Model Boat Mayhem

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length.
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Cutting balsa Strips  (Read 4757 times)

nigel3a

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 37
  • Location: Southport, UK
    • Cheaper for Bills
Cutting balsa Strips
« on: April 08, 2012, 11:01:08 pm »
As I have posted on here, I'm building a Racing Sparrow. When I cut the planking for the hull. I had a long straight edge and a stanley knife. I got to thinking how much easier it would have been if I'd had a ready made cutter to do the job. Without having the funds to buy a mini table saw, I looked on You-tube and low and behold there were already tools for the job.
After scratching round my shed I found some scrap bits and bobs.



When assembled together make this



The results end up with even, and perfectly straight planking



Cost nothing but a bit of time, and works a treat  :D
Logged

Tug-Kenny RIP

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 7,625
  • Location: Newport. S Wales
Re: Cutting balsa Strips
« Reply #1 on: April 09, 2012, 12:05:44 pm »

hey that's clever.

Thanks for showing us Nigel.    :-)) :-))


ken
Logged
Despite the high cost of living   .......... It remains popular

dreadnought72

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1,892
  • Wood butcher with ten thumbs
  • Location: Airdrie, Scotland
Re: Cutting balsa Strips
« Reply #2 on: April 09, 2012, 12:17:21 pm »
Great idea.  :-))

The other option I've used in the past is to employ a metal plaster float. Cut against the straight steel edge, with the benefit of having your non-cutting fingers well out of the way up on the handle. You can get more pressure on the float (it won't move) than you can on a simple metal ruler, too.

Andy
Logged
Enjoying every minute sailing W9465 Mertensia

nigel3a

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 37
  • Location: Southport, UK
    • Cheaper for Bills
Re: Cutting balsa Strips
« Reply #3 on: April 09, 2012, 04:12:38 pm »
Hi Andy,

I've got a long steel straight edge used for cutting mounts for picture framing, I used that last time, trouble is, none of the strips were identical. With this little device, they are all parallel.

Nigel
Logged

pettyofficernick

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1,255
  • Marineville will be destroyed, Muahahaha.....
  • Location: Leasowe, Wirral
Re: Cutting balsa Strips
« Reply #4 on: April 09, 2012, 05:04:25 pm »
Excellent little device. I have a steel straight edge with a 3/4 inch wide strip of 600 grade wet and dry paper glued to the reverse side, this is a good way of stopping the ruler from slipping, especially on plastic card. :-)) :-))
Logged
What I do is best not discussed, for I have been many things in my time....

CF-FZG

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 230
  • Location: Oxfordshire
Re: Cutting balsa Strips
« Reply #5 on: April 09, 2012, 07:58:32 pm »
Very similar to a Master Airscrew Balsa Stripper :-)) :-))

I also have a SLEC balsa stripper for longer pieces over 5mm thick up to 1 metre long.


Mark.
Logged
Mark.

Tonka Toys - Big boys toys :)

nigel3a

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 37
  • Location: Southport, UK
    • Cheaper for Bills
Re: Cutting balsa Strips
« Reply #6 on: April 09, 2012, 09:08:27 pm »
Hi Mark,
I didn't realise they were so easily available. The Slec one looks like it may be for left-handed use. If it was right-handed, unles it attaches both sides, I may be tempted. I've just used mine to strip some mahogony blinds I had spare, to use as decking on my Sparrow.

Nigel
Logged

CF-FZG

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 230
  • Location: Oxfordshire
Re: Cutting balsa Strips
« Reply #7 on: April 09, 2012, 09:32:16 pm »
Nigel, I'm right handed and the slec's not a problem that way round, it runs left to right - the 'loop' on the left is used (by me) as something to grab hold of with my index finger :-))

btw, it comes with a 1m length of ally channel that the stripper runs in, and the wood butts up against it.


Mark.
Logged
Mark.

Tonka Toys - Big boys toys :)
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »
 

Page created in 0.087 seconds with 21 queries.