Well, that didn't take long. I'm already making a variation to the build guide.
I am making a change at this point in time because I want to make the frames in a different way. I need to commission a router table and my choice to have fun as I build. if I make good patterns now, this method will mean I can carry some of this effort over to the final parts. This is just my fun, a way to relax and just be. some people play golf, I just want to enjoy this project.
I won't tell you how to use tools. I can't do that here. Follow the instruction manuals that come with your tools, watch some youtube and keep your digits away from the sharp spinning things. I can offer tips but be careful. If you use tools poorly, they will bite you.
I'm going to stick the plans to a sheet of leftover 6mm MDF and cut out the plans into templates so I can use them as router templates on the before mentioned router table. These steps can be used by others just going straight to plywood. I used a decent quality spray adhesive. follow the instructions and open a window or door when you use it. It can have quiet a powerful smell.
On the topic of plywood, I will be using good quality marine plywood as detailed in the build guide. My boat will be made from 100% 12mm plywood because I'm bigger than some and I want the perception of extra strength to support me. It's expensive stuff here so this step of making templates will help me avoid errors on the final frame patterns.
Once it's all stuck down and dry, the first power tool you will want to use is a jigsaw.
I didn't use a top-quality jigsaw. I just happened to have one that's a cheap brand here. Ozito if you really want to know. it's not top of the line and didn't need to be. I'm just cutting the paper shapes out and being fat so I can trim or cut the smaller parts out later using other tools.
The above image shows examples of the parts cut fat and after being sanded on my bench disc sander. The disc is great for convex curves but useless for internal and concave sanding.
To get to the concave surfaces you can use a half round hand file or use a jig saw slowly to cut on the line or coping saw.
As typical, I used a different method.
I used a sanding drum set in my drill press. These can be sourced pretty inexpensively through various stores. I think this was on sale at Carbatec and I bought it a few years ago and it finally got used.
Another tool you could use is a Spindle Sander. This is a tool that I'd like but why? these drums have been sitting doing nothing for years so a specialist machine would be doing the same in my shed taking up valuable space.
what you want after sanding is attached below. You can see where I have begun to cut out the notches for the stringers.
A finished template looks like this.
This was fully cut out using a jigsaw and a bandsaw to cut the notches. The drum sander was used to smooth the inner cut area. This jig is extremely precise. Probably too precise. There is some finishing work that needs to be done but this will be done with a sanding block and other methods.
My method on this small bandsaw is only possible due to the small blade in it but it works. This is a really cheap bandsaw. 250 watt with a 200mm throat. It's all of $120 Australian. It's not the machine I wanted but it's the one I bought. For MDF it seems to be ok but I'm not pushing it and it's working fine. Just watch your fingers.
Above all else, be careful and be forgiving of yourself. this is fun, not a chore. all these parts have taken a good chunk of time and I'm doubling up on my time investment by going slow and making templates. this is my way and it's my fun.
After a good block of time, all 11 timber templates and 1 fin template have been cut out and will wait for the weekend until I can order the marine plywood I will use for these as final parts.
This has been a good journey, and will be mean that I can have some good fun basically doing a repeat of this whole step with lots more saw dust and around 10 times more noise as the router table and dust extraction starts to get used.
relax and be happy.
cheers.
D
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