Swing Jig?

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Hey guys-
  I am one step away from starting on my first glass bow. I have been leaning on Kenny M a ton and can not thank him enough. I don't want to bother him so much so I figured I would throw this out to all you glass guys. I want to make a swing jig for my new band saw so that I can add a radius accent strips through my riser block. I picked up two toggle clams this weekend and have some MDF to make the jig with. The only problem is I have no flipping clue how to make one.

Can anyone give me some guidance on this... My riser is 18 from end of fade to end of fade if that helps with making of the jig. Thank in advance to anyone who chimes in!!! I hope to be up and running by next week... I can't wait to start this thing!!!

[Roy from Pa]

What are toggle clams? I think you use like a 2 x 2 piece of plywood, find the center on one edge, put a nail there and tie a string on it and a pencil on the other end of the string and swing it across the opposite edge and it gives ya an arc. Then cut that out and put that cut out board on another board where you can anchor it like you did the string on the nail and put your riser material on that and swing it boy:) I suggest ya practice on scrap wood though.. Cause I never made a swing jig..  

[heartlandbowyer]

Justin,
Here's what I just made out of leftovers from form building.

[Trux Turning]

Just made this one- same drill only one clamp- the base on the saw has holes every iinch- so does the jig on the top so it he arch can be changed- I used a fancy finish nail for the pivot point too
 

[Trux Turning]

[Roy from Pa]

See that Justin, I was pretty close for never making one:)

[Trux Turning]

Pretty good guess Roy!

[fujimo]

what radii are working best on the risers, to give us an idea of length of the jig

[jsweka]

Justin - A jig will obviously make things easier, but it is possible to make a radius in a riser without using a jig.  It just takes a bit of time sanding high spots and checking and re-checking the fit of the pieces, but it is doable without a jig.

Here's two examples I've done and neither used a jig.

-Just sayin' you don't necessarily need a jig.

 

 

[Roy from Pa]

Well it sure looks like ya should of used a jig.    

[heartlandbowyer]

The radius jig works great for accent stripes and crescents and such, but my risers back doesn't follow a certain radius so I end up free hand cutting it. I suppose I could make a new form to follow a specific radius just haven't yet.

Wayne just get ya some cheap pine 2x4 and cut different arcs till you find what ya like. For me it changes to try to get the best pattern out of the wood.

Cory

[jsweka]

C'mon Roy, You know I ain't smart enough for a jig.  I'd probably put my fingers over the edge of it and cut a nice radius across my knuckles.  Sand paper is the height of my bowyer technology.

[Robertfishes]

I don't have a good picture of my jig..but here is a picture of the one I copied  

[D]

My band saw isn't big enough to put a jig on..lolol

[kennym]

I emailed Justin some pics of my crude jig. Same stuff as you guys, except in the rough! LOL

If you freehand, it works best for me to sand the outside curve on a disc sander gently and in smooth motion to get rid of saw marks, then fit the inside curve to it, using a quick clamp or 2 to check for gaps.  Not bad that way either....

[Roy from Pa]

I hear ya Kenny. I free hand mine a lot:)

[kennym]

Roy, you just put my mind's eye out I think.....  

[beachbowhunter]

You can do a little easy geometry to figure out the radius for the arc you need. Here is a good cheat.

  http://www.1728.org/circsect.htm

[Roy from Pa]

Ouch. Think I'll stick with a string and a pencil:)

[heartlandbowyer]

Cut these with the swing jig I just made and glued up today.