Micro Mizzen mast
Quick overview of my experience 4 and 8 siding my Micro mizzen mast this
weekend:
I'm building my sprit booms and masts for my Micro before attacking the hull,
thought I'd give a quick update on this weekends work. Rough 4 sided with Skill
saw, cleaned up with power planer (I really like this tool ;-) Used spar guage
to mark for 8 siding. 8 sided using planer again (did I mention how cool this
tool is! Finishing up by Stanley Sureform, and a little bit of belt sander.
I'm probably about 75% done, hope to finish up this week, and get to work on the
main mast this coming weekend. Masts are built from spruce 2x4's carefully
picked from Home Depot. When I got home, sorted all the lumber, built the
mizzen out of the "B" grade, saving the best for the main mast.
Lessons learned:
Masts can be fun...
Power tools are cool, but the Sureform sure is easy to control, and leaves a
really nice, clean, flat surface. Will hardly require any sanding.
I hope masts don't have to be PERFECTLY straight <grin>
Building masts creates an enourmous amound of dust and shavings...
8 siding near the small end (3/4" across) requires mucho care
Mast was glued up with 7:1 scarfs, and Titebond II glue, scarfs about 6 feet
apart, staggered.
Ebay is a pretty good place to buy power tools (bought both my belt sander and
electric planer there for less than $40 each)
Yes, it is possible to free up enouph time to make progress on a boat, even with
a house, job, commute, wife, and 3 small children under 7. It's just cutting
into my TV time, which I assume is a good thing.
That's about all for now. Suggestions on how to finish the masts and booms
would be appreciated. I've heard of people doing epoxy then spar varnish, but
in my plans, he just calls for 3 coats of varnish. Any feedback would be
appreciated. (I'm leaning toward epoxy/varnish).
Thanks,
Glen Gibson
Micro builder in progress
Un-named
Near San Francisco, CA, USA
weekend:
I'm building my sprit booms and masts for my Micro before attacking the hull,
thought I'd give a quick update on this weekends work. Rough 4 sided with Skill
saw, cleaned up with power planer (I really like this tool ;-) Used spar guage
to mark for 8 siding. 8 sided using planer again (did I mention how cool this
tool is! Finishing up by Stanley Sureform, and a little bit of belt sander.
I'm probably about 75% done, hope to finish up this week, and get to work on the
main mast this coming weekend. Masts are built from spruce 2x4's carefully
picked from Home Depot. When I got home, sorted all the lumber, built the
mizzen out of the "B" grade, saving the best for the main mast.
Lessons learned:
Masts can be fun...
Power tools are cool, but the Sureform sure is easy to control, and leaves a
really nice, clean, flat surface. Will hardly require any sanding.
I hope masts don't have to be PERFECTLY straight <grin>
Building masts creates an enourmous amound of dust and shavings...
8 siding near the small end (3/4" across) requires mucho care
Mast was glued up with 7:1 scarfs, and Titebond II glue, scarfs about 6 feet
apart, staggered.
Ebay is a pretty good place to buy power tools (bought both my belt sander and
electric planer there for less than $40 each)
Yes, it is possible to free up enouph time to make progress on a boat, even with
a house, job, commute, wife, and 3 small children under 7. It's just cutting
into my TV time, which I assume is a good thing.
That's about all for now. Suggestions on how to finish the masts and booms
would be appreciated. I've heard of people doing epoxy then spar varnish, but
in my plans, he just calls for 3 coats of varnish. Any feedback would be
appreciated. (I'm leaning toward epoxy/varnish).
Thanks,
Glen Gibson
Micro builder in progress
Un-named
Near San Francisco, CA, USA