Blog series by HokieKen | updated 02-20-2019 02:40 PM | 4 parts | 5523 reads | 43 comments total |
Part 1: Getting Started
Well, my buddy Bill (builtinbkyn) recently made a couple of turning saws and I knew I had to have one. So when my Mom asked me what I wanted for my birthday earlier this month, I told her I’d like one of the Gramercy bow saw kits from Tools for Working Wood. For $29 you get 3 blades and the brass pins needed. You can buy various other parts as well but, where’s the fun in that? ;-) So, I started with that and off I go… First I chose my woods and milled my blanks...
Part 2: Cuttin' and Fittin'
I did most of this before I started taking pictures so the pics are a little sparse. But, I think the process is fairly easy to follow. First thing I did was to make my two 5/8×1/4 mortises in the vertical frame pieces. I hogged the bulk out on the drill press then cleaned them up with a chisel. The mortises are 3/8” deep… (this will be important later!) On a side note, I’ve been using the hell out of my Gramercy holdfasts on my new bench. I don’t know h...
Part 3: Let's do that again...
It would probably work fine but, the horizontal cross-member just didn’t suit me. I didn’t like the smaller dimensions the plans called for and I didn’t like the fit I achieved with the tenons and the radiused mating faces. So, I decided to re-do it. I didn’t have another piece of the gummy Cherry to use so I selected a piece of really nice looking Eucalyptus from my buddy Dave out in AZ :-) This time I made it a little over-sized in both dimensions compared to t...
Part 4: Baby Steps...
I have so many small projects going on in the shop right now that it’s hard to find time to finish this saw since it’s not real high on the priority list. But, I had about 30 minutes to kill last night and it seemed to be calling my name. So, it may take me several short sessions but I will finish this puppy! ;-) For last night, I just finished fitting the new cross-member. I had one side done last time so it was on to the second side. I marked a square line across the piec...