Glen-L.com

So after a long baby haitius, I have returned to building my squirt. I have traced my frames onto some 1/4" ply and had been using a router to cut the frames into some white oak. However, I have noticed two things that may become problems later on:

1) I can't seem to make a good 90-degree cut in my corners. Does anyone have any good advice on this? I have been using a flush-trim router bit, but the bearing is too big/round to give a perfect cut.

2) My frames don't seem as "perfect" as they seem in the plans. Maybe I dont have a steady hand or something. Will this seriously impact my boat later on? Is there anyone that has a boat that exactly matches the plans?

Jeffrey

It appears the cut you pictured is for the bottom battens. Perfect 90 degree corners are not a huge thing. You can clean the corners out with a sharp chisel if you desire. just try to get the battens to fit in frame nice and flat, thickened epoxy will do the rest. As for getting the frames perfect according to plans. Try not to over think the frames, you'll have plenty of chances to improve the lines during the fairing process before you add the planking.

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It's amazing what one can accomplish when he doesn't know what can't be accomplished.

You might try to make a simple jig that will allow you to Rout down from the bottom side of the frame. Square corners and perfect notches every time. I can post a picture if you can't visualize what I'm talking about.

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As Conan the Barbarian says, " It's not how hard you can hit, it's how hard you can get hit and remain standing".

"Perfect"... "Boat"... Contradictory Terms

No Worries! Keep Going

Bill

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Mini -Tug, KH Tahoe 19 & Bartender 24 - There can be no miracle recoveries without first screwing up.
Tahoe 19 Build

Thanks for the replies!

I would be interested to see a picture of this jig. I am trying to visualize it....but I just cant see it!

This is what I made with a few scraps.



This keeps the wood from tearing out. Just clamp in place with a couple of short bar clamps.

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Bill

I told my wife we needed a three-car garage for my projects...she told me to ask her for permission next time before I buy a house.
http://www.unitybuild.net

If you happen to have a table saw you can set your blade to 3/4 inches, stand your piece on edge and do your cuts. You can use a dado, or just cut the lines on both sides of the notch and then go back and forth in between and clean it out. Then it just may take a little work with a rasp to get it as smooth as you want it. You could also use a jigsaw and, if necessary, a drill. Mark the three lines for each notch, drill a small hole, maybe 1/4" just inside the corners. Then cut each side of the notch. The corner holes you drilled will give you space to turn the saw blade and cut along the bottom line of the notch. Be careful not to bend the blade by forcing the cut as you will not get a good 90 degree angle.

For my batten notches rather than using a bearing router bit I used a 'collar' and a template pattern piece, hopefully the photos give you an idea. These photos were when I cut the 'blind' dadoes for the battens on the 'back side' of the dash, and since I angled my dash I had to use a piece of tapered wood as the base for the router to get my batten notches 'plumb' and 'level'. I rounded over the edges of my battens so the rounded inside corners of the notches fit the rounded edges of the batten and I did not have to 'square' the inside corners.

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This is my first, last and only boat build.

http://www.gdzipbuild.blogspot.com

I am a great beliver in makeing jigs for routers ,once they are set up it makes your work so much quicker , and neater.

while waiting for plans to arive I made a jig up to cut limmers, it sits over battens held on with quick clamps it worked
well. I am about to make a jig to cut batten noches in frames , will post photo when it is finished,
photo of limmer jig
Old Aussie Peter

Another photo of jig
Old Aussie Peter