Wood spars problem solved !

[solentlife]

I live in an area that is poorly served for small size wood spars ... If 10mm or bigger is OK - then local DIY shop has. But anything less and you're out of luck.

Today - asked if I wanted to go to Riga with one of my RC pals ... so of we went. He did his business and then we went to look in the Model Shop ... Oh Dear ! Closed for Technical Problems.

I had noticed about 2 months ago that their website shut down ...

We drove of to their other shop ... gone !

What to do ? I suggested we check the big Builders Merchant dealers around and see if we can find some 3mm ... 4mm plywood for motor mounts etc. Something that my Home town has not. Nope .. nothing.

But walking past an aisle ... I saw something that I just had to buy .......

A small table circular saw ... $60 .... so with a fine tooth blade disc as well - I walked out with a tool I'd been looking for ages ... I can now strip my own spars etc. from stock wood local shop !
Added to my bench scroll saw ... I'm well on way !!
Be interesting to see how long it lasts !!

Nigel

[CHELLIE]

Can I borrow your small table circular saw Nigel Ok Just kidding, I was looking in to one of those too, they are neet, Take care and have fun, Chellie

[mclarkson]

Nice find! I've been thinking of buying a small scroll saw - something I never would have thought in a million years that I would want of have a use for.

[solentlife]

Originally Posted by mclarkson

Nice find! I've been thinking of buying a small scroll saw - something I never would have thought in a million years that I would want of have a use for.

Bench scroll saws are great - BUT you have to cut SLOOOOOW ... if you start to push - the blade will flex and cut is then angled. Also only thin material. The scroll saw also needs FIRM fixing as they vibrate !
Dremel Motoshop was my first and best ... came with flexy drive attachment as well.

Combination of table saw and bench scroll saw gives me a package that now means I can sort my own spars and parts ... from wood I choose.

Nigel

[solentlife]

Originally Posted by CHELLIE

Can I borrow your small table circular saw Nigel Ok Just kidding, I was looking in to one of those too, they are neet, Take care and have fun, Chellie

If we were closer - you'd be welcome to use ...

It's only a cheap Polish machine - but the important factor is - It works.

Today I bought lengths of wood ready to start making the spars for my Lancaster ...

Nigel

[solentlife]

Like all good things ....

Just as I'm sorting out to start spars / formers etc ... I get message that air-tickets waiting at airport ... of on another assignment - Singapore again.

Lanc will have to wait a bit ... but it gives me time to think through a few things.

eg : I have Clark Y wing form. A dihedral break inboard of outer motor. I have to devise strong form to carry the motor / drive forces for each nacelle as well as carry the joint of the dihedral break. The nacelles will NOT be carrying weight of LiPo's or ESC's ... they will be at wing centre. But inboard nacelles will have retracts to carry.
So do I create vertical stiffening or horizontal of the nacelles ?

Nigel

[Henry Sistrunk]

I have had this table saw for years. I don't think they make it any longer. It is a very handy tool.
Henry

[solentlife]

Originally Posted by Henry Sistrunk

I have had this table saw for years. I don't think they make it any longer. It is a very handy tool.
Henry

The Dremel 4" was what I really wanted .... but as you say - no longer available.

I gave away my Dremel Motoshop when I got divorced years ago ... what a mistake !

Nigel

[Henry Sistrunk]

Not sure but I think they are no longer available, but you are welcome to " drive over" and use mine.
Henry

[BroncoSquid]

4" table saw from Harbor Freight?

I love my scroll saw for all kinds of balsa and hard wood strips. I use higher tpi blades for the soft stuff. Slow cuts are ok, I have time not money.

[kyleservicetech]

Originally Posted by BroncoSquid

4" table saw from Harbor Freight?

I love my scroll saw for all kinds of balsa and hard wood strips. I use higher tpi blades for the soft stuff. Slow cuts are ok, I have time not money.

Yeah
I've got a 10 inch two wheel Delta bandsaw that works very well for cutting balsa, and a whole lot of other stuff.

Put in a 1.5 HP 120 VDC motor in it with a variable speed control with feedback. That allows using a metal cutting blade, and using it to cut steel and aluminum bar stock.

That motor was from the Surplus Center, and is no longer available anywhere. Wish I'd have bought two of them when they had them.

[solentlife]

I think you guys will agree that once you have such on your bench - the world opens up ... no longer restricted to shops decision on wood ... versatility ... etc.

The table circular saw I bought - I also bought a fine TPI disc ...

Nigel

[starcad]

Here are a couple more

http://www.amazon.com/SE-4in-Minatur.../dp/B000SNM32W

http://www.micromark.com/microlux-mi...-saw,6936.html