Further Explorations.

I started doodling in my sketch book, and a computer drawing, and playing with some lines on a piece of 1/4" mdf. I'd like to come away with a reading lamp in the end, we'll just have to see what materialises.

Try cross cut this load without a sliding table, 2' X 8'. Cutting some chunks of 3/4" mdf for a bent lamination form.

Laminating the chunks of mdf together for a 1.5" form in my makeshift press. I've tried explaining to my glue-up buddy that it's not possible to read and glue stuff at the same time. Voracious bookworm.

Using the 1/4" mdf female pattern and a template guide on the plunge router to rout a 1/4" or so groove in the form. I used a 1" diameter straight bit, the same as my planned thickness of the stack of laminations, critical.

Once the two parts of the form were separated on the bandsaw, I cut as close to my line as I dared, then loaded the whiteside. The bearing of the whiteside rides on the surface routed from the template, and cleans things up to a perfect 90.

Finally decided which plank to sacrifice, prep some stock and start milling laminations.

The marks cut into the end of the stock helps keep the laminations in the same orientation as they were in the plank. I also make pencil lines across the face marking the grain direction to help when sending the laminations through the planer.

The two part form waiting for laminations.

I managed to hit the 1" target for total thickness of all the laminations, you want to be exact here, the inside and outside radius of these elaborate curves is vastly different. These laminations were 60" long, surpassing the 48" maloof rockers.

There it is, possibly some kind of lamp part.

Clamps

Thankfully 'stock up on clamps' day finally arrived.

The Easy Rider Rides again

I lowered the suspension, and threw in a high backrest, chopper style. The El Capitan version.

I took El Capitan for a test ride over the week end, and was able to sit comfortably and read undisturbed for many, many hours. Any chair with the authority of a 'dad's chair' means children instinctively understand that dad is doing something important. All questions and RFP's (request for play) are directed towards mom. This in turn has the spin-off benefit of keeping mom so busy, that she forgets to ask dad to do chores. It's always been that way.

Winding Down

In between coats of oil it's time to catch up with some housekeeping. Hang the patterns and cauls ready for next time, and sort the off-cuts. Also a picture of possibly my favourite plane, my dad's #3, flushing the joinery on the seat frame.

Wrapping Up.

Here's the final glue-up, and the seat frame going into the clamps. To cut the rabbet on the seat frame, I thought I'd best make a sled. Safety first. The sled worked well and kept my fingers well away from the exposed bit. Don't forget to make a start and finish ramp for the bearing guide. I only used the sled for the curved thin back piece, the rest are straight cuts on wider stock, made with the fence.

While I was in the experimental mood, I thought I'd try Old Brown Liquid Hide Glue (to glue in the spindles). It helps to have some extra open time to arrange the spindles and reconcile them. Nice glue to work with, non-toxic, and clean up is about as good as advertised, also important when it comes to spindles. Drop the bottle in hot tap water, and wait for it to turn from a gel to a viscous liquid.

Taking Shape.

The jig

Finally got round to making this jig.  The simplest, most useful jig. It puts a micro-bevel on jointer knives. I bought some new knives that were in pretty rough shape, but managed to clean them up nicely. It's worth running your stones over the knives after getting them back from sharpening, it'll get your jointer running silky smooth. With a quick lapping on the 6000. Two 45 degree kerfs in a piece of plywood.