300 Pounds of cast iron goodness!!!

[MarkMc]

Woohoo!  Way to go Peter!  There's no escaping the puzzle vortex now!  Now you're off the bench and into the game.

Both Scott's and Keith's tips are excellent.

I usually find that my Wixey is pretty good for setting some of the odd angles required in some of the puzzles.  I used mine yesterday to cut an 18 degree angle on sticks for triacontahedron puzzles (like Coffin's #72, Venus, etc) and it did pretty well. The 0.1 degree accuracy can be a problem at times, but I've only been let down by it once. My 2c.

[Chinnomotto]

I like my Wixey, and the riving knife is a must, it prevents kickback. Very good pointers guys

007 cutting T sticks, whoopee, does that mean a Venus/ big Canuck ball is in the horizons

Then the 2 level, and 3 level, The Ultimate Canuck Ball???, I can't wait, what woods are you using?

[Canuck]

I used mine yesterday to cut an 18 degree angle on sticks for triacontahedron puzzles (like Coffin's #72, Venus, etc)

Now there's a big scoop........so which is it #72 or Venus........don't leave us hangin' man......don't make me start takin' advance orders for you!!

[MarkMc]

As I said before, I am filling some back orders.  I had three or four people that wanted either/both a #72 and/or a Venus.  Plus I traded Rob Stegmann for some excellent photos of a couple undocumented Coffin puzzles that I've been wanting for a while.  I decided while I was at it that I would cut up a bunch of different woods (about 24-28) so I would have a lot to choose from.  I spent the entire weekend just cutting and milling the sticks.  I hope to cut up some pieces this evening and maybe have something new to show by Wednesday or so.

Chinny, I am also going to make some of that special one I told you about.  The woods are too many to list, but here are a few...tulipwood, bois de rose, camatillo, ziricote, palisander, cocobolo, spotted ebony, macassar ebony....

No other news to report...will post something in the new projects area in a few days.

Sorry to steal the thread, Peter.

[Canuck]

Well, that is big news...I'm really glad you're back in the swing of things!!

[MarkMc]

Plus we've had some warmer weather (70F) for a few days, so that always makes it easier to get out in the garage and work this time of year.

[MarkMc]

Peter,

To get back on track...Scott's comment about plugging the saw directly into the outlet if possible is dead on.  However, if you find that you must use an extension cord, be sure that it is a 10 or 12 gauge wire, only as long as you need it to be.  That way it won't negatively impact your motor.  It's probably in your manual, but I thought it was worth mentioning.

[Arc Light]

Thanks Mark for your posts, I hope to plug directly into a nearby outlet.  I am assuming that an extension cord may cause voltage drop and have ill effects on the motor.  A good point that I hadn't really considered.

I spent a good part of the day getting the saw setup.  I still have some assembly to do but I am slowly getting it all together.  One question for the group I know they mention mineral spirits to clean up the grease the cast iron comes packed in.  I don't have mineral spirits on hand and wondered if I could use lacquer thinner on a rag to clean up the grease?  I did purchase a top coat product to seal and protect the cast surface from rust, so I will use that once the table is clean.  Any thoughts on using Lacquer thinner?

[Trooper]

Peter, personally I wouldn't use the thinner.  I'd use good old kerosine.  It is oil based and won't adversely harm your machine when any run-off seeps into bearings, cracks & crevices which it will inevitably do.  The lacquer thinner will maintain it's harsh acidic effects if it gets into bearings, wear places and other moving parts and will break down the grease, oil and/or other lubricants that those saw components need to have. 

Dave

[Chinnomotto]

And , no smoking doing it 

[Trooper]

Aw Chinny.  You take all the fun out of it!!!!