Footing and shafts not as round ....?

[Al Kidner]

G'day all,

 Well I've been going about footing up some ash shafts with the jig from 3Rivers. In all it's an OK jig and I'm happy so far with it. The way I've done it is to use a router upside down and I also built up a gig to act as a guide to run along. Rather then the drill press option.

So far I've had a few teething problems that naturally show up when doing this type of operation, but one thing I've noticed is that if your shafts are not as round as there ment to be - through the milling process - then this leads to a poor foot.

Now here is the $1 000 000 question... what ways can I get my shafts to be as round as I need 'em? I've read in the lastest TBM how a compression block may do the trick?

A penny for your thought please...


AK.

[aromakr]

Al:
The idea of footing a shaft is to add strength and weight to the point end of the shaft. Using an ash shaft you are spinning your wheels!! Your not gaining a thing. I realize they are pretty too look at, however you might even be weakening the shaft depending of the foot you are using as well as the glue.
Bob

[Al Kidner]

Granted Bob, but there what the customer ordered!


AK.

[d. ward]

Hi Al I did not or should say have not done any footed shafts myself.However I did have a friend here at my shop with the same problem he had with some shafting.You are correct as his were not round eather.The wood does have a bit of a hard side could we say.You know the open grain side was not as soft as the closed or edge grain side.And as Bob mentioned different woods are a bit harder by nature.We spent a couple hrs.tring to figure it out.A wood worker friend of ours happend by my place and suggested to him to replace the (maybe) dull cutter in his router and slow the feed into the router down a little.Of which I beleave he is just using a cordless drill to chuck the shafting in.Once he replaced the dull cutter and slowed down how fast he pushed the shafting thru...no more problems...well so far.He does use the compression block now too( I think he heats the compression block a little he said not possitive on that).He also finish sands with 2 slotted wooden blocks.He's only making these for himself and seems to be getting pretty good at it.His are not quite perfectly round as yet though..good luck with it and please keep me posted if you figure it out....bowdoc

[Falk]

Al,
I do my footings all by hand, so it might be of no use for your setup. Anyhow, here is a   tutorial  I made for Cody some time in the past and it shows the tools I use and how it's done. Getting the footing round is done with a drawknife, a little plane, cabinte scraper, garnet paper and eye balling. What I finally get is good enough for me ...

[aromakr]

Al:
Try making what I call a book sander. Two pieces of 1 to 1 1/2" thick wood that are hinged together with a 3/8" or slightly larger hole drilled down the center. Then line the two pieces with about 80 to 100 grit sand paper. Chuck the shaft in an electric drill, place the footed portion of the shaft into the book and start sanding, applying light pressure on the two halves of the book, it will make a oval shaft round in no time, go slowly as it will remove material fast. Beware you might loose some spine, but that will depend on how much material you remove.
Bob

[tradtusker]

nice tutorial Falk        

[Al Kidner]

Thanks for all the tips fellas. Ovel shaped shafts sure do make things harder then whats it really is. I'll get something op and running like what you said Bob. I may also call for a yarn too mate, only if your free?

Regards,


AK.

[aromakr]

Al:
I was born free and plan to remain that way.      
Bob