Bloody Mitres!!

[wizer]

grr

Thought I'd make a nice quick picture frame for missus-to-be today. Machined up some lovely Ash. Routed in the recess. Then comes the mitres :evil: Seeing as the Jet is all ready to be picked up, I decided to use the SCMS, it's a good saw but not perfect. So I then went on to the shooting board. But I'm really struggling with either technique or construction. I can shoot full length shavings but not consistently. I stuck at it for about an hour but the 4 pieces did not make a rectangle. I have been checking with a 45 engineers square and I'm close.

One thing that's bugging me is that I think there is an error with the way I made the shooting board. I don't think it's taking a square cut. I guess I'll have to make it again and have another go.

I finished the days 'work' by sharpening up the 9 Iron, but even that didn't go well. I went through from xxc to xxf and it still wouldn't cut paper freehand.

What was that Chems was saying about hating woodworking?

:evil:

 

[Racers]

Hi, wizer

Did you get the opposite sides the same lenght? thats one of the main things that throw miters off.


Pete

 

[Chems]

I avoid Mitres like the plague, I always try and go for the paneled door type construction.

Stick at it Wizer I'm sure you'll get it!

 

[wizer]

Hi, wizer

Did you get the opposite sides the same lenght? thats one of the main things that throw miters off.


Pete

yep, it's the mitres that or off. I just think I have to keep at it, hopefully it wil come. I'm not sure whether I should re-make the shooting board. I wish they sold them.

 

[ike]

Mitres eh! - they don't say it's the hardest joint to make for nothing!

 

[Ironballs]

I'm with you there Tom, I know Mike G would probably shoot (no pun intended) us both, but I'd happily buy one and get on with the making rather than have to make an accurate board first.

I remember the grief I had when making a picture frame for my sister, so before I finish the mitre joints on a box I'm doing I need to build a shooting board first. On the plus side, there will be a new plane to go with it from a certain well known English plane maker

 

[seanybaby]

If you have a disc sander you could make a mitre jig, but you will have the same problems if the jig is out. I always take time to get my jigs as spot on as possible, because it's a waste of time otherwise. Try shimming your shooting board with paper.

 

[moz]

Hi Wizer,

What plane are you using? I never got along with a shooting board while using my number 7. Even with a constantly sharpened blade, the thing seemed to just bounce off rather than slice and the pressure I had to use to get any result at all was enough to provoke a serious bout of RSI. The experience was transformed when I bought a Veritas low-angle jack. Basically a big block plane, massively thick iron pointing directly along the line of force, with good lateral adjustment and accurately ground sole and sides. It's good fun to watch someone struggling with a shooting board until they have been completely ground down by the experience then handing them the Veritas and watching the expression on their face. You could try a Lie Nielsen No. 9 if you're rich. Don't tell me you're using a Lie Nielsen No 9?

John

 

[wizer]

Yep I'm using an LN No.9. It's not the tool it's ME!! :roll:

I may try the Veritas tho.

 

[moz]

Oh, sorry Wizer! and I was joking! Sort of glossed over the previous ref to a 9 iron (golf?). In that case, I suspect the sharpness of the blade. You need to be getting fine, full-length shavings with a blade adjusted for square before you can blame the shooting board IMHO. Maybe the sharpening force just wasn't with you today. Mind you, those LN irons keep an edge well but take a hell of a lot of sharpening, don't you find?

John

 

[wizer]

yeh, I got the No.9 2nd hand and it's got a secondary bevel. So i've either got to grind it off (by hand) or try to guess what the angle is. But generally I agree, it's really hard stuff. Flattening the back didn't seem to scratch the surface.

 

[Steve Maskery]

Hi Wizer
Guess what, I've been making a picture frame in ash today as well. When I left the workshop, my mitres were tickety-boo. If they still are tomorrow morning when I come to glue up, I'll be gobsmacked!
Cheers
Steve

 

[wizer]

Bloody Show off

 

[jhwbigley]

since i've had my radial arm saw my mitres has been spot on! :^o , its all a matter of taking my time doing test cut to get it set up.

keep at it , you'll get there in the end!

John

 

[wizer]

Maybe I need to buy a Kapex?? :-k :duno: :lol:

 

[Mattty]

Wizer mate, you have all the gear you need. What i would suggest is get some hands on experience. Either via a course or a mentor.

The biggest thing to your advantage is you know what your trying to achieve. You have the kit to do it. It's just connecting the two things.
Buying more tools, gadgets and gizmo's won't get you the experience you need and it is experience you need i think. Your more than welcome to come to Leeds and knock around in my shop for a few days if that helps and i'm sure there are plenty of others who would be happy to have you. Or maybe look at a short course? I hope this helps and i'm not off the mark.

Edit- having re-read this it sounds very patronising, thats not my intention as i'm sure you know.

 

[wizer]

Cheers Matt, if you were closer I may well have taken you up on your offer. That said, I've had more than my fair share of kindness from fellow members. Most members who have been around here for a few years, realise that I'm pretty hopeless. Tho I wasn't serious about buying a Kapex, I am guilty of thinking a tool will make me better. My best excuse is that I just don't get enough time (due to my back) in the workshop to practise. Sometimes I think I'd like to take a proper course, but then I'm not sure if it'd be a waste of time. Hopefully I'll take a bit better to turning or I can see me eventually giving up.

Please excuse my wittering, Everyone needs to vent :roll: :wink:

 

[Karl]

yeh, I got the No.9 2nd hand and it's got a secondary bevel. So i've either got to grind it off (by hand) or try to guess what the angle is. But generally I agree, it's really hard stuff. Flattening the back didn't seem to scratch the surface.

Tom - I doubt it is the LN 9 at fault, although I am surprised that have you not sharpened the blade yet. From memory I sharpened the blade with a 35 mm projection from an eclipse style jig. But not positive. The easiest way to work out the secondary bevel angle is to pop the blade into your sharpening jig and give it a couple of strokes on a stone. If it doesn't raise a burr, retract it a couple of mil and try again. You will quickly establish what the secondary bevel is.

Re: flattening the back. It is not necessary on a bevel up plane if you sharpen the blade with a nominal back bevel (or using the Ruler Trick).

On the subject of your mitres, is the stock preparation spot on? I know you said that the lengths are good, but are the widths uniform along the length?

Cheers

Karl

 

[Jake]

I think it probably is a dog of an LN9.

I'm not fussy though, so I'll give you a tenner for it for the Kapex (or lathe) fund.

 

[wizer]

Karl I was never suggesting the No.9 was at fault.

The stock prep is fine. It's the angle of the mitres, that's all.