Thursday, December 7, 2017

Shaping With an Angle Grinder

Cold weather has set in - not unexpected in Michigan... in December…

The shop is still functional - after the heaters run for an hour or so before I begin working.

Yesterday I shaped the main mast cap, giving it a “domish” shape. My tool of choice: a 4-1/2” angle grinder.

Concentric circles on the top of the cap helped guide the shaping, which was followed up with sanding using an ROS and an 80/120/80/220-grit progression. I plan to soften the bottom edge of the caps with a round-over.

When the other cap is done, I’ll glue them to the masts (cold temperatures not withstanding).

Update: Thursday’s post generated some discussion (sort of, but more like a lecture) about hand tools vs. power tools… the idea being that a spokeshave was a better tool of choice for shaping the mast caps than the angle grinder I used.

Admittedly, a spokeshave never crossed my mind for shaping the caps. Admittedly, as well, I am not very experienced in using a spokeshave which is not to say I am unfamiliar with hand tools, particularly planes.

(I keep my spokeshave with my chisels - mounted on another wall of the shop - rather than with my planes, for no good reason other than my convenience.)

Intrigued by the idea, I decided to shape the second mast cap using hand tools, specifically the spokeshave. It worked. I was able to shape the cap using the spokeshave and hand-sanding.

The spokeshave is definitely quieter and less dusty than the angle grinder. But, it took me three times as long to get to the nearly finished shape (yep, pretty much the same shape as the first cap). I’m happy I got the same results using the spokeshave but there was no deeper sense of satisfaction from using the hand tool compared to using the power tool. And the extra repetitive motion aggravated the arthritis in my hands and shoulder so, on one level, there was a bit more discomfort associated with using the hand tool… for me… for this task…

The angle grinder - and any other power tool - is just a tool, as are hand tools (saws, chisels, planes...). I like to use the tool that works for me for the task at hand.

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6 comments:

  1. RikDecember 8, 2017 at 8:27 AM

    Nice job. I like the angle grinder also. That sanding disc you got there takes care of the job.

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    1. BobDecember 8, 2017 at 7:38 PM

      Thanks, Rik. The grinder is useful - not for everything of course, but it certainly has its place in the tool kit.

      Delete
  2. dorymanDecember 8, 2017 at 7:54 PM

    Seems you got your share of "get yourself some hand tools" on FB. Hand tools are fine and nice and 'ol-timey, but if you want to get the job done, you got it right.

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    1. BobDecember 9, 2017 at 5:31 PM

      I sure did! Not sure what prompted that lecture (nothing in the post or thread said I don't use hand tools) but I'm going to let it go. Not worth the effort to respond. :)

      Delete
  3. dorymanDecember 15, 2017 at 3:12 PM

    When I was a kid, learning to build from my dad and grandfather, we had no power tools. Building a house was a tedious affair. My grandad disdained manufactured wood (plywood) and my dad never really learned to use power tools. I'm grateful to have learned from them how to connect my brain to my hands, but without power tools, I'd never have the time or energy to pursue creating all the images that keep me awake at night.

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    Replies
    1. BobDecember 18, 2017 at 10:10 AM

      I'm grateful, too, for power tools (and plywood). Without them I'd have never built my GIS or Pathfinder (yeah, Gardens isn't done but soon will be). I marvel at what a skilled craftsman can do with hand tools and I have ventured into using hand tools a bit more. But I don't see myself ever using hand tools exclusively.

      Delete

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