How I cut my wood
12-31-2014, 02:51 PM
#1
How I cut my wood
I keep getting asked how I am able to cut all my own wood when I start a build from plans. I belong to a really nice wood working club and we have all the machines required to do most anything. Today I had foremans duty and there weren't a lot of people so I took a few photos. I won't bore you will all of the tools but my main tools are what we just call the re-cut saw, band saw and our micro over head sander.
I buy my balsa in blocks, 4X4X36 then just rip the size I need for the sheeting required, I make it a little over size then run it through the small sander until I get it to size. I use either the re-cut saw or band saw to rip it. For all the different sizes of bass wood spars we use I have some 4 inch by five foot blocks and rip it to width on the re-cut saw then rip that to size on the band saw. I cut all my kits now in the shop plus take my planes there to sand instead of messing up my own shop.
We have a lot of retired cabinet makers and we teach new members how to operate the machines. We have quite a few women in the club too that do some fantastic work, it isn't just a boys club.
Bruce is on the re-cut saw with the small band saw behind him then the little over head micro sander. Susan is finishing up a cutting board she is making for a gift, all inlay work she did in the last week. I also use the orbital sander and router tables a lot.
Gene
I buy my balsa in blocks, 4X4X36 then just rip the size I need for the sheeting required, I make it a little over size then run it through the small sander until I get it to size. I use either the re-cut saw or band saw to rip it. For all the different sizes of bass wood spars we use I have some 4 inch by five foot blocks and rip it to width on the re-cut saw then rip that to size on the band saw. I cut all my kits now in the shop plus take my planes there to sand instead of messing up my own shop.
We have a lot of retired cabinet makers and we teach new members how to operate the machines. We have quite a few women in the club too that do some fantastic work, it isn't just a boys club.
Gene
12-31-2014, 08:30 PM
#6
Boy that brings back a lot of memories, I spent 1,800 hrs. certifying in all machines pertaining to furniture building, that included the glue machine for laminating table and desk tops. I have always loved wood working and the smell and feel of wood and have had it for a hobby for many years. That and my training in fabrication, welding and machine shops equipment has been a great aid building scale RC airplanes.
Your school is a wonderful thing to teach others the art of wood working, they will have a whole new perspective about themselves and the beautiful things you can make from wood.
Leroy
Your school is a wonderful thing to teach others the art of wood working, they will have a whole new perspective about themselves and the beautiful things you can make from wood.
Leroy
01-01-2015, 10:32 AM
#8
Well Tom, they have come up with all kinds of new things to make life easier sense the advent of electricity, give it a try.
I live in what my friends call the Old Folks Home, one of the Sun City communities and they have just about anything you could ever want to do here. This one in Vegas/Henderson is rated number two in the nation, the one in Florida is number one. Of course here we can openly gamble if that is your thing.
The wood shop was formed about 9 years ago . The HOA provides us the building and power, everything else we own outright. We offer custom services to the community, we can't do anything outside of it for other people but we build custom entertainment centers, cabinets or anything else you can think of. We really sold a lot of custom Murphy beds.
These are called shop projects and there is the project leader then volunteers that help make whatever it is. All the profits go into the club account and with that we are able to buy new equipment and replace or upgrade as desired.Dues just went up last year from $25.00 to $35.00 and that allows us to use everything from sand paper to biscuits and dowels.
The shop has almost anything you need and if there is something you don't know how to do there is an expert that will teach you. This shop is far better then any wood shop we had in high schools. The only problem is space, we have outgrown the building but the HOA won't allow us to expand and there are no more building big enough for us to expand.
The community is age restricted and you must be 55 or older to even buy a home here.
If you can think it Sun City has it. I moved here from the country where your yard was measured in acres and didn't think I would like it here but I have been here sense 06 and still enjoy it.
I cut all my kits now at the wood shop including all the wood and sheeting then assemble/build them in my own shop. Flying RC here is very easy too, we have Bennett field 17 miles away, the original home of the TOC. I live a few minutes from Bill Bennetts original home and the house is long gone but his private RC field is still there and used. You will run into a dry lake in any direction you drive but the El Dorado lake bed is 27 miles away, not really close but it has been used for RC and Free Flight sense time began, 7 Sq. Miles of flat and opened.
The wood shop is only one small feature of this place but for me it's a pretty good one.
I live in what my friends call the Old Folks Home, one of the Sun City communities and they have just about anything you could ever want to do here. This one in Vegas/Henderson is rated number two in the nation, the one in Florida is number one. Of course here we can openly gamble if that is your thing.
The wood shop was formed about 9 years ago . The HOA provides us the building and power, everything else we own outright. We offer custom services to the community, we can't do anything outside of it for other people but we build custom entertainment centers, cabinets or anything else you can think of. We really sold a lot of custom Murphy beds.
These are called shop projects and there is the project leader then volunteers that help make whatever it is. All the profits go into the club account and with that we are able to buy new equipment and replace or upgrade as desired.Dues just went up last year from $25.00 to $35.00 and that allows us to use everything from sand paper to biscuits and dowels.
The shop has almost anything you need and if there is something you don't know how to do there is an expert that will teach you. This shop is far better then any wood shop we had in high schools. The only problem is space, we have outgrown the building but the HOA won't allow us to expand and there are no more building big enough for us to expand.
The community is age restricted and you must be 55 or older to even buy a home here.
If you can think it Sun City has it. I moved here from the country where your yard was measured in acres and didn't think I would like it here but I have been here sense 06 and still enjoy it.
I cut all my kits now at the wood shop including all the wood and sheeting then assemble/build them in my own shop. Flying RC here is very easy too, we have Bennett field 17 miles away, the original home of the TOC. I live a few minutes from Bill Bennetts original home and the house is long gone but his private RC field is still there and used. You will run into a dry lake in any direction you drive but the El Dorado lake bed is 27 miles away, not really close but it has been used for RC and Free Flight sense time began, 7 Sq. Miles of flat and opened.
The wood shop is only one small feature of this place but for me it's a pretty good one.
01-01-2015, 01:33 PM
#10
The wood shop was a big selling point and the agents always made sure to take people by it during there sales tour. The homes are nice but no better then most of the new homes in town. They are selling the community and if you don't use the facilities there is no real reason to bother living here. You should see the pool hall!! There are three facilities, one with a big outdoor pool plus a huge indoor pool and a very big spa. Another facility around the corner from me has two indoor pools, one is a warm water pool and is kept at 98 degrees.
I would hate to be drunk and try to locate my home though. They are all different and different sizes but on the outside they pretty much look the same, only a few mild different colors.
The wood shop was going to buy a laser plot cutter at one point but so far it hasn't happened. I of course was thrilled with the idea. I can cut my kits with one of the two router tables, sometimes I make ribs on the router or I can use the band saw and scroll saw. I have a good scroll saw in my own shop but the wood shop has two that are way better with every type of blade you can get for one. I also have a belt sander but nothing like in the wood shop.
It takes me only a short time to cut and sand a complete kit. I once cut a kit and timed it and I posted the time in a build thread. Sometimes I cut the square holes for the spars first then cut out the ribs.
Some of the high schools offer evening classes for adults and I used to use those. I once made a camper for my old truck at a high school shop. Something to look into if you want to cut a nice scale kit from plans. I gave up buying kits long ago and started cutting my own but this shop makes it much easier. Look at www.scawoodchips.org There is another new seminar being offered on pull out cabinets.
I would hate to be drunk and try to locate my home though. They are all different and different sizes but on the outside they pretty much look the same, only a few mild different colors.
The wood shop was going to buy a laser plot cutter at one point but so far it hasn't happened. I of course was thrilled with the idea. I can cut my kits with one of the two router tables, sometimes I make ribs on the router or I can use the band saw and scroll saw. I have a good scroll saw in my own shop but the wood shop has two that are way better with every type of blade you can get for one. I also have a belt sander but nothing like in the wood shop.
It takes me only a short time to cut and sand a complete kit. I once cut a kit and timed it and I posted the time in a build thread. Sometimes I cut the square holes for the spars first then cut out the ribs.
Some of the high schools offer evening classes for adults and I used to use those. I once made a camper for my old truck at a high school shop. Something to look into if you want to cut a nice scale kit from plans. I gave up buying kits long ago and started cutting my own but this shop makes it much easier. Look at www.scawoodchips.org There is another new seminar being offered on pull out cabinets.
Last edited by Gray Beard; 01-01-2015 at 01:38 PM.
01-01-2015, 02:20 PM
#12
Kev, I'm very surprised that I like it at all. Living for 21 years just outside of Yosemite and doing all the hunting and fishing anyone could ever fit into a lifetime I fell right into this city life.
It was my wife who located this place and she brought me here to check it out. Our body's hit that point where a dry climate was really needed in a bad way. Three days here and I haven't needed a cane ever again. An electric scooter for a while but I'm back on my feet again.
The worst thing for me is flying during the summer, I love the heat but I can't stand getting up early and early is needed in the summer. Just something about getting up at dark oh thirty then driving out to the lake bed and watching the sun rise with the guys before you can fly just to beat the heat.
About 10 we head out and go to Rail Road Pass casino for the cheap breakfast, that or one of the other casinos in the area, they all have cheap breakfast specials.
There is also a couple months in the winter I don't bother going out. I also don't like cold weather, this from a duck hunting fool!! The lake bed is about 10 degrees colder the the top of the pass so it can be really cold, to me anyway. I looked forward to the 20s in a duck blind but it has no appeal to me when flying models.
Once you know your way around this town you can also live on the cheap but for those just visiting, bring lots of money!!
Money, another good reason to build from plans and cut your own kits. Building small planes I don't really save much but once I go to 60 size and beyond it's a huge savings, the bigger the cheaper.I just finished an Up-Roar scratch build and cut all my own wood and used stuff I had in the shop. Cost to me, nothing but time but the kit was on sale for $40.00 so it could have been a kit build for $53.00 plus glue and epoxy. Still, I really enjoyed doing it all myself. Just finished it today. When the weather warms up I have a couple scratch built planes that need to be maidened.
It was my wife who located this place and she brought me here to check it out. Our body's hit that point where a dry climate was really needed in a bad way. Three days here and I haven't needed a cane ever again. An electric scooter for a while but I'm back on my feet again.
The worst thing for me is flying during the summer, I love the heat but I can't stand getting up early and early is needed in the summer. Just something about getting up at dark oh thirty then driving out to the lake bed and watching the sun rise with the guys before you can fly just to beat the heat.
About 10 we head out and go to Rail Road Pass casino for the cheap breakfast, that or one of the other casinos in the area, they all have cheap breakfast specials.
There is also a couple months in the winter I don't bother going out. I also don't like cold weather, this from a duck hunting fool!! The lake bed is about 10 degrees colder the the top of the pass so it can be really cold, to me anyway. I looked forward to the 20s in a duck blind but it has no appeal to me when flying models.
Once you know your way around this town you can also live on the cheap but for those just visiting, bring lots of money!!
Money, another good reason to build from plans and cut your own kits. Building small planes I don't really save much but once I go to 60 size and beyond it's a huge savings, the bigger the cheaper.I just finished an Up-Roar scratch build and cut all my own wood and used stuff I had in the shop. Cost to me, nothing but time but the kit was on sale for $40.00 so it could have been a kit build for $53.00 plus glue and epoxy. Still, I really enjoyed doing it all myself. Just finished it today. When the weather warms up I have a couple scratch built planes that need to be maidened.
01-02-2015, 02:48 PM
#16
I am always glad to see craftsmanship going on. I had never even dreamed there were retirement places like that.
I WISH that I had known a teacher in my school that was into any airplane modeling when I was taking shop in school...
I WISH that I had known a teacher in my school that was into any airplane modeling when I was taking shop in school...
