Contest Teaser

[mlkwoodworking]

Well I know this is not much of a beginning but it is for us.  To accomplish some of the things that Eagle did, first you must prep the blank to have your working surface.  Well today we blew off some of our flat work and built a jig to give us multi-sided blanks to begin our attempt at this contest.

Please note the dirty shop towel that the blank is photographed on.  In an attempt to honor Eagle I thought it only appropriate. 


From here who knows what but we have the first step down.

Mike & Linda

[VisExp]

You have to love the promise of a fresh blank!  Your hex blank looks great Mike and Linda.  Nice and symmetrical, it looks like the time spent building the jig was well spent.

[artpens]

On to step 2:

Figure the pattern.

rule 1: When completed, none of the original wood can remain.

So,
Calculate:

The "Columbian product" is 0.00713254693"
The soda can is0.003257397"

so, each layer will, clearly, be 0.0138994393, but don't forget we want to start and stop with a "Columbian product" so there MUST be an odd number.

Our kerf size is 1/8".  BUT, is it REALLY?

EIGHT full layers and the extra one, plus the CA, should work out just perfectly........Don't you think??


(The snoring on my side of the phone line NEVER discouraged Eagle, I could always tell him APPROXIMATELY what he had said.  Even at my BEST, I could never hope to do more than that!!!)

NOW< you ALL have the benefit of the starting calculations!!

Good Luck!

Ed

Will the bit be sharp enough to cut cleanly?  OR will we need to make allowances for a slight angle to the sides of the cut??

For now, let's assume 1

[BRobbins]

Missing the 1/2" Jet center teeth marks. How are you ever going to remember where center is?

[mlkwoodworking]

Well I got the lathe back out today for the first time in over a week.  I have to say that what Eagle would do with a blank would make any normal man pull out his hair.  Fortunately through our many conversations he was kind enough to offer a glimpse of how he did things.  I did not have any Columbian byproducts so I had to play around a bit.  I also did a narrower channel than Eagle use to do.  This channel is 3/32".  Anyway this is just a prototype and not what we are planning for the contest.  The blank is Cyprus and there are three strips of soda can and two strips of walnut.  The walnut I was able to size with the drum sander which is something I had talked to Eagle about doing.  He didn't think I could do it.    More on this later as I still need to glue the strips in.  Right now they are just press fitted.

[fiferb]

Very Nice! I think Eagle always built a bit of waste block at the end of each blank to start and stop in.

[VisExp]

That looks great.  I think you nailed the dimensioning of your walnut inlays.  I've dimensioned inlays on the drum sander and it's not easy! 

I am scratching my head wondering how you found a way to mount the blank without waste blocks.  I wish I could figure that part out.

[mlkwoodworking]

Actually Eagle added the maple block on the ends to extend the length of the blank as he needed 6".  The Cyprus I started with was long enough I did not need the spacers.  Also with the setup I have I am able to start the channel all the way at the end and not plunge into the blank.

Update:
When Eagle sent us his blanks I was always afraid to drill them so he sent them to us drilled.  Well this morning I drilled both ends with no problem.  I am really jazzed about this.  

Mike

[DCBluesman]

And this is just the prototype?  Heck, I'm already lost.

[mlkwoodworking]

OK Here is prototype #2

[VisExp]

I think I'd take that past prototype status and put it in a pen!  Very nice, I like the color combination. 

[lynn p]

nice work.

[mlkwoodworking]

We will let you guys be the judge.  This first one is in Eagle and Lynn's honor because it it blue, which is both of their favorite color.

[Skiprat]

Absolutely excellent!!!! If I hadn't seen your progress pics, I would have put money on that being from the man himself.
Very well done Mike.

[VisExp]

That is great!!!  Now I see why you were asking about removing part of the CB.  Excellent job, well done.