Blank Reducing Jig Saves Fingers

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
Status
Not open for further replies.
Bozz

Bozz

Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
40
Location
(Fair Oaks) 50 & Hazel Ave, CA, USA.
Two months ago I had a "little" accident with my band saw. I severed a "little" bit of the tip of my forefinger and thumb. My thumb and forefinger have healed, fortunately.

This "little" accident encouraged me to search the IAP site for jigs to prevent this sort of accident. The archives provided a lot of creative and terrific ideas. I wanted something simple, that could be made with shop scraps, required no special tools and facilitated the cutting of the pen blank in the safest possible manner.

This blank reducing jig is made from poplar scraps, two wood screws, one bolt and nut with two washers, seven finishing nails and two coats of polyurethane. It will cut 1/2" to 1" blanks, safely.


200771521144_PBJ_3.jpg


The blank is inserted into the slotted "v-cradle" on the left side. The pen blank is secured in the "v-cradle" by tightening the knob on the top of the jig. The jig is pushed with the right angle block on the right side. As you can see cuts are made with your hand [fingers] safely out of harms way.


200771521355_PBJ_4.jpg



This jig is a prototype model only. This model has a set horizontal cutting point; no lateral movement to the blade is possible. My next model will be adjustable which will allow movement of the jig along the horizontal axis so the user can choose their own depth of cut into the blank. All comments and suggestions are welcome.

IAP is a great place!!!

Bozz in Fair Oaks, Calfornia
 
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
I would imagine for blanks that are prone to blow outs it helps prevent them because it takes the big high spots off. I've never "shaved" my blanks, but wished I had a few times.
 
I love trimming my acrylics. I don't have a jig, but this one sure looks nice Bozz. If anyone hasn't tried trimming their blanks they should, then they'll understand how great an idea it is.
 
Yea, I have done it on some wood that likes to blow out, but I think with the skew, a lot of this is solved.

Very nice job on the jig though. [:D]

BTW, if you want to make the jig adjustable in and out, T-track is great for this. Mount it in a shallow dado on the lower board and the top board will have a dado for the rest of the t-track to sit in. Then all you need is a hole in the tob board and the rest is done for you. Rockler has 4' sections on sale with tons of bolts and knobs for about $10.00 all the time.
 
I do this too. I almost bought a trim router (when in the States in May) to add a 1/4 round over bit to get the edges off. I still don't have the skew mastered and can't find a turner here in Japan to show me. On brittle wood, that sure helps get started.
 
Having just finished 24 pens from Corian blanks, I can definitely see where this would have come in handy. Square Corian takes its toll on tools...

Bozz, thanks for sharing your jig. Great Tip.
Jim
 
I use a roughing gouge to round off blanks (and would never use a skew for this purpose). I've taken down some gnarly hunks of wood, square pen blanks don't present a challenge at all.
 
Originally posted by thetalbott4
<br />I would imagine for blanks that are prone to blow outs it helps prevent them because it takes the big high spots off. I've never "shaved" my blanks, but wished I had a few times.
Click to expand...

High speed, sharp 1/2" spindle gouge, and watch the 'shadows' with a light touch. Corners will be gone in seconds then you can switch to the big skew.
 
I primarily use the jig on really hard woods, like, vignum vitae. I also use it for blanks that are prone to tear outs. Trimming these types of blanks make it easier for me to turn. Enough of a difference that the effort is worth the pay off. I like the idea of not exposing my hand [fingers] to the band saw blade as well. Turning a trimmed blank gets me off to a good start. Normally, I don't trim the corners off softer woods; my roughing gouge does that for me.

Shane,

I like your idea of sanding the blank. I just bought a new disk sander that would do a great job of grinding off the corners.

IAP is a great place!!!

Bozz in Fair Oaks, California
 
I really like this. For some of the acrylics, TruStone, and some of the more unstable materials, this can be a life saver.



Originally posted by leehljp
<br />I still don't have the skew mastered and can't find a turner here in Japan to show me.
Click to expand...

Hank, if you want, you can fly me to Japan and I'll show you how to work the skew. [;)]
 
Excellent idea and will be especially useful for PR and antler.

I really think it's inappropriate when someone obviously put a lot of thought into something like this and executes it well, for anyone to put them down with statements like "I don't see why you need that."
 
Originally posted by gerryr
<br />Excellent idea and will be especially useful for PR and antler.

I really think it's inappropriate when someone obviously put a lot of thought into something like this and executes it well, for anyone to put them down with statements like "I don't see why you need that."
Click to expand...

Opinions are inappropriate now? OK, everybody can go home. We're done here.
 
I use a jig made from aluminum "L" stock for the same purpose but it is not half as neat as this one nor does it keep my fingers quite as safe. Great idea and design. I may have to wait for the adjustable version before copying it as it is hard enough for me to make one jig.

I use my jig for most of my blanks though the thought was to only use it on segmented, or glued up, ones. My idea is to put as little stress on the glue joints as possible just because I can.
 
Frank,
Statements like that imply only one thing, "if you were good enough using a lathe, you wouldn't need that jig." I don't see your statement as an opinion.
 
Originally posted by Rifleman1776
<br />
Originally posted by gerryr
<br />Excellent idea and will be especially useful for PR and antler.

I really think it's inappropriate when someone obviously put a lot of thought into something like this and executes it well, for anyone to put them down with statements like "I don't see why you need that."
Click to expand...

Opinions are inappropriate now? OK, everybody can go home. We're done here.
Click to expand...
I'm with Jerry on this one. Frank, I thought your words were a little harsh (as "The Designer Guys" would say [:D]). I mean, here's a guy who obviously is fairly new to IAP (with 30 posts or so) .... and, he comes up with an idea to solve a problem that he and others may be facing (and one that is especially important since it involves "safety"). Then, he goes through all the trouble of posting photographs and explaining how he built the jig .... only to have you throw cold water on his idea.

I would hope we would be more nurturing when somebody attempts to make a contribution to IAP.

Bozz ... thanks for taking the time to post your jig ... and sorry to hear about those fingertips!
 
Call it "cold water" if you wish. He solved a problem that doesn't exist. Turners turn objects that aren't round into objects that are round. Limiting the discussion to pens. Many here make pens daily from fragile materials without resorting to extra steps or equipment. He doesn't need to use his set-up before turning. It is a superfluous, time wasting procedure. As I, rhetorically, asked originally: Why? Simply put, there is no answer, it doesn't need to be done. I'll add a post script because some here don't understand English very well. This is my opinion.
 
That looks like a tool that may have saved me some crosscut and segmented blanks. They always seem to be most vulnerable in the roughing stages. Thanks for the tutorial!

Chris
 
Well Bozz, you made the "Featured Photo". Looks like a lot of people think this is a pretty neat jig and really fills a need. So Bozz, go do a jig (dance) for getting your jig picked as the Featured Photo.[:D]
 
Originally posted by gerryr
<br />Excellent idea and will be especially useful for PR and antler.

I really think it's inappropriate when someone obviously put a lot of thought into something like this and executes it well, for anyone to put them down with statements like "I don't see why you need that."
Click to expand...

Gerry you are right! No need to put someones good idea down! I have made a lot of different jigs that help me with my penturning and this one is an exellent idea.
Les in Alberta
200771715458_Alberta.gif
<br />
 
Originally posted by thewishman
<br />That looks like a tool that may have saved me some crosscut and segmented blanks. They always seem to be most vulnerable in the roughing stages. Thanks for the tutorial!

Chris
Click to expand...

This was my first thought as well, Chris. I do my share of segmented blanks and have had more than I'd like come apart at the seams while roughing. While I have not yet found the need to use something like this for solid blanks (except for glow in the dark acrylics... they are the hardest material I've turned and dull tools VERY quickly) this wil definitely come in handy for my often complex segments. Thanks for sharing!!![;)]
 
With a little tweaking, I see another use for this jig:
Ripping acrylic blanks to make Acrylic Laminations
I will be going down that road .... stay tuned. [:D][:D][;)]

Gary
 
Hank Lee,

Buy the Alan Lacer videos. No one taught me how to use a skew, I learned it from these great videos:

http://www.alanlacer.com/

Check out video #2 "Skew Chisel: The Darkside & The Sweet Side"
 
I recently had a mishap with my bandsaw. I cut my thumb pretty deep and got the nerve. The thumb has healed, but it will take approximately a year to get the feeling back in my thumb.
While I do cut the sides of acrylic blanks, I can also see other applications for this jig!
I guess I am getting gun shy in my old age.
Thanks for sharing this jig
 
I agree with gerryr...if you don't need it, don't use it. As a safety coordintaor, anything that keeps fingers away from tools that cut are a great aid. This would also work good on a belt/disk sander for those pesky snakeskin blanks.
 
Bozz,
I recently added a band saw to the dungeon I turn in, and just this weekend I was thinking about finger safety. You jig is right one!!! Very timely! ...and it sounds like even more experienced turners will be able to benefit (if they so choose) from your creativity! Well Done!
 
Hi Bozz, welcome to IAP. I think your jig is excellent. It is well thought out and beautifully made. I make blanks with all sorts of junk and like others have said, that would be great for getting rid of those first scary cuts.
I look forward to seeing more ideas like that from you.
Cheers[:D]
 
With a little tweaking, I see another use for this jig:
Ripping acrylic blanks to make Acrylic Laminations
I will be going down that road .... stay tuned.

Gary
Click to expand...

That's what I was thinking. I spend a lot of time securing blanks for segmenting and such on my miter saw. I can see a variation of this would speed up the process. I just need to think about how to hold the blank square rather than at an angle.
 
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
I LIKE IT!!!! Thanks for taking the time to post. While some may think this jig is not needed I'll bet there are just as many new turners who would like it.

I guess if you kept whatever tool you use to round stock scary sharp then you may not need a jig like this.

I personally still have a small setup and I do not sharpen or hone my own tools. Someday I want to. I recently gave 2 tools to someone to sharpen and it took 1 week before I got them back, plus what I got charged. Then after going to town on a dozen or so tough blanks I have to wait another week and pay more to make them scary sharp again? If I used something like this to take the corners off my stock then maybe my tools may not lose the "scary" soo fast.

Different strokes for different folks. I like this jig a lot. I love that you took the time to share it.[:D]
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom