Hybird MF14

[Fuzz]

Seeing this stuff is just plain neat! I am really happy you are taking the time to show us your work.

[Netpackrat]

That's awesome, although it looks like something that would be excruciating to do with a non quick change tool post. I am mostly using insert tooling at this point although I have ground a couple HSS tools for special tasks. I'm mainly using the inserts because I am trying to keep grinding dust out of my shop to the extent possible. Something like you are doing, I would probably just try to get as close as possible with my parting tool, and then go at it with a file to try to smooth off the ridges. But your way is a lot more elegant.

[Chenier]

Varnishing the wooden spars presented a bit of a problem: How to apply the varnish evenly to these cylinders. Because varnishing requires a wet edge while you work I couldn't varnish one side, flip them over, then varnish the other. That would leave a seam on each side - times seven coats would be fourteen seams on each spar. The millions of wooden spars on boats throughout history suggest this problem has been solved before, but I didn't know how.

Fishing fly tyers have a solution, though. For about $75 you can get a gizmo that will slowly rotate flies with epoxy heads while the epoxy hardens - so the epoxy doesn't all sag to one side. The pricing seemed a bit steep, especially as I'd need three.

Amazon to the rescue: They were happy to sell me three disco ball motors for $15 each.



A simple nail in a V-block held up the other end of the spars. I ended up cutting off the nail heads.



Anyone remember disco? Time for a spar varnish party!



The setup worked well. The motors turn at 6 RPM, which is a nice speed for this application. I turned the motors off for hand sanding, turning them back on again for vacuuming, wiping down the spars & varnishing. At 10 seconds per rotation keeping a wet edge was a snap. If I got the varnish a little heavy in spots it couldn't sag or run as there was no "down".

Here are the varnished spars:

[OrangeQuest]

That is one slick idea and the results are amazing!

[Chenier]

Finished varnishing "parts" today. Most of them had holes near one end so I could hang them up and get both sides at the same time.



From near to far, these are the two pieces of the splash coaming, the rudder, the tiller extension and the tiller. The daggerboard is furthest from the camera, standing on edge.

Rudder, tiller and extension are stock Sunfish parts, store-bought. They had a very light varnish on them so I put on more coats while varnishing everything else.

The "hang 'em up by their thumbs" technique worked OK, but not perfectly. I was able to coat both sides, but with flaws. Seems I always missed a spot here or there. So the last coat on the bigger pieces went on with them laying down flat.



I flipped them after 36 hours and coated the other side.

Note to self: in the future, resist the urge to varnish in the dead of winter. I'm able to keep the shop around 60º, but at that temp the varnish took 48 hours to harden enough to apply the next coat. Frustratingly slow!

[cape man]

Great work...again!

[Jeff]

Very, very nice work!!!! Jeff

[Chenier]

Thanks guys.

Varnishing the ends of the spars now. Watching varnish dry is worse than watching grass grow!

[pee wee]

Patience, grasshopper!

Things do dry slowly in cold weather, but isn't it nice to know that when things warm up, you'll be ready to go? Your build is coming together beautifully. I know you'll be glad to see it complete, but I'll be a little sad when it's over. Please continue to post about your boat once it's in use, I'd like to see it in action and as it matures.

[Chenier]

LOL!

Will do.