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You forgot the best option...
By:Brian Nystrom
Date: 9/11/2010, 10:49 am
In Response To: Re: Paddle: Making the long cuts for paddle face (Dave Gentry)

...a jointer.

I got the idea of using a jointer to taper blades from Gabriel Romeu years ago and it's by far the fastest, easiest way to go. All you do is elevate the loom end to the approximate angle of the taper and start making passes across the blades. As the material comes off, you'll see if you need to adjust the angle. I set the jointer to take a 1/32" cut, which allows a lot of control, but a 1/16" cut will remove material quickly, if you're in a hurry. Just remember to check the layout lines on both sides to make sure you're making even cuts across the width of the face. The end result is smooth, perfectly tapered blades. Once you get the technique down, you can do all four tapers in 10-15 minutes, total.

Just remember: KEEP YOUR HANDS AWAY FROM THE BLADES! I use a push block on the end of the blade and hold the loom at the mid-point (or farther away), so my hands are never near the blades.

Messages In This Thread

Paddle: Making the long cuts for paddle face
Stephen Troy -- 9/10/2010, 7:45 pm
Re: Paddle: Making the long cuts for paddle face
Scott Shurlow -- 9/11/2010, 10:43 pm
Re: Paddle: Making the long cuts for paddle face
Bill Hamm -- 9/12/2010, 12:24 am
Re: Paddle: Making the long cuts for paddle face
Bill Hamm -- 9/12/2010, 12:26 am
Re: Paddle: Making the long cuts for paddle face
Bill Hamm -- 9/11/2010, 9:44 am
Re: Paddle: Making the long cuts for paddle face
Clayton Plunkett -- 9/11/2010, 9:10 am
Re: Paddle: Making the long cuts for paddle face
Mike Savage -- 9/11/2010, 7:13 am
What do you have?
Kudzu -- 9/10/2010, 11:10 pm
Re: What do you have?
Stephen Troy -- 9/11/2010, 1:12 am
Re: What do you have?
Stephen Troy -- 9/12/2010, 7:21 pm
Re: What do you have?
Bill Hamm -- 9/13/2010, 12:42 am
Re: What do you have?
Bill Hamm -- 9/13/2010, 12:38 am
Re: What do you have?
Kudzu -- 9/11/2010, 8:15 am
I agree (& some sharpening tips)
Brian Nystrom -- 9/11/2010, 11:51 am
Re: I agree (& some sharpening tips)
Bill Hamm -- 9/12/2010, 12:20 am
Re: I agree (& some sharpening tips)
Kudzu -- 9/11/2010, 3:37 pm
Re: I agree (& some sharpening tips)
Will N to Go -- 9/11/2010, 2:12 pm
Re: What do you have?
Bill Hamm -- 9/11/2010, 9:40 am
Re: Paddle: Making the long cuts for paddle face *PIC*
theluckyone17 -- 9/10/2010, 10:06 pm
Re: Paddle: Making the long cuts for paddle face *PIC*
G New -- 9/10/2010, 10:25 pm
Re: Paddle: Making the long cuts for paddle face *NM* *PIC*
G New -- 9/10/2010, 10:27 pm
Re: Paddle: Making the long cuts for paddle face
Dave Gentry -- 9/10/2010, 9:21 pm
You forgot the best option...
Brian Nystrom -- 9/11/2010, 10:49 am
Re: You forgot the best option...
Kudzu -- 9/11/2010, 11:42 am
Re: You forgot the best option...
Brian Nystrom -- 9/11/2010, 11:54 am
Re: You forgot the best option...
Kudzu -- 9/11/2010, 3:28 pm
Re: You forgot the best option...
Bill Hamm -- 9/11/2010, 11:29 am
Re: Paddle: Making the long cuts for paddle face
wwfloyd -- 9/10/2010, 8:35 pm