Build-A-Bear, mountain-style canoe

[MoMan]

I second the motion for more milling. You'll never forgive yourself for installing less than perfect planks when you could have easily (relatively, you have done it before after all) milled up new ones and had perfect planks. An accent strip on the bottom? Not sure it would be the way to go, Contrasting strips side by side but a built up accent stripe. It would look to me like you were trying to stretch the planking stock as you ran low. Don't want everyone to think you skimped now do you?

Damnit I hate it when you're right!

[Terry Haines]

Toys are fun! My woodshop is the whole reason I bought my house. My real estate agent thought I was nutz when I wanted to view the garage first.

You got that right! My garage almost burned bown a few years back, lost some treasured old tools I had been collecting over the years. But the insurance insisted on rebuilding and bringing everything up to code so now it's way better than new, insulated, weatherproofed, rewired, plastered and painted, all the tools replaced with new ones.

It seemed a shame to mess it up by building boats in it - took me several minutes to start cutting wood . . . and by the way the rumours of creative arson are just not true!

Trouble is, it's going to be a serious problem finding the next house. Hmm, maybe something with a barn so I can build bigger boats . . .

[MoMan]

Hmm, maybe something with a barn so I can build bigger boats . . .

I probably fantasize about having a barn as much as I fantasize about Ms. June 2010. OK, almost as much!

[Sailor]

I've got a barn. 40 by 30 feet. The bottom is filled with "stuff". Lawn tractor my brother's little runabout, my 420 dinghy, a utility trailor, regular lawn mower law and garden tools..... The list is endless. Now upstairs....... A wide open 40x30 foot shop. There's a 32 foot workbench down one side built into the wall. Room for just about whatever boatbuilding project suits my fancy. Until I build a "real" yacht. Then I'll need to build some sort of temp shelter out back. Good news is that there's lots of room on the property for that. Can't wait to get started.

[P.L.Lenihan]

Surely the excellent suggestions to go for mo millin' has been followed and "we" are back up to full steam,including Andy! In other words, take a good pull and put it in gear Mike.Show us the hull all closed up and sorta ready for serious finish work.


Cheers!


Peter

[MoMan]

More adventures are just around the corner, but I lost a weekend when I went back to Nebraska to help my aging folks with a garage sale (but man I had a blast partying with some old school classmates in my hometown! My liver took a beating!). And I've got other plans for the upcoming weekend, so be patient my friends.

But yes, I heeded the excellent advice offered here and just finished machining some more stock, sending the new strips through the router table for a sweet little cove. Perhaps tonight I can get back to gluing and wasting more time!

[Canoez]

Well, sometimes you have to do other things. Take my co-worker for example. He's taken today off to spread 10 yards of mulch. Seems to me some of Andy's friends are helping:

[Terry Haines]

I probably fantasize about having a barn as much as I fantasize about Ms. June 2010. OK, almost as much!

I Googled Ms June 2010 and found an expired offer from MicroSoft. Well, whatever turns you on, I guess . . . oh, wait, a little further down the screen . . . er, let me get back to you sometime.

[MoMan]

I Googled Ms June 2010 and found an expired offer from MicroSoft. Well, whatever turns you on, I guess . . . oh, wait, a little further down the screen . . . er, let me get back to you sometime.

Ms. June 2010 is sporting some pretty sweet software. No floppy disc for me--it's all hard drive (external)!!

[MoMan]

Well, you probably know how difficult it can be to keep a kid's attention longer than 15 seconds, and once I started milling lumber for the 5th time, the challenge grew exponentially -- especially with Andy's attention span:






















Just then, I heard some faint footsteps out on the sidewalk out front, which normally is nothing unusual.

But there was something very different and distinct about these footsteps.




Clomp … clomp … clomp … clomp.







It was a slow, deliberate cadence.








Clomp … clomp … clomp … clomp.





















........... to be continued

[Fitz]

to be continued

I gotta say - didn't you always hate this as a kid? Batman and Robin, Mork and Mindy, Andy and MoMan..."TO BE CONTINUED"...then ya gotta wait until the next episode....

[MoMan]

The footsteps kept getting closer and louder.

clomp ... clomp ... clomp ...

If it weren’t for the lack of a spur sound, I could swear it was Clint Eastwood’s dusty, worn, black leather cowboy boots stalking some arch enemy along a dusty, Arizona wooden walkway. Either that or a two-legged horse??

The dogs noticed something different too. They both cocked their heads. The footsteps got closer. The hair on their backs stood straight up and they both emitted menacing guttural growls ...












... 2B continued ...

[P.L.Lenihan]

Let's guess...the mail man delivering some recently ordered goodies OR(my second guess) your usual delivery of Texas Thinking Juice.


Cheers!



Peter

[Canoez]

[MoMan]

Let's guess ... your usual delivery of Texas Thinking Juice.
Peter

A very educated guess, Mr. Lenihan. Today, Houston hit right around 100F (that's 37.7777778 C for the more enlightened areas of the planet). So my restorative beverage needs have risen exponentially. Unfortunately, you're a little off. And by "a little off," I only mean that your guess has slightly missed the mark.

At any rate, let's continue this needlessly drawn out saga ...




Did I mention curious footsteps?


Yes, I think I did.

OK, so where were we?


Oh yes: The dogs' keen perception ...








My heart was racing -- the adrenaline surging! I was grateful I was wearing brown trousers and pre-soiled underwear because my grip on my sphincter was already at gluteus maximum, and the dam was about to burst!

The footsteps came to an abrupt stop, just outside the metal garage door.

Jesus H. Crimony!




Through the thin metal door, I could hear whatever or whomever was there-- inhale ... exhale ... inhale ... exhale.


Then the metal door shivered slightly.




At the ground, a thin sliver of brilliant sunlight beamed onto the floor of the garage!



... 2b cont'd .....

[Canoez]

Man, you can draw out a story.

[Sailor]

If it's that neighbour Andy building all this up for his own edification.....................

[Canoez]

Through the thin metal door, I could hear whatever or whomever was there-- inhale ... exhale ... inhale ... exhale.

[MoMan]

to continue with our saga ...






Suddenly, the sliver of light grew wider!

The wheels of the garage door track began to creak and groan in their metal channels, developing the familiar, thunderous rumble each time the overhead door is opened.

I could see a pair of feet silhouetted against the setting sun.




I was at panic stage!!!



Could it be that wooden-shoed Dutchman that I inadvertently offended, coming to seek his revenge?




I looked around for a potential weapon. The plastic resin glue?

No, I'd need to mix the right proportions ... plus the adhesive would take hours to set up.



Stapler?

I’d have to be pretty damned close, and it would only be a 9/16" flesh wound.









The door was opening!








It was too late!!







I reached for the nearest object:












and raised my tape dispenser, ready to bind up the intruder!!



... 2b cont'd ...

[Fitz]

Nah, I think it is this guy with the laser eyeball bit goin' on.



Cover the canoe up with a tarp and run for your lives!!

[Canoez]

Nah, I think it is this guy with the laser eyeball bit goin' on.



Cover the canoe up with a tarp and run for your lives!!

Wait!?!?!?!? FRED'S BACK?

[MoMan]

As the door flung open in a flash of light,








out of the corner of my eye, I saw:





















As I stood there with my tape gun raised menacingly in the air, Andy solved the BIG mystery:


(more adventures to follow)

[MoMan]

OK, in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, I continue to make microscopic progress:



This evening, I put the final strip on one side, overlapping the centerline (just like the book sez!!). I'm also closing in on the upper sections of the bow/stern.



By the way, for those of you who have built multiple boats, I would appreciate you stifling your giggles at my tiny milestones. Thank you.







Oh, and lest I forget, I wanted to give a shout out to Daniel (AKA "Sailor") because I am using his spreader-clamping method on the bow/stern sections:



L8TR!

--M

[P.L.Lenihan]

By the way, for those of you who have built multiple boats, I would appreciate you stifling your giggles at my tiny milestones. Thank you.

-M

It's not the milestones which are killing me but rather the sterile field of your operating theater!
..:

Looking very good Mike and I hope you keep at her for the final push to get her done before that wild ocean galloping maniac from the land of the Bluenose gets' his done.....or whatever it is you slow pokes do to stay happy!


Cheers!


Peter

[MoMan]

So I finished planking one side, as well as the ends of the sheer at the bow and stern. Tonight I trimmed the "practice" center line. I'm a little apprehensive about proceeding with trimming to the actual center line, which is my next step. It's going to require more accuracy, which isn't my strong suite, so wish me luck!



L8TR

--Mike

[Fitz]

What are you using to trim it? I was very happy using a very sharp chisel as I approached the centerline.

I'm sure Canoez has some ideas too.

Looking good!

[MoMan]

What are you using to trim it? I was very happy using a very sharp chisel as I approached the centerline.

I'm sure Canoez has some ideas too.

I started with a sharp chisel, but it felt uncomfortable, and I think I know why. I switched to a utility knife w/ a fresh blade, but that felt a bit awkward too. As Sailor previously noted, my strongback is too tall for a comfortable working height. I believe it's time to abandon my caster wheels, which add a good 6". That unnecessary addition is probably the culprit behind a few minor gaps between some planks: I didn't see them at the time of installation because I was viewing from a disadvantage. I can always add the wheels back later. I know that Ted Moore recommends a chisel too.

[MoMan]

[not sure how this one got left off of my earlier post]

[Sailor]

OK, in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, I continue to make microscopic progress:



This evening, I put the final strip on one side, overlapping the centerline (just like the book sez!!). I'm also closing in on the upper sections of the bow/stern.



By the way, for those of you who have built multiple boats, I would appreciate you stifling your giggles at my tiny milestones. Thank you.







Oh, and lest I forget, I wanted to give a shout out to Daniel (AKA "Sailor") because I am using his spreader-clamping method on the bow/stern sections:



L8TR!

--M

Glad I could be of service. Keep it up. I hope to make some more progress soon.

[Canoez]

Well, remove the greatest amount of waste with a Dozuki saw and then work with either a rabbet plane or a very sharp chisel. Always cut from the center towards the bow or stern to keep from splitting up the grain of the brittle red cedar. You may wish to turn your chisel with the bevel towards the cut to help keep it from "digging".

We usually leave a strip at the turn of the bilge un-glued so that we may remove the halves of the bottom panel for cutting off the forms. We have also tried cutting it right on the forms with a circular saw using a sled jig that we fabricated. Details are on my blog, but I'd say results were mixed with that method and it requires a good deal of skill.

[MoMan]

Right now, my plan is to remove the strongback wheels, mark a new "practice" line and give the chisel another go. I know I was doing it wrong on my first attempt: I had the chisel perpendicular to the bilge surface, slicing through the face like a knife instead of shaving the edge like a plane. I'm actually thinking of purchasing a shoulder plane (OK, it's really just an excuse to buy yet another tool that I could probably do without--but damn it I like buying tools!).

Got a friend in town for the weekend so I probably won't do much until next week.

[MoMan]

The castors got removed last Saturday, which made a nice difference. I'm a little concerned about the strongback racking because my garage floor isn't exactly level. I did try to straighten and level it as much as possible, but that's really something that should be done before you start building.

Anyway, I took another run with the chisel, which worked better with my new, lower working height. Because I don't yet have a rabbet plane (it's on order from Lee Valley!), I am using my low-angle block plane to sneak up on the fishing line that marks my true center. Of course, the iron doesn't extend all the way to the edge, which means I have to slip wedges under the planks where they meet the station molds to raise them up enough to cut--a minor inconvenience. I quit for the night when I sliced through the fishing line, which I had been expecting to do eventually. So that's where I am tonight.

And incidentally, I had this whole post typed up earlier tonight and went to preview before posting and f-ing Firefox crashed on me. I should know better and to type it into a word processor first (which I'm now doing).

L8tr

[MoMan]

Yeah! My centerline is cut and the remaining section of bilge planking progresses.




I really like the versatility of the bike inner tube clamps. Be stretching them a little while I position the spring clamps, they provide just enough tension to pull the planks tight in the areas between the station molds.



The mini wooden handscrew clamps are also quite useful in aligning the planks around the bilge. Those planks have to bend a bit, and don't want to lay flat against the station molds. These clamps force the planks to lay flat until I can get them into final position and run a couple staples into the molds.


The tape just helps keep the glue off.

More ridiculously slow progress is just around the corner!

L8tr

--Mike

[Sailor's Brother]

Yeah! My centerline is cut and the remaining section of bilge planking progresses.





--Mike

That is one nice centerline...

[MoMan]

That is one nice centerline...

Thanks SB! It looks better in pictures. And the rabbet plane that I ordered to finish the CL won't arrive until tomorrow!

Story of my [tool] life:

Encounter situation that may benefit from specialized tool; order said tool; proceed with a workaround that doesn't require specialized tool; complete job before specialized tool arrives. Watch specialized tool collect dust unused for the next 10 years.

[P.L.Lenihan]

A very nicely cut centerline!! What happened? No Texas Thinking Juice that day?

Can't wait to see her bottom closed up for good and the next phase begin.

Keep at it Mike!!


Cheers!


Peter

[Sailor's Brother]

Thanks SB! It looks better in pictures. And the rabbet plane that I ordered to finish the CL won't arrive until tomorrow!

Story of my [tool] life:

Encounter situation that may benefit from specialized tool; order said tool; proceed with a workaround that doesn't require specialized tool; complete job before specialized tool arrives. Watch specialized tool collect dust unused for the next 10 years.

I wouldn't worry about a Veritas plane collecting dust... Which did you get? I'm sure once it's there all kinds of uses suggest themselves...

[MoMan]

I wouldn't worry about a Veritas plane collecting dust... Which did you get? I'm sure once it's there all kinds of uses suggest themselves...

I got the 3/8"

It's shiny, new and I can't wait to get home and rip that delicious brown box open!

[MoMan]

No Texas Thinking Juice that day?

Bite your tongue good sir! A day without TTJ (or some other quality international equivalent) would be the same as a day in the slammer!

[MoMan]

[MoMan]

It's tiny, shiny and all mine-y!! Now I just need to find a flock of rabbits.





It would have come in real handy in trimming my center line!


View from above:


--Mike

[P.L.Lenihan]

That is one fine looking tool Mike!! I didn't know you still had rabbets down in Texas! I suppose that is what the canoe is for, rabbet hunting!

Carry on!


Cheers!


Peter

[Sailor's Brother]

That is one fine looking tool Mike!! I didn't know you still had rabbets down in Texas! I suppose that is what the canoe is for, rabbet hunting!

Carry on!


Cheers!


Peter

Of course they have rabbets in Texas.... they typically fly in (in the plane ya know...)

[Canoez]

It's tiny, shiny and all mine-y!! Now I just need to find a flock of rabbits.





It would have come in real handy in trimming my center line!


View from above:


--Mike

Vewwy vewwy nice way to hunt wabbits.

The only thing that could make that better is if the brass handle/clamp thingie could swivel to the right and left to get my dragging knuckles outta the way of the forms.

[MoMan]

The only thing that could make that better is if the brass handle/clamp thingie could swivel to the right and left to get my dragging knuckles outta the way of the forms.

You're right--I probably still would have jacked up the planks just to let my knuckles clear!

[MoMan]

First, the good news: I am closing the gap, 1 mm at a time.


The bilge strips at the bow end are coming together nicely:


But at the other end, the end alignment is off by a half-strip's width:


So you experienced folks--what are my options? I probably wouldn't care, but I ambitiously went for a basswood bilge accent strip (stoopid, eh?). So if the ends don't line up, it will be very obvious. One idea I have started to pursue (with scraps) is to taper the strips. The yellow-number 7 strip has both a taper and the requisite miter:


Will this work? Or will it create new problems for me down the road? Here it is with the adjoining (scrap) strip, #8:

[MoMan]

OK folks--pardon my erection. I just got back from trimming the aft end of the sheer line, and it turned out better--and easier--than I expected.


I attached a batten, marked a fair curve line (just like the book sez!!) and went to town with a sharp Marples chisel.

Like butter. The result was “schwing”! Only 3 more to trim.

On the other front: I got no responses from my earlier inquiry about tapering. But that’s OK. I shouldn’t rely on the Forum to solve all my problems and F-ups. But this one was a little more taxing. I spent the weekend absorbing as much Texas Thinkin’ Juice as possible, studying the issue from a variety of different angles. The theory looked promising, yet I still suffered from self-doubt.

Not to disparage my adopted state of residency, but the Texas Thinkin’ Juice wasn’t cutting it. I decided to dig deep into my Swedish heritage, and deeper into my freezer where the vodka was peacefully chilling out. If there’s one thing those Swedes know, it’s thinkin’!

With the help of the Swedish Thinkin' Juice, I decided to pull a Tenner: I dug out some scraps and started experimenting with my theory.

The scraps I tried over the weekend were too short, and too few, to show me any real results. So I broke out some pine and mahogany strips I had machined earlier in a fit of optimism. As a bonus, this combination of strips show a nice contrast to illustrate the results. I think this just may work. But please, if I'm overlooking something, jump in!




L8tr

--Mike

[hokiefan]

Hey Mike, from here it looks like you're on the right track. Its what I was thinking I'd try, but keep in mind I haven't built a stripper yet.

Anyway, looks good. Keep up the Heavy Thinking!

Cheers,

Bobby

[MoMan]

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Bobby! I'm 80-proof positive of the power of Thinkin' (and confidence-building) Juice!

[Canoez]

Sorry we weren't around to answer questions, Mike. We were just having too much fun at the WoodenBoat Show this past weekend, don'tcha know.

You could add some strips like that to get the pattern aligned again. They're usually referred to as "cheater strips" and are inserted at the bow and stern for reducing the amount of bend and twist of strips at the bilge. Cheater strips are usually anywhere between 12" and 18" long. Couple things to pay attention to:

First, color - you want the strips and adjacent strips to be very much alike in color and grain. It will help hide the additional strip. This image shows a good example of color and grain selection:



Second, check the width amidships to the inside of the basswood feature strips. Just to make sure that they aren't wildly different from side-to-side on the hull. When you've got mis-alginment of the strip ends, it usually indicates some width issues. Very often it will not even be noticeable, and you can let it pass.

Third - just beware, Thinkin' Juice can lead to problems. I usually reserve my Thinkin' Juice for mulling things over in my Thotful Spot after the fact.

BTW - Thinkin' Juice is also referred to as a "restorative beverage" by Greg Rössel and can include just about anything - particularly copious amounts of coffee before 5:00 PM and copious amounts of Tenner's style of Thinkin' Juice after 5:00 PM.