cutting in a swallow tail

Archive 1999-2004
1

I was just wondering what method you guys thought was best for cutting in the swallow tail on your blank? I just used my trusty hand saw and then surform/sanded it down to my liking. This worked ok, my only problem was at the stringer where the swallows met. The stringer was edged out a little further than I would have liked. The board came out allright when I laminated it. I was just wondering if there was a more percise way of making the cut. Thanks for any help!! Jeff

2

I FIRST CUT IT IN WITH A SAW AFTER SHAPING THE ENTIRE BOARD THEN TAKE A 1\2 TO TO 3\4 DOWEL WITH 40 GRIT SANDPAPER WRAPPED AROUND IT AND GLUED . I USE THIS TO SAND THE STRINGER TO THE SHAPE I WANT I THEN FINISH THE FOAM PART WITH MYMY SANDING BLOCKS

3

I FIRST CUT IT IN WITH A SAW AFTER SHAPING THE ENTIRE BOARD THEN TAKE A > 1\2 TO TO 3\4 DOWEL WITH 40 GRIT SANDPAPER WRAPPED AROUND IT AND GLUED . I > USE THIS TO SAND THE STRINGER TO THE SHAPE I WANT I THEN FINISH THE FOAM > PART WITH MYMY SANDING BLOCKS If they have a radius, which I prefer, a hand held electric jig saw with a fine wood blade is a good option. For dressing the stringer a small rat-tail file makes things real easy or a chainsaw sharpening file is another one.

4

If they have a radius, which I prefer, a hand held electric jig saw with a > fine wood blade is a good option. For dressing the stringer a small > rat-tail file makes things real easy or a chainsaw sharpening file is > another one. A Roto tool.Herb.

5

I was just wondering what method you guys thought was best for cutting in > the swallow tail on your blank? I just used my trusty hand saw and then > surform/sanded it down to my liking. This worked ok, my only problem was > at the stringer where the swallows met. The stringer was edged out a > little further than I would have liked. The board came out allright when I > laminated it. I was just wondering if there was a more percise way of > making the cut. Thanks for any help!! Jeff I have used a dremel tool with good results on the stringer, Roger Ritenour

6

I have used a dremel tool with good results on the stringer, Roger > Ritenour swaylock team, you are leaving out one of the best tips I ever learned. Tape off each side of the foam next to the stringer to prevent accidental foam grinding.

7

I like your suggestion, though need to think of the best tape to protect the foam. I had not been doing this; instead, I had been choosing a cutting tool and holding the dremel tool in such a way that when it kicked, (as dremel tools are guaranteed to do!) it would kick either up or down and miss the foam. This generally worked pretty well, but I experience a certain “pucker factor” in this part of the shaping operation.