Bristol Pilot Cutter by michael mott - 1/8 scale - POF

[SJSoane]

 

Thanks, Michael, I left a note at the tools and equipment posting.

 

Mark

[michael mott]

Since it is my 65th birthday tomorrow I felt that the shop should be clean for my new life of retirement ....LOL  I cannot imagine not being busy doing a dozen or more things every day.

 

 

Anyway I moved the boat to a new position and did a major clean up organized all the strip wood I have cut over the past year. And spent the evening working on the port side cap rail. refining the profile and getting it ready to be glued down.

 

 

 

 

 

It was great to get a bit of time this evening to work on the boat again, it is snowing again!

 

Michael

[russ]

The shop looks good. I find it is a good thing to tidy up a bit every now and again. It helps me focus. Have a great day.

 

Russ

[cog]

Michael,

 

I see Walter is looking very smugg about his tidied workshop, so it seems you've done a great job. Have a wonderful day tomorrow

[Sven]

Congratulations on your retirement! The best is yet to come!!

 

Matt

[SJSoane]

Hi Michael

 

There is nothing like a shop reorganization for bringing more order into the world!

 

Mark

[mtaylor]

Congratulations on your retirement.  The rework of the shop is a good start on the "after work" part of life.

[Jim Lad]

Mochael,

 

Congratulations on joining the ramks of the "too busy to go to work brigade".

 

John

[Yambo]

Michael, the only thing wrong with retirement is that you never get a day off. Enjoy yours!

[popeye the sailor]

work......four letter word......too bad it wasn't included in the list of four letter words,  mother told you never to say......LOL!    nice work area.......I am in envy.........!  enjoy your new title.....I'll look forward to getting there myself.......and in seeing more progress on your fine build!

[captainbob]

Michael,

 

You could spend many hours in a nice shop like that.  Hope retirement does not keep you too busy.

 

Bob

[druxey]

Many happy returns and best wishes for your retirement, Michael. And, particularly, many happy hours in the workshop.

[michael mott]

Russ, Carl, Matt, Mark, Mark, John, Yambo, Popeye, Bob, and Druxey.

Thank you all for your kind thoughts.

 

I had to rearrange the shop today again! the boat was blocking the light on the bench. so I also took the opportunity to rebuild the building bench. The model was longer than the bench and I kept almost walking into the bowsprit or the stern, I had an old office desk top that was 90 inches long so I used it to ensure that I cannot walk into the boat. Also lowered it to 30 inches high.

 

 

 

Then I was able to continue with the hounds cheeks and bolster ready for the topmast.

 

 

The fitting at the top of the main mast is a metal component that I wanted to make out of a single piece of metal instead of soldering up a group of parts.  I used a scrap of 1/4 inch thick brass bar and drew the shape with a felt pen and cut it out with the jewelers saw after drilling the two holes.

 

 

 

 

The roughed out shape ready to drill the holes in the tabs.I was pleased that I did not break any blades doing the cutting which took about 20 minutes.

 

 

 

After the holes were drilled I sat in front of the wood stove enjoying the warmth and filed the filling to the final shape.

 

Next it was cleaned up with the wire wheel which gives it a cast appearance.

 

 

 

Now to make the topmast.

 

Michael

 

 

[overdale]

Many happy returns for tomorrow Michael, and smooth sailing for your retirement..

[DSiemens]

You make metal work look as easy as wood work.  I'm very impressed.  She's going to be quiet the beauty will all those shiny parts.  Congrats on the retirement!

[Jim Lad]

Michael,

 

I've heard of making "solid metal parts", but this is getting ridiculous!

 

John

[Alfons]

Michael. Impressive, to say the least, cutting that pice in just 20 min with such a result. 

 

Keep up the good work.

/Alfons

[druxey]

Now, that's a mast cap! Impressive saw work, Michael.

[rlb]

Congratulations, Michael, on your birthday.  I'm envious of your retirement.

 

Your metalwork, as with everything, is beautiful. 

 

Ron

[Sven]

20 minutes to cut that?......how the ......?

 

Wow

 

Matt

[mtaylor]

Michael,

 

Beautiful metalwork and mostly by hand no less.  I'll be that was both relaxing and fun.

[michael mott]

Daniel, Daniel, John, Alfons, Druxey, Ron, Matt and Mark. Thank you all for you congratulations and kind thoughts and comments.

 

Later on Tuesday I was able to change pace and finish shaping the tops of the bowsprit bits.

 

 

 

The bits are rock maple 1/2 inch square and the knees have been glued now to the bits I will add some through bolts and the other fittings before the final gluing to the deck. The brass pin is just a place holder for a larger top retainer. I am looking next to working on the boom fittings including the the fitting that will attach to the stem ( cannot think of the name of it right at the moment)

 

I will set up the fore stay similar to this one on Betty.

 

Michael

[newbuilder101]

Beautiful and precise...as usual! I had to bring my husband in and show him the brass bar you cut in 20 minutes!!!!!!!   I'm into all things wood...he's into metal. He admired your work very much, as do I!

[captainbob]

Michael,

 

Beautiful work, as always.

 

Bob

[popeye the sailor]

nice work on the bow posts.......really sweet!

[russ]

Michael:

The bitts and the knees look great. I also like the elegant chamfered edges on the inboard portion of the bowsprit. I will doing the same thing on my schooner. That seems to have been a common detail.

 

Russ

[Jim Lad]

Lovely, as always, Michael.

 

John

[michael mott]

Sherry, I cut another today but it is not going to work for me this time, I made a couple of errors doing the rest of the work.

 

Bob,thanks.

 

Russ, thanks for the comment regarding the shape of the bowsprit, Quite a few of the cutters and smacks that I have seen on the web seem to follow this basic design.

 

John thanks for looking in.

 

As I mentioned above I did some more cutting today, but before I get to it I worked on the Gammon Iron I fabricated it from a couple of pieces the ring came from an old bronze plumbing fitting,

 

 

I cut off the end with a hacksaw then turned and parted off the ring.

 

Next I pulled a strip out of the strip tray and laid out the hole positions with a felt pen.

 

 

Soldering was a bit cranky I had to pickle it and rework the solder.

 

 

Then the time consuming clean up with the usual assortment of files, wet and dry paper, steel wool.

 

 

Then it was a fairly straightforward wrap of some soft rope made from embroidery floss which makes a nice soft rope.

 

 

 

After the gammon iron I began working on the cap for the end of the bowsprit, another 20 minutes of cutting with the jewelers saw (same blade)from the previous cutting, I am always amazed at how well these blades stand up to use.

 

 

I was pleased with the cutting but then had to chuck it up in the lathe to open the hole up to 11/16 because I did not have an end mill that size. this allowed me to put in the taper as well.

 

 

Then I cleaned it up with files getting the ring even and drilling the holes, then it came to filing the tabs and the first pair I filed the angle backwards to the taper. I was a bit peeved, but though I could still save the day by rounding them and was going to rotate the ring so that they could act as the bowsprit shrouds lugs.

 

Started to file the bob say and jib tabs and well you guessed it I went and filed them backwards as well. This was the straw that .....

 

Went back to the brass bins and found a section of 3/4 inch brass pipe which was thick enough to accept the taper both inside and out. So forward to the next bowsprit end cap, this also gave me the opportunity to increase the size because apart from the fabrication shortcomings the first attempt was a little small overall.

 

 

a piece of 1/16 by 3/8 strip was drilled for the tabs this where it is at so far. I will finish cutting them out tomorrow, Ive had enough fretting today already.

 

Michael

[Sven]

Great work. That is some impressive lathe you have there!

 

 

Matt

[slagoon]

Brilliant use of pipe