Jig for cutting small triangles.

[Alan Morrison]

Too many triangles were being chewed cutting them on the table saw, so tried something different.
This is Mark1 for the bandsaw....could do with a narrow blade.
This leaves end grain but they look ok.
Will try another jig to see if I can cut them side grain on the scrollsaw.
Comments most welcome.

 

[jttheclockman]

Allen this is so funny. I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and she wanted me to test some more blood. They are looking for cancer but that is another story for another time. As I was sitting there for the person to get the paper orders as to what to test for and how many vials they needed. I saw this pen sitting on her desk. Looked at it about 10 times but was afraid to ask to see it. Then finally I just reached over to pick it up and told her I like pens. It had a design that I truely amazed me and will try at some time and it had segmented small triangles in it. Your idea could not have come at a better time. I will need to look at this and develop for my needs. I will look forward to see what you can do as well. Not sure what it is but even when I was scrollsawing alot I would see something and say to myself, SELF that would make a nice clock. Now I see materials, designs and even pens and say the same thing. I even saw a design on a restaurant facade that we went to eat at and it caught my eye. I had to snap a few photos and still have not broken it down to see if I can use as a segmented pen but it has potential. This has to be a disease or something. Not sure if there ever will be a cure.

 

[SteveJ]

Nice triangle Alan. I'm having difficulty seeing how it works, could you show some more pictures or a short video?

 

[jttheclockman]

Not to answer for him but just to see if my thoughts are matching. It looks like basically what he is doing is taking a piece of wood (whatever thickness he chooses) and lays it flat on the jig that is cut at a 45 degree angle and makes a slice. Creating a rod sort of speak. If you look at a block of wood from the end grain and slice it from corner to corner you get 2 45 degree cuts if the block is square. Now what he is doing is basically the same thing but is doing with a flat piece of wood and sets the distance the blade is away from the fence of the jig the same thickness of the piece. Pretty ingenious because he can make multiple slices. What him and I talked about is figuring a way to cut face grain instead of end grain. He would be slicing that rod in smaller pieces for his design but it would all be end grain. Wanting the same concept but face grain how to do it? The nice part is cutting pieces from a rod they all would be accurate. To cut individual pieces that small would be difficult.

What I like about the idea is wood is not the only material you can do this with. I see acrylic in my future because end grain is not an issue. Also I see metals. Then I see the same idea that Ken is doing with his 360 degree herringbone pens with lining the ends with veneers. I see a whole group of ideas opening up. As if I do not have enough plans on my table now Alan is killing me. Him and my blood DR.

 

[Alan Morrison]

Nice triangle Alan. I'm having difficulty seeing how it works, could you show some more pictures or a short video?

Steve, I cut a groove at 60 degrees on the table saw on the jig.
The bandsaw blade sits just touching the jig.
The piecs for cutting the triangles from slides up the groove....first cut is scrap.
Turn the piece over and slide along gives the triangle.....the one in my top photograph is an equilateral triangle.

I made a jig to cut an isosceles triangle. Here's a photograph but it may not be any clearer.

 

[Alan Morrison]

What him and I talked about is figuring a way to cut face grain instead of end grain. He would be slicing that rod in smaller pieces for his design but it would all be end grain. Wanting the same concept but face grain how to do it? The nice part is cutting pieces from a rod they all would be accurate. To cut individual pieces that small would be difficult.

John, I actually made a jig today for cutting all side grain ( the scrollsaw didnt work too well so I will shelve that for a wee while.
I just made the 'shelves' that hold the material a lot closer to the blade and, as you say, the triangles are a lot shorter.
I will try to get better photographs to show next time.
I think that your idea of acrylic sheets would work really well using this method as the material is very uniform.

 

[jttheclockman]

John, I actually made a jig today for cutting all side grain ( the scrollsaw didnt work too well so I will shelve that for a wee while.
I just made the 'shelves' that hold the material a lot closer to the blade and, as you say, the triangles are a lot shorter.
I will try to get better photographs to show next time.
I think that your idea of acrylic sheets would work really well using this method as the material is very uniform.

I am liking what you are doing. Keep at it you are onto something. The triangle design is a very classic look and can be used many ways. As I said my brain is overloaded already with just your first picture. Right now I can not jump in the quest with you but I am sure you will work things out. Good luck