MiterSet re-visited

[charlese]

Do you remember the thread about MiterSet? They make two MiterSets for the Shopsmith. One for setting miter degrees very accurately, and another for making segments. Well, that was Last January - How time flies! If you are a newer forum member, or don't remember, here is a link to that thread. http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showthr ... t=Miterset

I got both sets and was very happy with them, although they have not been used to great advantage, YET.

Dick Pattee, the inventor and company exec. is a super guy as you will find out reading the above referenced thread. Sandi, the inventor's wife and Secretary challenged me to make a 17 segmented piece and I told her (e-mail) that I would, as soon as I finished the projects I was working on. Sandi, I apologize for not hurrying faster, but us old folks take things slowly. Glad she didn't hold her breath, waiting!;)

Well, a few weeks ago I broke out the segment jig and cut 20 segments, each about 3 inches long. When I put them together on the bench they made a circle a little larger than 20 inches. Having no use for that, I left it sit around for a while held together by a strap clamp. Was going to snap a photo, but spaced that out of my brain.

Thinking that 17 segments wouldn't produce a much smaller circle, (unless I fiddled with way shorter pieces) I decided on making 11 (still an odd number) segments. So using 11 of the original segment pieces, made a new one. After keeping this 11 segment piece on the bench for a while - decided to glue it together. No joinery other than butt joints. In both trials the joining edges fit very closely. It has not yet been sanded at all -so some glue marks show. Any deformities are from fumbling around with the parts like dominoes on the bench and occasionally dropping some.

The segments are almost 3" long x 1 1/2" high x 3/4". It forms a circle about 13" in diameter. It came out like this - (shown below) (Really - the kitchen floor isn't dirty - that's a shadow!)

Now I am still wondering what to do with it. I'm thinking of it as a frame. Tentative solutions are to put a clock in it - frame a picture or an embroidery design/done by my wife. I've seen that the inner bottom edge could be rabbeted and the other could be routed to various shapes. Could saw kerfs through the joints and insert splines. Could even carve designs into the outer edges. Any added suggestions?

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[beeg]

OH YEAH, I remember that thread. Mostly for being impressed that Dick took the time to visit here. GREAT to see that it works well Chuck. Well except for what do ya do with the piece:D now?

[greitz]

Looks great, Chuck!

Cut an 11-sided bottom piece for it and make it into a tray. Turn a 5-inch or so bowl and put it in the middle of the tray. Fill the bowl with guacamole and the tray with chips, and you're set for the upcoming All-Star game. Bet you'd have the fanciest chip-n-dip set in Lancaster!

Gary

[a1gutterman]

I like Gary's idea. When I was in Jr. High, we made swag lamps. We made 2 "rings" each out of six segments, cut a slot in them before glueing so we could put plastic panels in the glued up "rings" in the slots. Then we used a brake to bend metal pieces that covered each of the plastic joints. Our shop teacher had us in the metal shop and wood shop along with working with plastic. It was a fun project. Gave it to my folks at the time and they finally returned it to me about 20 years later. It is very out-of-date and knot being used anymore, but it IS a project that you could do...

[flashbacpt]

Hi Chuck,

Nice work, and thanks for posting the photo! As you know, I have both sets also, and was very impressed with the inventor.

Come Fall, I hope to take a Segmented Turning Course, offered by the local Adult Education School and will be getting a lot of use out of the Miter Sets.

With the ability to reproduce accurate angles, the possibilities are unlimited with what one can make!:D

FlashbacPT
John

[mikelst]

OK...

I hadn't seen this before, and for one I appreciate your 're-visiting' it.

This looks like the type of tool/setup jig that can save me lots of time but more it can save me lots of aggravation. I get plenty of that anyway and anything that can reduce it is most appreciated. The fact that Dusty likes it says a lot too.

One question, does it come with the Detent Bar or does it need to be purchased separately?

I put one (miter-set) on order today.

Mike

[dusty]

OK...

I hadn't seen this before, and for one I appreciate your 're-visiting' it.

This looks like the type of tool/setup jig that can save me lots of time but more it can save me lots of aggravation. I get plenty of that anyway and anything that can reduce it is most appreciated. The fact that Dusty likes it says a lot too.

One question, does it come with the Detent Bar or does it need to be purchased separately?

I put one (miter-set) on order today.

Mike

I did not buy the one for segmented turning as I don't (haven't) do(done) that (yet). However, I probably over use the regular one that I bought. It is kept near the work bench and I check the miter every time I pull it out (after having not used it for awhile).

Previously, I turned the miter upside down, placed the miter bar in the track and checked it against the rail. I had taken care to make sure that the rail was perpendicular to the miter track.

As a word of caution, this was before I became obsessed (as some would say) with accuracy. At that time I think the term was "close enough for government work".

[mikelst]

I did not buy the one for segmented use at this time either. Just the 'standard' one.

I did not uy the one for segmented turning as I don't (haven't) done that. However, I probably over use the regular one that I bought. It is kept near the work bench and I check the miter every time I pull it out (after having not used it for awhile).

Previously, I turned the miter upside down, placed the miter bar in the track and checked it against the rail. I had taken care to make sure that the rail was perpendicular to the miter track.

As a word of caution, this was before I became obsessed (as some would say) with accuracy. At that time I think the term was "close enough for government work".

Is the miter slot in this thing a T track?

Mike

[miterset]

I did not buy the one for segmented use at this time either. Just the 'standard' one.



Is the miter slot in this thing a T track?

Mike

With the washer at the very end of the miter gauge bar, it works just fine in either MiterSet. Also the Detent bar is only used with the Standard MiterSet. MiterSet for Segments is direct setting and only requires the two pins.

Now the important stuff:

Chuck, The 11 sided polygon looks great and would make a real nice tray with a decorative plate set into a recess cut into the back side. The possibilities are endless, as it all falls back on your Imagination. I am very glad to see you all are still mastering many wood related projects.

To bring you up to date with MiterSet, we were surprised with a new review in "WOOD" magazine. They used it in their section dedicated to "Shop Proven Products". We appreciate them and all that you guys have done to help promote our little tool. I am having a hard time re-ordering top grade Baltic or Finnish plywood here on the west coast. I guess I want better material than most so they don't stock B-BB or better grades. I have kicked around changing to a plastic but it looks like that will increase the cost of manufacture and raising the price is the last thing I want to do. We like what we are using now and have had absolutely no problems with it, so we are very hesitant to change. I am open to suggestions! We have plenty of stock in all models at this time.

We appreciate you and enjoy the Shop Smith forum very much, keep up the good work and have a great summer.

Dick Pattee
MiterSet@comcast.net

[dusty]

No, Mike, the MiterSet does not have a t-track. It is a simple dado sized to fit the Shopsmith miter bar (on Shopsmith models) and it fits it very well. There is absolutely NO slop in the mating interface.

If you are contemplating one, I highly recommend it.