STL328: Imperfect Precision – FineWoodworking

How do you create tapered bevels?

From Brad:

In STL322, whereas discussing bevels, you talked about tapered bevels, one thing I had by no means considered earlier than. Are you able to clarify the way you go about creating these? Are there completely different strategies, and in that case, what technique is your go-to when creating them?

Block Aircraft Dials within the Particulars

Mike Pekovich demonstrates how he makes use of his block airplane to create roundovers and bullnose profiles, to make components seem thinner or thicker, to magnify a curve, and even to make a straight edge seem curved.

Curved Bevels Made Straightforward

Tablesaw sled creates sides, and a little bit of sanding finishes the job

Router Jig for Customized Bevels

For a latest desk venture, I needed a beveled edge on the writing floor. As a result of the desktop was gently curved at every finish, I couldn’t create the bevel on the…

How a lot precision ought to we be aiming for?

From Scott:

Hello Ben (and Mike and Vic),

Listening to STL262, I used to be reminded of a lesson I discovered once I was squaring a brand new sliding compound miter noticed. Though it was not a Festool noticed, I used to be utilizing the Festool directions, which really useful a model of the five-cut technique. On the finish, it was famous that the tactic is able to detecting an error that’s exterior the supposed tolerances of the device.

This was a lightbulb second for me. Castings flex. Bearings have play. All of it provides up. When these variances are expressed in +/- phrases, I can anticipate that if I measure the identical factor time and again I can anticipate to get a wide range of outcomes inside that vary, and people outcomes will probably be random and tremendous irritating if I attempt to drive them to go away.

With the standard of measuring instruments we now have obtainable, the query might not be how correct we must be; it’s extra like how correct can we be? Are we aiming for the standard that isn’t solely pointless however really not doable?

One other state of affairs: I contemplate my 12-in. Starrett combo sq. to be the reference device in my store for many issues. It has a acknowledged accuracy of +/-.002 in. over the size of the blade. If my device is +.002 and I exploit it to test a crosscut for sq., once I see no gentle, my “excellent” reduce is +.002 in. out of sq.. If I measure the angle on the different finish of the reduce, it’s -.004 in. That’s loads of photons! And per Mike’s remark about placing English on the crosscut sled when reducing, a variance of .001 in. or .002 in. could possibly be one thing like having your left foot ahead as an alternative of your proper. And per Vic’s remark, if my device is +.002 as a result of I tightened the lock bolt with a little bit of sawdust between the inventory and the ruler, the subsequent time I set the sq. it received’t be the identical. However this sled was excellent final time I used it!

It was an enormous lesson to me to be taught that my instruments and the issues I exploit to measure them each have accuracy limits. I nonetheless use precision instruments like a dial indicator once I assemble some jigs and fixtures, however I attempt to be lifelike about what they will inform me. The utmost accuracy I can attain just isn’t excellent, however it’s ample. If I attempt to attain perfection, I’ve created a brand new pastime for myself. I don’t know precisely what to name it, but it surely in all probability has extra in widespread with statistics than with woodworking.

Triangle Marking System

There isn’t a marking system extra environment friendly than the triangle

Truing Up a Mixture Sq.

In case your combo sq. is not as correct as you want, do not buy a brand new one. It is comparatively easy to sq. it up!

What’s one of the simplest ways to be correct with a tracksaw?

From Dave:

I’m going to be making some built-ins for my house later this 12 months, and that is going to contain making a sequence of sq. and/or parallel cuts on sheet items. I don’t have a desk noticed (on account of a historic harm suffered by my father-in-law, my spouse has forbidden it), however I’ve a tracksaw, and I’ll be utilizing that to chop up the plywood.

I made a cupboard for my store final 12 months, and I made the carcass by reducing to a line drawn off of a sq. to chop it up. Whereas this technique acquired me near sq., I ended up clamping the items collectively and night them up with a hand airplane to get all of them sq.. There have to be a greater solution to get to sq..

What’s your really useful technique for protecting the observe sq.? However I’ve a pair different, associated questions. When would you select to make use of parallel guides versus a observe sq.? Would a velocity sq. or attempt sq. be enough for a comparatively small venture like mine?

I’ve researched a few completely different choices, together with holding a velocity sq. or attempt sq. to the noncut aspect of the observe, or shopping for considered one of a wide range of devoted tracksaw squares or parallel guides; nonetheless, my analysis has been inconclusive.

I understand that you simply don’t know precisely how massive my tasks are, so, put one other manner, in the event you contemplate the “holding a sq. subsequent to the observe” technique to be enough for a small variety of cuts, what can be your tipping level for getting one of many attachable squares or guides?

I’m conscious that this query was tremendous lengthy, so be at liberty to edit it as wanted.

Store Machines for the Hand-Instrument Woodworker

Minimalist woodworker Vic Tesolin considers the equipment of his store his “apprentices.” He leans on them to make his life simpler.

How To Make a Tracksaw Crosscut Desk

Ben Strano exhibits how one can construct a desk that can make the observe noticed your go-to device for crosscutting panels which are too massive in your tablesaw.

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