08/11/00
Today I crossed out (spoked) the greatwheel. I used a number 00 size jeweler's saw blade in a rather deep frame, which it takes to saw out such a large wheel.
The better the sawing job, the better the outcome, the less filing and finishing there is. A good sawing job is possible only with clearly visibile lines, which the DeltaCad template provides. I also use reading glasses, available from discount stores, and a good light source. The sawing is done on a piece of wood clamped in the vice. It has a triangle sawed out, permitting the piece to be well supported and at the same time accessible.
It took just over an hour to saw out the crossings on this wheel. It will take a lot more time to put the finish on. Here's how I finish the insides of the spokes.
First, I file with a rather coarse half-round file. This to remove saw marks. Then I drawfile with a small Swiss half-round needle file. Then I use a 3-cornered machinists scraper to remove the file marks. Then I use a strip of 400-grit emory cloth held on the small file to remove the scraper marks. (This makes it rather like an emory board -- it keeps the edges of the brass sharp -- not rounded.) Finally either steel wool, or a polish with rottenstone mixed with oil on a wooden slip, and then Simichrome metal polish. Lots of work.
Today's links:
Greatwheel crossed out