Meredith

I am somewhat nervous about using the table saw..but I know its only comfort zones. I want to make sure I have all the safety angles covered. Doing a lot of research on that - and any info and suggestions that anyone here can offer is greatly welcome. I NEED all my body parts! I used the carnauba wax (even like the smell) on the table tops of all my machines. Even the aluminium ones I figured it would also add to a smooth slide of the timbers on the jigsaw, shaper etc. The metal on the slide angle guide has gone rusty in my climate - even with the wax. First time I saw the rust I cleaned it off with very fine steeI wool and waxed immediately - but it hasn't worked. I am thinking of getting another one and keeping it inside in the aircon until I need to use it. Unfortunately my climate can be a bit cruel and would never expect any manufacturer of any sort of gear to have to design with it in mind. I even got the electronic rust thingie for my new car when I purchased it - quite expensive but worth it. I can hardly park the car inside in the bedroom or lounge room in the aircon I have some lovely billets and timbers - I'm really keen to start chopping.... but scared! I will definitely try it soon - and then I will wonder why I made such a fuss and acted like a scaredy cat! Then I bet everything I can lay my hands of will get cut...If I run out of timber.. I am sure I can pull a few things off the house or furniture :)

Re did the stain - much better this time around. My work hours are too long during the week to take photos (too dark) - so new pic will have to wait till the weekend

A little bit of progress overnight and this morning... put the keel pieces together and cut the rabbit - got a bit of wood filler in it at the moment - waiting for it to dry - so I can sand. Attaching the "molds" to the building board so I can shape the timbers around it. That's it so far. Will get a few more molds on today - doubt I will get it finished due to the glue drying time. The acrylic frame is working fine (not pretty - but works). Pity I can't find my bigger rare earth magnets - saves clamping. The little ones are working fine - but I think the bigger ones will suit all purposes - they have about a 5kg pulling power - think that should be enough for most future builds. Job for this afternoon: Find magnets!

Well.. I have sanded the burns....notched the rabbit... built a board/jig, put the guides on the "molds" (bulkheads). Spent most of the evening making a thingie to square the "molds". I found some acrylic - I have to make do with what ever I can find and improvise here. Cant just go out and buy something. But it works - cant say it looks too attractive. I have glued the first one on - so off to a start. It should be useful for other builds too - I made it big enough to cover all the kits I have here waiting. I plan to spend more time on preparation from now on in ..... I know it pays off in the end.

I plan to do the next staining indoors - with aircon Thanks Yves - I KNEW someone here would know Well I have started the Bounty Launch - couldn't help myself

Cat has no problem with any noise from the machines.. he is very confident I wont hurt him I do actually move him - if I am going to start one of those machines.. I don't fuss so much if its only the rotary tools. The Byrnes disc sander was on my wish list too.. but the freight is the killer and I could actually bring the proxxon back with me on the plane at no cost. I figured the more precision type tools/jobs would be the Byrnes tools (saving for a thicknesser for my future planned scratch build) - and maybe those that don't have to be quite so good can be something I can get here in Aust. I am happy enough with the proxxons - but then I have nothing to compare to. Its my skill level that needs improving - not the tools I really wish I was in a place I could go and take lessons with these sort of tools... get some real hands on, in person assistance. But that is just a dream.

Yes I have really only used it the once so far. Too many toys - and so little time!!!!!!!!! But I made the base for my little 18th century long boat to sit on..worked out pretty well for a first attempt. on the opposite side I have the disc sander.. drill press and mitre/drop saw and a few other gadgets.

I am fighting fit now... just a few set backs earlier.. and one I think was maybe an over reaction by medical staff I think maybe all their machines were faulty and my machine (heart) was just fine! .. but I still had to have them shove things into my heart so they could be sure - I didn't like that at all as I had to be "awake' while they did it. And due to what I believe was an under reaction by the hospitals in a previous episode to the heart issues - I ended up with acute kidney failure.. but they got them all working fine again too .. ohh and then there was the regularly scheduled biopsies prior to that.. they were all fine too... and last.. I had to get all 4 impacted wisdom teeth out. That wasn't fun as they were all wrapped around the nerves and apparently it was almost certain I would have permanent nerve damage to my whole lower face...but obviously the surgeon was on his best game that day.. and all is now well.. sort of.. it still hurts as they had to take a lot of jaw bone out - but no nerve damage at all. So I recon I have had a pretty thorough overhaul this year - not many other bits of me left they can check out! The new job.. I like it... its still on the same mine site/refinery - just now working with a contractor instead of a direct company employee - providing the scaffolding, rope access stuff and laggers, weldres, pipefitters etc - and I get back out in the field - which I prefer - even if its hot and horrible. The only bit I am not overly comfortable with is now I am considered a 'boss man".. I'd rather just be a worker :) - but they are paying me well to wear the title of "Controller"..lololol

Decided to have a little side project going on while I also work on my Syren. Need to have a ship build going during any "wait" time on the Syren. So all I have done so far is sort all the timbers... These imperial measurements aren't natural for me! - 1/8" and above I am fine with and can visualise - but anything less.. well as far as I am concerned its just "little" - I cant picture it. Silly thing is - I work with both imperial and metric all day with my work - but the scale is a whole lot larger. We all tend to refer to ID pipe diameter in inches....lineal measurements in meters....grinder sizes in inches.. drill bits and any "holes" in mm etc etc ec I do need a longer sorting box though - this one was originally made for the little 18th Century long Boat. Next time I take a trip out of here - I will get some more timber and MFD to build a much longer one. I find it very useful keeping things sorted. I have now cleared the table (lap top is only for MSE reference while I build and a few DVD's or music.. it usually lives on another bench) So.. I will start with a it of cleaning up laser burns and getting the bulkheads tabs glued and keel glued..

Must say I love my Jim Byrnes machines. I have the ropewalk and the Table saw (and the draw plate). I am not the only one in the household that is drawn to the table saw.... No matter where I position it - the cat will guard it with his life. Initially he even used to sit on the table bit - till we had some serious words and safety interactions. So its not the "corner" that Spotty prefers.. its definitely the table saw. Not the best of photos for his "normal" position..

I have ALMOST decided to get out the Bounty long boat to start - so a few days wait on the cannons wont matter a bit. I am very drawn between commencing some deck fittings for Syren - or starting a new build - I am wasting time deciding..LOL So I slipped off to look at some Bounty long boat builds... that always inspires me.. but then I also have a Emma C Berry and there are some very tempting logs on those too!!!!!

Here are my cannons - are they old or new style?

Thanks Augie. I will get mine out and post some photos and I am sure someone will tell me if they are the old or new ones.. I only got this kit for Christmas - so maybe I have the new style ones.

I have some wipe on Poly and some Minwax and feast watson stains. I am certain it was my impatience and the weather conditions that were my problem. My work room is actually out doors in the "breezeway" and we have very high humidity here - usually in the 90+%. But I will be patient this time around - I have put Syren back on her keel stand and I am deciding which of the 4 kits I have sitting on the shelve will be opened now I have the weekend home alone - so don't want to waste the "my time". So a question for other Syren builders - the cannons in the kit - are they "good enough" - or could I do better? I know that is a long way ahead - but if I want to order stuff I want time for it to be here when I am ready to use it. Of course there is nothing stopping me working on deck furniture and cannons in the "wait" time instead of starting another boat. I am pretty sure I would like to do a scratch built one soon - but I would really like to complete my 4 kits before I even consider a scratch build. But nothing wrong with planning and dreaming

What a great build! Here I was thinking I was only interested in the sailing type/tall ships.... But the more I spend looking at logs here - the more my interests broaden. I would love to attempt something like this - but I just couldn't draw up the plans/parts. I need at least a ready made plan - or kit. So for now I can just admire from afar. Really impressive work.. I love it!

Started the Syren a little while ago - but life got in the way so I haven't progressed very much. Had 4 stints in hospital in 3 different states in the first 4 months of the year.. then changed jobs to a far more challenging one. so now I am in my third week of the new job - things are settling down a bit and I have recommenced the Syren. I did spend my recuperation time building the little 18th Century long boat - also by Chuck. That is all finished now - except I have a few more oars to shape and paint. Had some issues with staining the planking on Syren - this is the second time I have taken it off - so its looks a bit rough - hopefully tomorrow the appearance will be a LOT better. THIS time I will also be more patient. I used sanding sealer and even though it felt dry to the touch - I will give it plenty of time to set before I sand and re-stain. I am pretty sure this was my problem the first time around (and the first fix was laced with impatience too!!!) So onto the photos: http://justshining.com.au/shipbuild/syren/syren1.jpg http://justshining.com.au/shipbuild/syren/syren2.jpg http://justshining.com.au/shipbuild/syren/syren3.jpg http://justshining.com.au/shipbuild/syren/syren4.jpg I need to do some more sanding/fairing of the inside. The inside transom felt so delicate - I decided to wait till it was planked on the outside before attempting more sanding. I already broke one part early in the piece - so didn't want to risk more damage. So much easier and safer when I started sanding this morning. I will finish up the fairing today. Then it can sit and wait before the stain goes anywhere near it again! In the meantime I might just get out another kit to start - so I can swap between the two when there is "wait" time involved.

I am with Augie on this...my all time favourite Syren! I was hoping you would repost more photos - very inspirational. I really missed the old log. It really makes me want to re-start my Syren - although I am not very far along the build anyway.

Yes - I am very interested in the blocks as well. Chuck - you also mention canons.. are these suitable for your ME version of the Syren?

Beautiful LITTLE model. So much detail. And wonderful finishes.

I have two of Jim's machines (would like the others - but cant afford it yet).. beautiful quality for sure. Customer service is excellent. BUT I am very green when it comes to things like table saws... (I am comfortable with the rope walk and its no where near as scary to operate!!) I would very much appreciate an absolute beginners guide to using the table saw... like Frank - I have never used one before and would love live in an area where I could get some lesons/tutors - but that wont happen as I live too far from civilisation. I have a couple of eBooks on table saws in general - so I will definitely study those - and some youtube vids. But I would love to impose on all the talented and experienced builders here to get a beginners guide to table saws... how to use them.. what to use them for.. safety.. other things to be careful of.. how to cut the zero tolerance etc etc. I am still very aprehensive - I have a bench full of new power tools - so far I have become comfortable (I didnt say proficient.. just comfortable) with only about half of them!

I used the drill first time around - but with 50 wraps - it takes moments by hand - not a chore at all! And I can control how tight/loose the thread is wrapped. For small experiements with 40 or 50 wraps - its quicker by hand

I tend to hand wrap my spools - at the experimental stage - mostly only 50 wraps - until I am satisfied and want to make a bulk lot of a particular thread up. So I did 100 wraps on the spool - but nothing more yet - easy to keep focussed at 50 wraps

I made quite a few tonight too... I first used the small balls of crochet threads - size 5, size 8 and size 12 threads - Just used a single thread per spool - spun clockwise and all came out nicely. BUT the strange thing - I have some large balls of the same sizes - and I can make nice rope with 2 and three threads per spool - but blowed if I can make a nice single thread per spool rope. This I cannot explain. They are really both the same initial threads. The Guterman size 12 cotton comes out really nicely - made some LH with single threads per spool - then made these into some RH - quite nice. Like the thread - like the colour I did a final experiment with a size 5 crochet thread and size 8 (both perle cotton) one of each thread on each spool - not a sucess. I was being lazy as its late and I was getting tired. Different thickness threads on the same spool - turns out lumpy Just thought I could wind onto the spool from 2 balls of cotton - instead of measuring and cutting both from the same ball. ... result a RH rope - not good I also made a 3 strand per spool mix of 2 threads of YSL#100 silk and one thread of King Tut cotton per spool - nice.... ends up a LH rope. Niec and fine. I will try for some photos and measurements in the morning. It will be Saturday - and DAYS off!! I am definitley getting the hang of this - and past problems with the rope when I took off the uptake spool with it twisting etc - not a problem tonight.. the final rope stays beautifully together - no un ravelling.. no winding back on itself if you just let it go (I am thinking I was winding some threads the wrong way in my initial trials)...little or no hardening required - I just hand stretched it (very little stretch in any of the above threads). Happier with the results each time I use the rope walk now...

Ahh... great info for the likes of people like me!

Pat - Spotlight will have it...horrid store - but they do have a good range in a couple of other Spotlights I have been to. If no luck there - try a needlework shop of some sort..