guraus

I have this same saw for several years now and I was very happy with it, but recently no more. Last month alone it broke 5 blades with very light use - and they are 23$ each. I don't know what is wrong with it but I don't think the issue are the blades. Here is what happens: after installing a fresh new blade and a little usage I start hearing a repetitive noise like the blade is hitting something at each turn and shortly after the blade breaks ALWAYS at the welding point. When the toc-toc-toc noise starts the blade will break even if it turns empty without cutting anything. I always buy the same Proxxon blades from Amazon and I don't think the problem are the blades. I think that in time the saw parts got worn by extensive usage and miss aligned. I am not an expert by any measure but what I can see is that the plastic on the two wheels is worn and I am guessing the blade does not sit true on them and get a bit twisted which makes it hit the guides and after a while it breaks. The upper guide is three bearings and the blade touches their exterior rounded part but the lower one is just a notch in a piece of steel. My money are on the lower one. I just got a new batch of 4 blades and I will try one without the lower guide - see what's happening. If someone has more experience with these tools and can share some light on what could be the cause of this problem, I would greatly appreciate. Regards, Alexandru

Hello all, Here is another update with the progress over the last couple of weeks. Alexandru

Thank you very much Sergey. Stockholm tar, it is possible you are right and I will check in that book. This won't really be an issue as I don't plan to rig the model anyway but even so having the right number won't hurt. Thank you. Regards, Alexandru

Hello Hobbie, I visited Victory several years ago and I had less than a day as we left from London in the morning by train and we returned in the evening. I can give you two advices a bit contradictory for your visit: do a lot of detailed pictures - you will be glad later. Be prepared for them: I emptied two sets of batteries doing that as I had to use a lot the flash for the interior. take the time to "take in" the ship. I regret now as I didn't have much time to do that and I've seen the ship basically through my camera lens. With that said I wish you a great visit. Here are some more progress pictures on my model Still working on the forecastle, but closing in fast. Regards Alexandru

Isalbert, you can reach him by e-mail: johnwmckay@telus.net Regards, Alexandru

I don't think the ebony is difficult to work with. Except for the black dust it makes (my power tools are always connected to the shopvac when I work with) I kind of like working with. Once you understand you can't really bend it and stop trying to do that, it works fine. Cuts well, file or sand very well, very nice to turn or to mill. It is forgiving some times as say you did a small hole through it in the wrong place - you just put a drop of white glue in it and file/sand the top a bit: the black dust will fill the hole and it becomes quasi invisible black on black. Is ideal for making moldings. As is quite expensive - especially the real African deep black ebony - I have a special scrap box only for it in which I keep every small piece I cut off for potential future reuse. At the wood store I bought a while ago pen turning blanks and what they call "cut-offs" sold by weight form their scrap box. I am well stocked for a while. Hope this helps, Alexandru

Thank you all for the comments and likes. Greg, the planks are 5mm by 1.5mm. Here is another update. Alexandru

Thank you all for the great comments and the likes! Here is another small update with the progress on the forecastle. Regards, Alexandru

Last week's progress. Alexandru

Hi Greg, There is no master template and copy. I do them one by one using the first one as model on which I take the measurements and try to match the subsequent as much as possible. They are similar enough but not identical. Alexandru

Thanks Mark, Yes, I used ebony to turn the stancions. Alexandru

Hello all, Quarter deck almost complete - missing last two beams - somehow I counted them wrong. I still have to add several hanging knee and lodging knees too. Before someone asks, in the before last picture the space for the companionway between the first (lower) two beams is shifted toward left as in the plans. The upper deck below was oiled as there will be nothing else that needs to be glued to it. Regards, Alexandru

Thanks Greg, The string is there so I can align the middle of the deck beam to it. Alexandru

Another small update the last before a vacation break. Alexandru

Druxey, This is the most pertinent explanation of the difference between draughts and existing ship. Thank you for clarifying this to us. Alexandru

E&T, I didn't precisely weighted it but based on the effort I need to make each time I take it out from my basement for the twice a year exhibitions I participate I would estimate to be about 40kg or about 90pounds. A bit heavier each time. Alexandru

Thanks AON - you are right it is forecastle. I corrected my post. Alexandru

Started to do the forecastle deck framing. For some reason the order of the picture got all messed up... Alexandru

A bit of progress today on this other project of mine: main topic metalworking. Alexandru

Hello, Another small update.

Mark, Thank you for contributing to the beakhead deck debate. Your input is appreciated. Unfortunately for my model is now to late to change anything - it will have a raised platform as there is one in the Victory in Portsmouth. Was that there from the beginning or not I don't know. I personally find it suspect to loose all that space (between the two decks) on such a crowded ship. Greg Thank you for appreciation of my work. Alexandru

Stared working on the beached bulkhead and decided to do a small repair for several can't frames that were previously patched because they ended up to thin at top end after sanding. They look much better now and I am happy I did this repair. Regards, Alexandru

Ggratings and stern gallery windows framing.

Thank you all for comments and likes. Much appreciated. Here are the pictures for some more progress on the upper deck.

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