Rustyj

Thanks for your kind words Tim.

The sheer rails have been added as well as some of the cleats the plans call for.

Next I have to make a bunch of ring bolts and then the gun carriages. No Guns

yet but I might as well as start on the carriages

Also the quest for a lathe continues. I have ordered the Tabletop Machining

book by Joe Martin and will read up on lathe usage as well as annoying some

of you with dumb questions.

Thanks Joe and Mark.

Thanks Mark and Grant. Having never used a lathe before or even seen one used, I never thought about

the fine control needed for small parts.

Hi Augie, Lots of thoughts but not much progress. I’m still cussing my brother who was a

tool and die maker. He retired and moved to NC and doesn’t have any of his tools anymore!

I’m lusting over the Sherline 4000B Lathe Package but the Proxxon DB 250 Micro Woodturning

Lathe is much more in my price range. Then between the two you have the Taig MicroLathe II. I

know the Proxxon is only a wood lathe but how much metal would I turn? Then also I could use

it for now and sell it later if I decide to upgrade to a metal lathe. Oh the problems of semi retirement.

If I was still working fulltime I’d just work some OT and pay for it.

Hi Jakob, Yes she is going to be a big one.

The sheer rail was cut from cherry as it’s hard enough to hold an edge but soft enough

to make scraping the edge easier. I used a dremel and files to first remove the razors

edge and then cut the shape into the old blade to make a scraper. After many passes

I obtained the edge I wanted.

I then sanded it smooth, stained it with Fiebing’s and

left it to dry.

After it’s good and dry I’ll rub it down and apply a coat of wipe on poly.

Nothing spectacular, just plugging along here. Holes drilled for treenails,

holes filled with boxwood treenails, everything sanded down to 400 grit

sandpaper and one coat of wipe on poly applied.

Now I have to make the cap rail and start working on some of the cleats and gun carriages.

Sorry Floyd, no work till Monday! Yippeeeee!

Hi Gary, Every time I stop in to see your work it just takes my breath away.

Simply wonderful. I hope your Christmas was a great one.

Thanks Grant. Although Santa’s fund had already be allocated, thus no lathe under the tree, he did leave

me a Crown Mini Turning Set of miniature lathe tools with 3-3/4-Inch 95mm H.S.S. blades and 6-Inch 152mm

rosewood handles with brass ferrules containing: 1/8-Inch 3mm Gouge, 1/4-Inch 6mm Gouge, 1/16-Inch

1.6mm Parting Tool, 1/4-Inch 6mm Skew Chisel and 1/4Inch 6mm Round Nose Scraper.

These will make a nice start and could be used with a “drill press lathe” until I can whine enough to get a

lathe for my birthday!  

Well everything has been cleaned up, grandkids have all returned to their home, and now it's shoptime!  

Thanks Paddy and the same to you!

Spot on Augie! You are doing a great job and a Merry Christmas to you and yours.

A Merry Christmas to you too Antony and good luck with the carving too.

Thank you all for stopping by and for all of the likes.

Hi Ben, Thanks. It’s really fun using multiple woods.

Hello Jakob. Thanks for joining this motley crew and your kind words.  

The starboard side is now complete.  Now it’s time to drill a lot of

holes and make some treenails.

No work or playing in the shop for the next couple of days.  

I also want to wish a Merry Christmas to everyone and their families here at MSW!

See you again soon!

Thanks for the tip Mike. Now I just have to “accidentally” tear a sheet so I can give it a try.

Had a good stretch of time in the work shop. I have been planking above the wale.

Very straight forward until I got to the sweep ports and gun port openings. Then I

had to notch the plank. It was a slow process of take a little off, check, take a little

more and recheck. After several times it worked out.

Now its time to plank the starboard side and then a bunch of treenailing.

I absolutely would Floyd. Just have to time it for when his wife is out!  

Oh no I won't tell but if I run out of tee shirts I know where to go! 

Very nice work Bob!

I agree that planking the deck can be addictive. I find it a lot of fun and if you’re not

careful you could spend the whole day doing it. Hmmm that doesn’t sound so bad

does it?  Also I don’t think you will have any problems nibbing those planks

when the time comes.

Have a Merry Christmas and enjoy the family and any sneak a ways you can get.  

Thank you Gary. Your comments are always appreciated.

Hi Bob, yep old tee shirts have almost as many uses as duct tape.

Hi Bob H. I’m sure the tee shirt club is very large. One problem I have is that since

I’m semi retired I don’t wear them out as fast as I once did. I’m afraid someday I

may deplete my supply and have to use, gasp, new ones.  

Well done! Keep it up.

Hi Chris,

Yes there is one coat of satin wipe on poly on the wales and hull planking. I do it as much for the look as the

protection. I have yet to try the danish or tung oil but I am thinking of trying that too.

Thanks everyone for your comments and likes.  

Mike, Ttttthhhhhaaaaaannnnnkkkkksssssssssss.  

Hi Joe, thanks and I try to remember to take pictures. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in

what I’m doing I forget to take them.

Hey Grant, The main reason I chose the Fiebing Dye was that I saw and liked the results

from others using it. Also for me there is not the smell associated with spirit based stains.

Hi Rob, It is the same for the deck planking. I edge glue black construction paper to one

edge, trim it tight and then glue the plank down. Repeat as needed.

Thanks Tim.

Hi Chris. I’ve played with it a bit. It is as thin as water. The best way I found to do it on

something this large is to use a cut up cotton tee shirt. Using rubber gloves of course I

dipped the tee shirt in the dye squeezed the excess out and then rubbed it in. At the ends

I did tape it off and used a small brush to better control it. I’m very happy with the way

it came out. After it dried I also installed three rows of planking below the wales. That

is the extent of hull planking I will do.

Hi Glenn,

She’s looking very nice. Your work is as nice as it always was. The aluminum foil may be quicker but

I don’t think it will have quite the same look. I do feel your pain though after cutting and placing the

copper on the Constitution a few years ago and I still have a twitch from it.

I really like the closed hatch look and thanks for continuing your posts too. I will use it as a reference

once I get mine out of the closet.   

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  

Thanks Floyd. It's really fun to do.

Nothing really exciting to show all of you. I have cut the wales from cherry and installed them.

Once they are sanded I will be coloring them black with Fiebings leather dye. This will be the

first time I have used it so this might be interesting!  

I have depleted most of my ebony and will probably discontinue using it anymore. It’s bad for

you, I’m not religious enough about wearing a mask and it’s just messy.

As far as the rest of the planking goes I will be using Boxwood. The plans show planking

only above the wales but I may put two or three rows below the wales too.

Hi Rob, Thanks for the screw idea!

Mike, As you said it will take a long time I think as some parts require the removal of 1/4"

or more of material. That's a whole lot of sanding and filing.

Ok the planking in board is complete. As I mentioned before I used red heart.

I also cut some thin veneers to line the inside of the gun ports. I did not think

far enough ahead for the sweep ports so they will be painted red to match. They

are so small I don't believe anyone will know the difference.

That is except for all of you.