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Post by mwardncsu on Apr 9, 2020 10:17:27 GMT -5
Turns out this whole lockdown thing was perfect timing to get going on building some custom rods. I’d started planning to do this back at the start of the year and finally have all the gear in hand and pieces for the rods I need to get going.... and have my work area setup. No more excuses but to get after it My work area with power wrapper ready to go  Bits and pieces  Rod blanks standing at the ready  EVA foam blocks waiting to be cut up, glued back together and then turned into custom decorative grips  Various threads for the decorative wraps & guide wraps on the rods  |
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Post by coheasion on Apr 9, 2020 12:01:07 GMT -5
Dang Mike - pretty jealous of you right now
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Post by 31Airborne on Apr 9, 2020 15:06:05 GMT -5
Nice! Ready for orders?
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Post by mwardncsu on Apr 9, 2020 15:56:57 GMT -5
My wife said I better be after accumulating all that - lol |
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Post by mwardncsu on Apr 19, 2020 13:48:12 GMT -5
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piper
New Member
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Post by piper on Apr 20, 2020 7:09:08 GMT -5
Gorgeous my friend. Im curious about the lathe turning. Im an avid wood turner, what tools are you using to turn foam?
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Post by mwardncsu on Apr 20, 2020 8:03:03 GMT -5
Thanks Piper I’m using a skew chisel to start - you “slice” it more the. Turn it - using the point and coming from the side to cut into the foam and get it down to sort of round and closer to the target diameter. Then it’s a sanding operation to get to the finished diameter / shape - 80/150/120/220 grits I’m still getting my technique in the skew chisel and before sanding it looks like a rabid squirrel has attacked it - but the 80 grit takes care of that in no time  |
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Post by 31Airborne on Apr 20, 2020 9:05:16 GMT -5
wow - those look fabulous.
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Post by mwardncsu on May 18, 2020 12:40:22 GMT -5
Before I get to putting finish epoxy on the rods, I was worried about the cool temps in my basement work area and also bugs, dust, pet hair and such finding its way into the finish - so, in order to put off the hard work of wrapping the rods a bit longer I built a quad drying cabinet. 4, 12 VDC motors with variable speed controls, a heater strip element to warm the cabinet (used a heat strip for reptile cages), a programmable thermostat PID and a timer to shut it down if I forget to go back and cut it off, and a couple of led strips - one inside the cabinet and one under to get more light on the bench. 11.5’ overall length and can hold rods a little over 10.5’ long.    |
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Post by coheasion on May 18, 2020 13:58:40 GMT -5
Those may be the nicest extra lumber storage shelves I've ever seen!!
Oh, and the rod drying contraption thingamajig looks cool too!! :-D
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Post by mwardncsu on May 18, 2020 14:30:19 GMT -5
Those may be the nicest extra lumber storage shelves I've ever seen!! Oh, and the rod drying contraption thingamajig looks cool too!! :-D Thanks Chris - built those racks almost 15-20 years ago I think - some of that lumber has been there that long - Some of the chair rail molding that I keep intending to install in the dining room at least 😂 |
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Post by 31Airborne on May 19, 2020 6:19:19 GMT -5
So, Mike - all that organization and neatness in your shop is troubling. You REALLY do have too much time on your hands.  The drying gizmo looks kinda cool. Mrs Ward will be on you about the chair rail after she sees this. Just sayin' . . . |
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Post by mwardncsu on May 19, 2020 6:33:33 GMT -5
Neatness and my shop were never two words used in the same sentence 😂
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Post by mwardncsu on Jun 8, 2020 12:27:16 GMT -5
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piper
New Member
Posts: 727
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Post by piper on Jun 10, 2020 11:14:16 GMT -5
All I have to say is WOW!
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