Masts and sprits

[RmP]

What are good methods for tapering masts and sprits? I have no lathe long enough to clamp these pieces. I could make a head stock and tail stock, maybe, and turn the long shafts with a bow, but that would need two people - one to "saw" back and forth with the bow and the other to cut or sand. What have you guys done that worked well? Bob

[jacquesmm]

An old fashioned hand plane works well for me.

[LarryA]

I shudder to post this but I have seen the results and it works.

A friend of uses mine what he calls a redneck lathe. He takes a belt from a belt sander, turns it inside out and drives it from his drill, sliding it up and down and around the spar to make sure not to over sand any one place. I have a picture of it someplace and will see if I can find it. I never had the nerve to try it but he swears by it as do others who have tried - I use a power planer.

[jacquesmm]

That belt sander belt looks like a good idea.
I would start by knocking down eight sides with a plane then use the belt.

[LarryA]

http://amateurboatbuilding.com/forum/re ... 500&t=1490

Here is a link from the old forum..

[John_I]

I was thinking about tapering the mast before rounding it with my plane. Am I overdoing it?

[mcpapa]

I will be building a V12, but right now I have a 9' glass sailing dingy, with a sprit rig. The mast on it is rectangular (looks like just a good piece of fir) I'm curious why the plans call for round masts....

[jacquesmm]

I will be building a V12, but right now I have a 9' glass sailing dingy, with a sprit rig. The mast on it is rectangular (looks like just a good piece of fir) I'm curious why the plans call for round masts....

Esthetic reasons mostly. On a small boat, a square spar will work just as well.

[JohnP]

There's a picture and detail of the drill /belt/ lathe thing in I think an old Payson paperback book. Looks like a 1 1/2 inch diameter 6 inch long rubber covered dowell that is mounted on a shaft that can be chucked in a hand drill. Turn the belt inside out and put around the shaft and the spar and go to town. Looks like it would make a nice finish to the plane step.