With spring-time weather arriving here in Western Michigan, work on Gardens has resumed!
The blank for the main mast step has been laminated using maple and mahogany.
This will be sanded and cut to down to size. Details, such as chamfered edges and a drainage slot, will be added before the step is epoxy coated.
The main yard has not been assembled but the eight birdsmouth staves have been notched and scarfed to length.
The assembly jig for the yard (and boom) has been set up and is ready for action.
I, on the other hand, am contemplating the "how" of the gluing, assembly and clamping of a 13' long birdsmouth spar… I know it can be done… I've seen it on the internet (so it must be real, right?). Seriously, I am coming to grips with the process of mixing and spreading epoxy on eight long pieces of wood and then assembling them (along with the necessary plugs) without gluing them to the jig, the bench or me. I am beginning to recruit help.
Good to see you at it again Bob! The mast setup looks good to go. Laser setup is handy too. I have seen them make the mast in two halves at the time.
ReplyDeleteBob - yes, the glue-up is a little daunting to contemplate, but for me went fairly smooth in practice. I know you've seen my blog post on that: http://woodnmetalguy.blogspot.com/2015/02/birdsmouth-mast-glued-up.html
ReplyDeleteDo line your jig supports with packing tape, and the epoxy won't stick to that. There's a fair bit of epoxy mixing to do, so having one person mixing and one spreading worked well for me.
Let us know how it comes out! -- Dave