Comments on: Winding Sticks with Better Visibility

By: andersoncustom@gmail.com

andersoncustom@gmail.com — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:54:08 +0000

A little birdie told me that Woodpeckers is going to announce a new One Time Tool next week, and it’s going to be aluminum winding sticks.Even if they have to be trued, aluminum probably planes easier than some woods.

By: Kim M

Kim M — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:38:22 +0000

I agree with the difference in ease of visibility. Chris had both sets of sticks at the class he taught at the Atlanta Woodcraft, and I was in the class to personally see the difference. I think the short sections of the contrasting wood help to isolate it when you are sighting down the sticks. In the class I made a set of the sticks with continuous strip design, and will be making another set with the short strip design soon.

comment to JWatriss – by design, winding sticks ARE straight edges on the top and bottom surfaces. At least that’s true of the designs that Chris was writing about. They’re just not the 30″ or so of length that you would probably want for a straightedge.

By: Dean

Dean — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:54:18 +0000

Sorry JWatriss. I meant to reply to the “justink” comment. Thanks.

By: Dean

Dean — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:50:13 +0000

I think Chris was wanting to point out that the lower rear angle (bottom to back) is 90 degrees or a right angle. A “right triangle” comes easily to mind for most of us when wanting to describe a 90 deg. angle.

By: MHomer

MHomer — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:40:18 +0000

hey chris interested in selling those winding sticks ? Ive been trying to find an old vintage pair of winding sticks, or if you know any where i can get a pair Ive been looking all over the internet and no luck, suggestions will be much appreciated.

By: metalworkingdude

metalworkingdude — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:30:41 +0000

Interesting, and nice.

For comparison, Rob Cosman’s winding sticks have the inlay at the ends, each corner is inlaid with a triangle. It would be a lot simpler to fit the inlay that way, it’s just one inside edge to fit to, the two outer edges of the corner can be flushed up easily.

His also have a dot in the center, which helps get them centered in narrow stock. And I believe they are pinned to nest together for storage – at least that’s what he shows in his videos.

Personally I use two 24″ pieces of 1″ square Aluminum bar stock, mostly because I had a 48″ length of it laying around.

But, still, sounds like a fun project. It’s on the list.

By: Maurice

Maurice — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 12:10:55 +0000

Chris,
I’ve seen that pair of sticks at Ed’s store. I’m glad you ended up with them!

By: justink

justink — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 04:40:51 +0000

Chris,

Why is the inlay placed 2″ in from the ends? Why not put it at the end of the sticks?

And, that is a trapezoid, not a triangle.

By: JWatriss

JWatriss — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 21:03:43 +0000

Like I wasn’t distraction-prone already this morning…

Yeah, I have a refinement.

Drill two holes, one at each end. Dowels through each, glued into one of the sticks. The idea is to index them to each other. Plane the top edge straight, and hold the sticks edge to edge to check for straightness, and correct as necessary.

Now you have winding sticks AND straight edges.