Taper tool DIY
from old saw blade and a piece of wood.
Making my shaving horse I realized that I needed a taper tool for future projects, so I tried to find an old one with no luck, and then I checked the prices for a new and realized I wanted to make my own…
After some looking at the web I found this page: www.greenwoodworking.com and there a fine version that should be quite easy to make from some scrap and a spin on the lathe, so I went for it.
Thank you to greenwoodworking!
First step was to make the wood part.
I found an old piece of a parasol (why there are holes in the wood), and turned a cone shape, a piece for putting a cross bar and rounded the top for a comfortable grip.
All just by heart and feel.
Then some linseed oil.
Found a piece of old saw blade and a dowel to put through the tool and drilled a hole to fit the dowel.
The ruler is in cm (10 cm app 4 inch).
Cut the saw blade to length with a Dremmel tool.
Secured the tool to the table.
Then cut a groove with another saw that was a wee bit smaller than the one I was going to put in, so I had a secure grip after.
Now the blade could be mounted.
The flat side of the blade was given a 45 degree bevel.
Like this.
Can also be done with a file…
And here you see the tool ready to use.
It can be used with the beveled side and the saw tooth side out.
The saw tooth side in gives a good grip to the tool.
To avoid the shaves get stuck I cut of a ‘groove’ in front of the blade.
(Make sure it is the front).
Like this.
In an inch thick pine wood I drilled a hole for testing.
And with ease I could taper the hole.
It does an excellent job.
And so we can leave this post with a tapered hole and another useful tool in my workshop.
Here a little sketch from my sketch book for details.
The tool can be used for many projects like tables and chairs, but I choose to post it under my shaving horse since it would have been excellent there.
Hope this blog could inspire, and a special thanks to greenwoodworking,
Best thoughts,
Mads
-- MAD F, the fanatical rhykenologist and vintage architect.
19 comments so far
patron
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13722 posts in 4838 days
#1 posted 02-09-2012 01:03 PM
another
‘marvelously mad(s) tool’
well done !
-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle
Jamie Speirs
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#2 posted 02-09-2012 01:04 PM
nice one. Now I can use up all those old bandsaw blades
Jamie
-- Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others, and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though 'twere his own. --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Brit
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#3 posted 02-09-2012 01:30 PM
Very useful tool Mads. It would also come in handy when making a tool cabinet to taper holes to hand chisels and screwdrivers etc.
Very inspiring. Thanks.
-- Andy - Old Chinese proverb says: "If you think something can't be done, don't interrupt man who is doing it."
stefang
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#4 posted 02-09-2012 01:31 PM
Excellent blog Mads. I am planning to make some better shop stools and I have been wanting to do the legs with tapered mortises. Your tool (or my copy of it) will make that happen. It’s seems that you have that rare ability to look at an object (and visualize many other not to obvious uses for it. Thanks for this great idea!
-- Mike, an American living in Norway.
jjw5858
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#5 posted 02-09-2012 01:34 PM
Wow, very cool Mads, I love your stylings on your turning of handles, etc. Awesome Job! Take care!
-- "Always continue to learn, laugh and share!" JJW
lew
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#6 posted 02-09-2012 02:31 PM
Sweet!! Thanks for this, it gives me some great ideas!
Lew
-- Lew- Time traveler. Purveyor of the Universe's finest custom rolling pins.
Jiri Parkman
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953 posts in 5309 days
#7 posted 02-09-2012 03:02 PM
Fantaststic. Now I have to go and make taper. Thanks for posting.
-- Jiri
Sodabowski
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#8 posted 02-09-2012 03:30 PM
I envision some mortise & tenon + tapered plug joinery!
-- Thomas - there are no problems, there are only solutions.
DaddyT
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267 posts in 5007 days
#9 posted 02-09-2012 06:22 PM
Thats cool. I;m gonna have to try making one too. Thanks Mads for supporting my tool addiction haha
-- Jimi _ Measure twice, cut [email protected]#%#[email protected]!!!......measure twice, cut....
daltxguy
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1373 posts in 5411 days
#10 posted 02-09-2012 06:28 PM
I made the same one some time back. They work great and cheap and simple to make. Greenwoodworking.com is Jennie (John) Alexander of “How to make a chair from a tree” fame.
-- If you can't joint it, bead it!
lanwater
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#11 posted 02-09-2012 08:01 PM
This is good Mafe!
It will comes handy.
-- Abbas, Castro Valley, CA
HallTree
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#12 posted 02-09-2012 09:38 PM
I added this one to my ‘Favorites’.
-- "Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life" Solomon
Roger
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#13 posted 02-10-2012 12:07 AM
very kool how-to Mafe. very interesting. thnx for the link also
-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Keep your dust collector fed. [email protected]
SASmith
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#14 posted 02-10-2012 12:48 AM
Wonderful blog.
-- Scott Smith, Southern Illinois
Jim Jakosh
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#15 posted 02-12-2012 12:11 AM
Great tool and very nice blog on the process!!!!!!! Thanks, Mads
-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!! Variety is the Spice of Life!!
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