Hi -
I have a 'how-to' question. I need to make a couple hundred small stands that will hold a horizontal, cylinder shaped item (a kaleidoscope). The kaleidoscope is about 10-12 inches long and doesn't weigh much - less than 1 pound.
The design that I think is easiest would have 3 pieces of wood - a 5" x 3" base with a routed edge (roman ogee). Then there are 2 perpendicular pieces (the sides that hold up the 'scope), one near each end with a half-circle facing up and holding up the kaleidoscope. I'm not allowed to post pictures yet. I'm using 3/8" cherry for everything (to make the sides I'm using a 5" x 2.5" piece of wood. I use a 2" circle cutter in a cordless drill to cut out a full circle in the middle, and then I cut it in half to make both sides. Cutting out the circle and then trying to get it out from the cutter takes me longer than I think it should).
My main question is how to attach the 2 perpendicular sides to the base. I thought I could use a router table to make a groove on either end of the base that I could fit the sides into with glue. But a straight bit creates a groove with rounded ends and the rectangular pieces wont fit of course. I thought about routing the grooves all the way across the base but it kind of messes up the routed edges of the base. I tried making dowels and drilling holes in the base and sides to attach. Looks ok but kind of a pain in the a.. to do for a couple hundred. Also tried just thin nails with glue but I'm using 3/8" cherry, and about half the nails end up bending, plus they leave the metal showing and sinking them would add too much time to the process.
I'm just wondering if anyone has any tips or ideas. I have some tool experience, but not with small pieces I don't have a lot of router experience although I know the basics. If anyone is still reading - how would you do this? Thanks in advance
Larry
I have a 'how-to' question. I need to make a couple hundred small stands that will hold a horizontal, cylinder shaped item (a kaleidoscope). The kaleidoscope is about 10-12 inches long and doesn't weigh much - less than 1 pound.
The design that I think is easiest would have 3 pieces of wood - a 5" x 3" base with a routed edge (roman ogee). Then there are 2 perpendicular pieces (the sides that hold up the 'scope), one near each end with a half-circle facing up and holding up the kaleidoscope. I'm not allowed to post pictures yet. I'm using 3/8" cherry for everything (to make the sides I'm using a 5" x 2.5" piece of wood. I use a 2" circle cutter in a cordless drill to cut out a full circle in the middle, and then I cut it in half to make both sides. Cutting out the circle and then trying to get it out from the cutter takes me longer than I think it should).
My main question is how to attach the 2 perpendicular sides to the base. I thought I could use a router table to make a groove on either end of the base that I could fit the sides into with glue. But a straight bit creates a groove with rounded ends and the rectangular pieces wont fit of course. I thought about routing the grooves all the way across the base but it kind of messes up the routed edges of the base. I tried making dowels and drilling holes in the base and sides to attach. Looks ok but kind of a pain in the a.. to do for a couple hundred. Also tried just thin nails with glue but I'm using 3/8" cherry, and about half the nails end up bending, plus they leave the metal showing and sinking them would add too much time to the process.
I'm just wondering if anyone has any tips or ideas. I have some tool experience, but not with small pieces I don't have a lot of router experience although I know the basics. If anyone is still reading - how would you do this? Thanks in advance
Larry