Search results

Got the stems steamed, bent, and glued this weekend. If you've never steam bent wood before, you have to work very quickly. Lessons I learned after the first stem: I had all clamps set, and handy, still didn't get it clamped before it lost pliability. Start at the beginning of any severe...

I bent, clamped and glued my stems this weekend. I ended up using epoxy, for several reasons: 1. After steam bending, the grain was raised considerably, and the layers didn't align tight enough for wood glue 2. Wood glues do remain more flexible than epoxies, and I was concerned about spring...

Line up the strips? What are you talking about? :) Waterline implies this thing is going to see the water some day. I thought about setting up a laser, but I do want to finish it this life time. I haven't cut any strips yet. Hoping to this coming weekend, but I have a feeling the boss is...

I have two furniture dollies all set. I have them rigged to clamp the feet of the strongback in. It'll raise the height about 3". I wanted it off of wheels for working, but I can quickly & easily attach the dollies to roll it out the door. I was planning the C clamps would only be temporary...

Well, I finally got a couple evenings, uninterrupted. Strongback done, stem ends done, stations clamped in place. Just lining up the centerline of the station molds, with the centerline of the strongback, and running a temporary string across the tops, all stations are in line within 1/16"...

Well, I finally got a little break from the spring house list to work on the canoe. Building a flat, straight, square strongback on a slightly uneven garage floor took WAY longer than expected. 4 hours, after having all of the parts cut. Shimming, and adjusting every couple screws. Hoping to...

Jim: I've seen your posts on bias strips. I have no doubt stemless would be at least as strong (probably stronger). I see the stem as a "weak seam" If the glass doesn't wrap it inside and/or outside. I guess either one can be done perfectly well, or butchered all to heck. For me, I guess it...

Still kicking around the idea of inside stem only. To address concerns of glassing the inside, what if the stem does not have a side shoulder, but rather ends at the strips with a straight chamfer. I've done a rough sketch to sort of show how I'd do this. Basically, I'd start with a stem that...

Well, I didn't get the strongback & forms set this weekend as I hoped. As I was cleaning out the garage the build will happen in, I found a 1/2" aluminum angle. Almost as if Jim put it there, saying if you don't try it, you'll regret it. So, I drilled and tapped one circular saw, and mounted...

I'm planning to use 1 by rough stock. Not sure on widths yet. Most likely 8" nom, as that'll be most widely available. I'm going to one lumber yard this weekend that's holding some clear WRC for me. If I don't like that, I'll go with the big box sorting. I'm assuming if you're getting it...

Jim: I get what you're saying about the "SkilSaw method". The biggest issue with a table saw is the long fence, if you're raw stock has any hook to it, which it almost certainly does. I didn't mention this before, but what I do for long rips, where I want uniform width, and am concerned about...

Wow, thanks for all the comments and posts. Yes, I'm going staple-less. I'm set up for with a stem, but I'm toying with the idea of an inner stem, no outer. Anyone ever done this? Design is straight from CanoeCraft. Prospector 16. I've double checked all stations, and except for the...

Yeah, I'm going to plot the half curves tonight. I believe it'll just be minor sanding near the profile to adjust. My first canoe is not going to be a "custom" design.

I'm in the first stages of build on my very first strip canoe, a Prospector 16. I'll try to post comments, pictures, etc. along the way. Any help, criticism, comments are appreciated. First, a brief summary of my background & equipment. I've been a woodworker, and woodworking teacher for a...