One of many different setups, this one produces a rebate (rabbet ;) ) that is 2″ – 1 3/8″ = 5/8″ / 2 = 5/16″

Or if you prefer, 50.8mm – 34.92mm = 15.88mm / 2 = 7.94mm

You need to divide the answer by 2 to get the final rebate depth.

17 different rebate variations, plus the flush trim in the kit as provided.

So in the immortal words of Tim, the enchanter, I give to you “Well, that’s no ordinary rabbit.” The Grand Rabbet from CMT.

Tim, the Enchanter

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Channelling my inner Crocodile Dundee

Posted on August 27, 2010 by Stuart

Crocodile “Stu” Dundee: [chuckles] That’s not a router bit.

Crocodile “Stu” Dundee: Now THAT’s a router bit.

Bloody heavy thing too, and it seems as real as you’d imagine.

Still looking for a router to fit it! Or an adapter collet ;)

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Rusty

Posted on May 1, 2010 by Stuart

Got out to the shed for the first time in ages (been busy with work, family, and the TWC assembly manual), and even that was a small window.  Decided to tackle (at least start) a small project that I’ve been meaning to do for ages (since June 2008).

Triton Router Bit Cabinet

Getting my router bits into this cabinet.  It may not be the most efficient storage system, but I prefer the concept of each bit having its own holder so it can be lifted out and not roll around the bench until it is needed, and having the front edge of the holder cut with the actual bit to demonstrate its profile.

It is space-wasteful compared to some other storage methods, but hey – I’ve got space to spare (haven’t I?)

Back then I was intending to decommission the CMT 100 bit storage, but still sadly, I haven’t achieved it – perhaps now?

I started by taking some lengths of Tassie Oak (kiln dried) and ran them through the thicknesser to get them down to the thickness of the existing holders.  Although the thicknesser worked, it would have been better if the base was polished and lubricated – the cast iron is showing some (faint) signs of neglect throughout the shed.  Next, I ran the pieces through the tablesaw using the new Flai Ultimate blade, and was a bit surprised with the amount of burning I was getting…on both faces.  So I tried the next bit faster – still burning.  After a few cuts, it started cutting without issue, so I’m wondering if there was some preservative on the blade that was causing an initial problem.

But what was really rusty wasn’t the tools in the shed, but the tool I bought with me…….me.  Not that anything went wrong, or was unsafe, but I just felt rusty.  Need to get those cobwebs blown out with a good, long, successful session (or three) out there.

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Another Router Bit Quiz

Posted on March 9, 2010 by Stuart

Click the logo to get to the quiz, and see what logo you can score.  Remember like quiz 1, the names are their US names (that’s a hint!)

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Surfacing Bits

Posted on February 19, 2010 by Stuart

Had an interesting revelation tonight about surfacing bits.  While Ivan was visiting, having a look over the Torque Workcentre, the discussion turned to surfacing bits.  I was thinking the 3 interchangeable flute Carbitool bit had its carbide tips misaligned from use or something – they didn’t sit flat on the table.  But when I got out my Granite reference block and placed each of the bits on top, they all had the same issue – the bottom of the teeth were not flush with the table as I expected.

Surfacing Bits

Now for one (particularly with interchangeable tips) to be out I could understand, but not all three, both Carbitool and Whiteside, and particularly the (fixed) 6 flute.  That one if no other should be the perfect form for a surface cutter, so if it has the same angle on the bottom of each tooth, then that is the way it should obviously be.

So then I was left with working out why it is that way, now my belief that the bottoms where flat had been squashed!

What I am thinking now is the tip of each tooth is the part that does the cutting, the rest is actually superfluous and is primarily chip clearing, rather than cutting/flattening.  If the bottoms were flat, then the tips would scrape, rather than cut.

It is surprising how long I’ve had surfacing bits that I have never realised that!

Surfacing Bits

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Tools for February

Posted on February 4, 2010 by Stuart

Each of these will be looked at in more detail shortly, and put through their paces.

For Tool of the Month, I’m going for the Vac Clamp – another Aussie product.  It uses a very simple method for achieving a vacuum – using the venturi effect to draw down a vacuum from between the clamp and the item being held, resulting in a clamp that is strong, and releases immediately that the air is switched off.

V-Clamps

Seen pictured here are both the single-sided clamp (is screwed to the workbench etc), and the double-sided, which uses a vacuum on one side to secure itself to the workbench (non-porous), and the other side for the workpiece.

There are no moving parts to achieve the vacuum. Nothing to wear out (the rubber seal itself will need replacement in time), nothing moving, wearing.  You do need a source of compressed air.  The compressor does not draw air from the clamp, unlike many other designs.  Air is blown into the unit, which ejects from the nozzle, creating the venturi which pulls additional out of the clamp void resulting in the vacuum.

Vacuum creating venturi effect nozzle

Air passes in through the fitting on the side, and blows through the brass nozzle you can see in the hole, which is then ejected out the side.

Closeup of Nozzle

The other item to mention is a new router bit received from Whiteside / Professional Woodworkers Supplies.

Whiteside 2 Flute Replaceable Surfacing Bit

This is a significant bit, with a larger diameter than either of the others I have tried – at 65mm diameter it is going to be fascinating when I get a chance to feed it.  Of course, the rule is never feed a router bit after midnight – not that it will turn into a gremlin, but your neighbours will!

Replaceable Tip

The carbide tips are replaceable, and also revolvable, meaning you get to use all 4 sides before needing to resharpen or replace the TCT.

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Multiform Router Bit

Posted on February 28, 2009 by Stuart

The router bit for this month is the Carb-i-tool Multiform Router Bit.

Carb-i-tool Multiform Router Bit

Carb-i-tool Multiform Router Bit

As you can see, it is quite a complicated profile, and it almost looks like a combination of a number of different profiles.  That is exactly what this router bit is!  It is designed to produce a number of different profiles based on the height of the router bit in the table, the depth of cut, and even (specifically on spindle moulders) the angle that the router bit is run at.

Cut Profile

Cut Profile

There is a classic profile, a bead, and parts thereof for different effects.

Storage Block

Storage Block

In these photos, I have cut the full profile rather than limiting which parts of the bit came into contact with the workpiece.  This block isn’t intending to be a permanent home for the bit, but it is a copy of the storage blocks used by Triton for their old in-store displays.  It is a good way to display and store the router bits as it provides the profile of the router bit as-cut, making it easy to take measurements etc from it, rather than trying to work out what they are from the bit itseld.

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Whiteside Incra Dovetail Router Bit Set

Posted on February 6, 2009 by Stuart

The router bit for this month is actually a set of bits.

Whiteside Incra Dovetail Bit Set

Whiteside Incra Dovetail Bit Set

This set is sold by Professional Woodworkers Supplies, and is specifically designed to complement the Incra Fence System, providing the majority of bits you need for the different templates in the Incra Master Reference Library, and Incra Projects and Techniques Book.

Incra Dovetail Joints

Incra Dovetail Joints

The Whiteside bits are remarkably sharp, and are obviously made using quality carbide, and are well finished. They are very popular in the US, winning a number of head-to-head competitions, and are the bits recommended by Incra themselves.

They come in a sturdy box with plastic foam, and of all the bits I own, these are the only ones that I’ve left in their original container!  Given all the different sizes and angles in dovetail bits, it is nice having a reference pic in the box to help choose which bit you need.

They are currently priced at $A210 for the set.

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