Tapering Masts and Arms the easy way

[Johnny Mike]

All the information I have seen on tapering dowels for masts and arms 

is by a lot of hand sanding or turning. I have done it this way myself and it was time consuming and I had to guess at the taper for continuity.

And being a novice it was difficult to get matching results.

 

I tried something that works to get a consistent taper quick and easy. 

I took my disc sander and clamped on a guide to the angle I wanted and simply hand fed the dowel in while rotating it by hand. I had a perfect taper from 12mm diameter to 9mm in diameter in 8". Exactly what I wanted in just a few minutes.

Maybe this is common practice for the expert builders but being a novice builder is was an amazing discovery for me.

[Loracs]

This is a good idea, simple and straightforward. Look like quite precise too.

[Nirvana]

Way to simple solution....😆

No wonder I didn't think of that.

[BritByker]

Thank you.  Doing this next time!

[GGibson]

Looks interesting, Johnny Mike!  And I have a Proxxon disk sander.  Just trying to actually determine how the block guide is set up and how the dowel is fed.  Is the dowel just fed from the side to the sander's mid-point?  Thanks for clarification.  

[palmerit]

Another solution is to put an end of a dowel in a power drill (wrapping the end in paper of cloth so as not to intent it). Maybe that’s what you mean “by hand”. I use a clamp to keep the drill turning. Then use various grits of sandpaper to shape. Way better than trying to do it by hand, with a blade, or with a plane - at least for me. Need digital calipers to measure. 
 

This approach could work great so long as you get the angle right on the pieces (and could be more efficient) - if you have a power sander (I have one for big pieces, my hobby one is a non-powered Ultimation). 

[Nirvana]

7 hours ago, BritByker said:

Thank you.  Doing this next time!

BritByker, Welcome to Model Ship World!