Eight Sided Mast ?

[Leon m]

I've got my boards all glued up for my mast,and I'm ready to make it round.I've decided on the eight sided technique.I've read about how to do this before,but can't remember the source.

Anybody know the spec's for building the scribe thingy,
and the basic steps?

[Bob Smalser]

http://media5.hypernet.com/cgi-bin/UBB/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=009685&p=

[Paul Scheuer]

Others will be along shortly with the specs for the scribe thing. A quick search of the on line index of back issues yields the following:

Marking gauge:/for eight-sided spar, 118:76

Marking gauge:/for making eight-sided oars, plan, 71:28

I presume that you will be doing a tapered mast. The idea is that you want to have the gauge ride the edges of the square face on pins, while markers keep the proper ratio for the octagon. (29.2% and 70.7%), rotating the guide bar at an angle to keep the pins in contact with the edge of the face.

My recommendation is to take the time to true up and smooth the square blank. Even if your layout lines will eventually be gone, they should be as crisp as possible.

I don't remember if the articles mention marking a center line on each face or not. In my experience, a soft pencil center line makes all the difference when you get down to the final shaping. I use a shoe-shine technique with fairly aggressive grit (old, soft sander belt). When you get the center line to just begin to "smear" along its entire length, and on all faces, it's time to go to final smoothing.

I can't claim to be an expert here, but I've been asked on several occasions how did I get the oars in a lathe.

[Leon m]

Thanks guys!