Carving a spiral

[ribot]

Can anyone tell me what would be the easiest way to produce a spiral curve?
The idea is to use it as a stand for a small lidded container from a block approximately 50mm square so its not going to be really large.
I think I'm wanting to make something like an "s" curve to give it an out of the square look or to give it some nice lines?

[sjm]

I'm not really sure if this is what you're after, but it's quite easy to do.

I marked out the spirals using two pieces of ribbon wrapped side-by-side. One marks the cut, and the other marks the timber that will remain. Once you're happy with the ribbon arrangement, mark with a pencil and remove both ribbons. I then used a fixed router, and a special jig to hold and spin the timber - nothing fancy, just some scrap to stop the router bit throwing the timber, since I held the dowel by hand. Once the curves were routed, I finished off with sandpaper to smooth out the edges.

steve

[scooter]

Gday Steve, nice work, mate tell us more about your special jig.

Is it a homemade router lathe, or what?? Any chance of piccies??


Cheers...............Sean the twisted member :rolleyes:

[ribot]

Thanks sjm, I was thinking on a smaller scale so perhaps the ribbons and Dremel carver are the go. will try it out thanks.

[sjm]

Gday Steve, nice work, mate tell us more about your special jig.

Is it a homemade router lathe, or what?? Any chance of piccies??


Cheers...............Sean the twisted member :rolleyes:

Nothing that extravagent. Just a few bits of scrap nailed to another piece of scrap clamped to the bench. The router was bolted on top. It was just a once off, so it didn't need to be adjustable or anything like that. The L shape pieces hold the dowel in place, and I held it firmly at both ends and twisted it manually, following the lines I'd previously drawn.

I rounded off the edges with a chisel (the carving part :) ), then sanded to finish.
steve

[schaf]

Hi Steve,
So Simple.I understand your jig and the use of the router.
I gather that the timber work peice would be longer than required to hold with safety and also is it necessary to drill a hole through the centre of the timber cylinder first.
Regards Terry

[sjm]

Right about the first part, wrong about the second :)

You need to leave extra length on the ends so you can hold it comfortably, but you don't need to drill a hole through it. I made several passes, plunging about 5mm deep each pass. As the bit gets half way through, it meets the cut made from the other side, thereby creating a completely hollow center - no drilling required!


steve

[schaf]

Hi steve,
Sorry mate, I was thinking of two spirals coming down like ribbons. Your spiral is a solid peice all the way down.
Regards Terry

[scooter]

Thanks for the explanation Steve.


Cheers.......Sean