Cutting recesses?

[Redshirt]

Hi, ive got a small question. Sometimes it is necessary to cut slots/ recesses into a boat's keel before the frames can be added. The Galley Washington is an example for this. Now i wonder if it always takes a milling machine or if chisels are sufficient.

 

Thanks,

Daniel

[dvm27]

Of course a mill makes this easy to do but you can accomplish the same result with a chisel. It needs to be very well honed (most newly purchased chisels are not) and the proper width for the mortise. Score stop cuts on the sides and bottom first then remove the wood in between with light passes. {practice on some scrap first!

[Mike Y]

Instead of using chisel, it might be easier and safer to cut rough slots using scroll/band saw and finish them with a file. 

P.S.: yes, my chiseling skills are really bad (so far), but just pointing that there are other easy options too.

[Captain Al]

I use this technique.  I cut the sides of the mortise with a razor saw, holding the keel in a vise.  Make sure to cut equally on both sides and just up to the depth you want (mark it).  Then I put the point of an exacto blade (in the holder) in between the two cuts and a sharp tap with a mini hammer knocks the mortise out.  I don't know how well this will work with plywood.  It works best with solid wood and you must be cross cutting with the saw and knocking out the mortise with the grain.

[mtaylor]

I used a variation of Mike's idea. I cut the slots on the model table saw with a dado washer.  Once the slots are cut (undersize them a bit), I final size and shape with a file.

[Landlocked123]

Hi Mark,

 

Where did you find a dado washer? I have something like that for my 10' table saw (I eventually switched to stacked carbide). I looked for a dado washer for my Dremel 580 and never found anything. Do you think it could be something you grind yourself? My guess it would take a huge amount of "trial and error" to cut a washer which would cut an exact width.

 

Best,

John

Edited September 16, 2015 by Landlocked123

[mtaylor]

John,

 

I have the MM table saw and they sold some for that saw.  I don't know if they sell them for the new model they just brought out.  Also, you have to use the "original" 80 tooth blade.

 

As for the 10" saw,  I know they make dado blades and I've also heard of folks stacking blades to make a dado.  I suppose one could make their own dado washers... a bit of Googling might be in order to see if there's a safety problem.

[Cap'n Rat Fink]

Daniel,

     I use chisels and now I have the mini table saw that will help me in recesses. A milling machine is nice but not necessary. This is not the only way as you have read here.

 

Dave Stevens of lumberyard has some pretty slick ways on how he does recesses of all sorts. You can get some ideas from a couple of his build logs here....

 

http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/9809-general-hunter-1809-by-dave-stevens/

 

http://modelshipbuilder.com/page.php?186

 

I hope this helps.

 

Mario

Edited September 17, 2015 by Cap'n Rat Fink