I am going to take a stab at a segmented bowl. When gluing together the "rings" of segments, how does one ensure that the rings remain centered around the axis rotation for the glue block? It would seem to be that if done by eye it would be OK for a layer or three but any error could accumulate. If there a trick or technique for keeping the stacked rings concentric?
Thanks,
Steve
I usually scribe a pencil mark as close to the next ring's inner diameter as possible. The trouble is, when clamping, glue squeeze-out obliterates my ability to see the mark. Maybe err on the side of caution, and make the rings slightly oversized? Tom
Well, only doing a layer at a time helps.
Using the same inside or outside diameter for rings (and wasting wood as a result) helps. If you were setting up "production" you might waste less wood with a clamp jig. For a one-off that needs to be precisely aligned, you could set a few "long" segments in the rings, so that either the inside (use a pin at center) or the outside could be registered without wasting a lot of wood.
Depending on the particular effect you are after with your segment patterns, slight errors may not be noticeable - or they might be.
My guess from seeing pictures of my brother's work is that your build a simple jig...
His site is up now if you want to ask him... thesegmentedturner.com
He's explained the process to me several times, but it always seemed way to precision for me and I sort of zoned out.. lol
mac
Please remove splinters before emailing
Pretty easy actually. First, cut some little 1/4" cubes. Take your first segment ring and lay it flat on the workbench. Position the 2nd ring where you want it. Take some CA glue and apply a drop to one of the little cubes then spray the bottom segment ring with some activator. Put the cube w/glue on it in place. I usually use four cubes per ring, placed at north, south, east and west. Be careful not to glue the rings together w/the CA.
Now, take the top ring, slather it up w/your glue of choice and put it back in the same position. The little cubes will keep it centered while you clamp it. Being little pieces of wood, they turn off easily...
...Kevin
I built a jig that has a small center hole and four lines radiating from it at 90 degree angles. I made four slotted clips with notches in them, which bolt onto those lines, so I can position the ring to the lines and hold it in place. Then the tailstock goes in the center hole to center it and press it against the existing rings while the glue dries.
Steve:
You are correct to be concerned about accumulated error. I do a fair bit of segmented work, and find that my optimum glue up is 4 rings (then turn the inside shape and rough outside, true up the top face, then add
4 more, and so on. My largest pieces to date were a pair of urns that stand 49 inches tall and about 24 inches in diameter. Needless to say, it would be very difficult to hollow, sand and finish the interior if I didn't do it a section at a time. With large vessels like this, I tend to shape and sand the interior about 8 rings deep, staying about 4 rings from the current "top". Once one gets more than 24" deep, I'll typically add a finish (again, keeping the finished section reasonably below the current top) so I only have to worry about final topcoats when the whole thing is done. Outside can wait until the whole thing is done before final sanding and finishing...Thanks
--Rick
StephenM wrote:
I cut 12 seg. and use yellow glue,I use large dryer band clamps. When you bring the bands tight tap the segs. down flat on a flat surface to keep your rings flat. I bought a 36 grit sand paper sheet from one of those big drum floor sanders.I stick the paper on my bench and flatten each ring with that. Than I stack my rings on a board with an all thread rod sticking up through the middle and line up the joints of my rings when I get all the rings stacked I put a disc on top and a nut on the rod and snug it down. Don't over tighten it , cause your rings might slip. Click on my ' wood working page below to see some of the bowls I made this year so far. I got started in January and can't stop.
Jerry
Another similar method i use is to cut up icecream sticks from a craft store and after aligning the ring, glueing them on to the lower ring with a hot glue gun. You still have to be careful not to get any glue on the new ring, but it works great. If the ring sizes are close, glue two of the sticks in a T shape and use those for the alignment. I learned that in a class i recently took.
Mike
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