: How wide apart are the fittings for the perimeter? I have drilled
: the holes for mine about 18" apart, I've filled the holes
: and will drill them out. I have to figure out what to put in the
: vinyl tubing to keep it from collapsing.
: Does anyone think it is worth the effort to put a wooden half-round
: piece under the tube which will hold the line? I figure it will
: save a part of an ounce for each fitting.

: Making slow progress, starting a SOF in about two weeks. I will get
: that one finished because I will be in a class with an able
: teacher.

Hi John

My Spacings vary between about thirty inches to 24 inches. I put them as far apart as possible while still keeping the rope fairly well centred within the walnut strip.

I found some old narrow coaxial cable (television to video leads) that was just the right diameter for the inside of the tubes.

I wouldn't bother with the wooden half round, you don't want anything in there that can absorb moisture and perhaps expand.

I experimented with moulds, by cutting off the cups of a plastic ice tray that were a perfect fit for masokse bodges, drilling a hole in the tops and squeezing filler into them then just squeezing them over the tubes. Excess bodge came out of the hole and sides. It worked like a charm and they just popped off leaving a very neat finish. One has to wait for them to set first before popping them off though, so no glassing in the wet putty option, so I eschewed it in the end. Maybe next time. My feeling is that the glass is overkill anyway.

Just a tip for getting the tube out. I gripped the tube in the middle of some long nosed pliers and, resting the tips of the pliers against a wooden block to protect the deck and give me some height, I turned the pliers round and round winding the tube around the pincers in the process. This gives you great control over the amount of pressure you are applying and they don't suddenly pop out causing all sorts of heart problems.

Et