Just picked up a set of the new Veritas winding sticks at L V
sure look pro and aare easy to use with the markings to tell tou how much you are out
not much chance of warp with aluminum
just need to find a warped board to try them out
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Replies
That is funny. Last week we were joking about exacty that. We jokingly said that Veritas should make an iron or aluminium winding stick. I hope the others see your post.
Mike
What's a winding stick?
They are a pair of short, straight "sticks" that you lay across opposite ends of a board and sight down the board to see if they are in the same plane. It tells you if there is twist in the board.
Now, the question I have always had is: how is it pronounced? Is it winding like you wind a watch, or winding, like the wind blowing? And where did the name come from?
Thanks Ohcomeon. I remember reading about them on Shopsmith.com now that you jogged my memory. It is also in my very large unabridged dictionary and is pronounced like winding a watch.
It's winding as in a watch. The sticks measure the twist or "wind" (rhymes with mind) in a board.Glaucon
If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...
Thats why i posted , i recalled the mention of them
A few days later i got a flyer from them with the sticks on sale in a intrductory offer so i grabbed some easier and better than making some and no fear of warp
Hi Dude,
I didn't see them when I looked at their website. What have they done to provide constrast, and what are their dimensions and cost?
Thanks,
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
When you go to the Lee Valley site and select woodworking. Along the left side click on 'What's New', and you get to see all the new products they put up since their last catalog, starting with the most recent. Here's the link to the winding sticks.http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=53276&cat=51&ap=1
Hi QCI,
Thanks for the link.
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
I am not trying to be crass, but what would be the difference between the Veritas sticks and buying a piece 48” angle aluminum at HD, cutting it in half, and spraying one black?
Neil
To quote the catalog page:
"The satin black anodized finish on one side reduces glare, and the machined section on the other side provides contrast when sighting. The machined grooves are spaced 1/8" apart to help estimate the amount of twist and how much stock to remove. The two 18" long sticks nest together and have hanging holes for easy storage. "
Angle iron would be much too big, IMHO. Don't know how useful those machined grooves are in reality, but I'd bet that once you've used the sticks for awhile, they'd serve their purpose. No doubt, there are several ways to do the same thing in your own shop, but for $19.50 (introductory price) I'd rather have theirs.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
jamie ; the truth be told i was at LV returning a protracter made by Starret who as a precision tool mfg i always thought were very good .
Even though i spent 4years as a machinist and 2 as a shop foreman i couldent read the tool
I spent over a 1/2 hr discussing it with clerks who couldent figure it out either so they wanted to give me my money back even though i haad already engraved the co name on the back ,rather tha leave the store totally frustrated i had to do what any tool freak does when he is down a tool so i got something else thus the sticks (plus the store is 70 miles round trip)
Having a immediate need for a tool is never the main reason i buy tools the main reason is i am a serious collector which is a totally different quality LOL
I'm not confident that angle iron would be true over its length. If you don't want to buy the LV sticks, I think you'd be better off jointing some beech and checking for true against a lapping plate. For the cost and stability (no effects from temp or moisture), LV seems like a reasonable buy. Probably would double as straight edges as well...Glaucon
If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...
The difference would be 19.00 bucks. Angel aluminum is 1/8 thick. Not to thick for this.
Who needs lines to flatten a board? If the board is off it is off.
Make them your self and buy your girl some roses. Much better deal.
Happy New year to all, Hilmar.
PS. 1" aluminum angel is probably as thrue as a ruler can be
Edited 1/3/2006 9:52 pm ET by h12721
Hi Neil,
Traditionalists (I guess that makes me one) make their winding sticks, pinch rods, and other shop accessories, jigs, and fixtures as a matter of cost and pride. I can't imagine buying them when I can make my own.
To each his or her own, however.
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
But will you have to throw away your old winding sticks now because of patent infringement? Just kidding, shouldn't be opening up old wounds here...
LOL. I just threw mine in the fire. I don't want the patent cops showing up.
Jeff
I wouldn't bother Jeff. I find it hard to believe that there's anything to patent on those winding sticks. There looks nothing new or innovative about them being perhaps a tiny almost imperceptible shuffle forward over a couple of bits of aluminium T extrusion that can be found around any old engineering scrap bin.
Anyway, as even Lee Valley say on their website, worker made winding sticks have been around a long time-- long enough I'd say that I'll not be wasting my money on that sort of gimmicky nonsense, ha, ha. Slainte.Richard Jones Furniture
Be careful Jazzdog,
they have a patent pending on Winding Sticks. Maybe Pinch Rods are next.Soon we can not make our own any more.
Nor, most likely will we see articles about Winding sticks in the magazines again.
J K
Happy New year to All , H
Edited 1/4/2006 11:02 am ET by h12721
Heaven forbid! What's next? Will some unscrupulous attorney (sorry for the redundant expression) find a way to make intellectual property claims retroactive and file suits claiming compensation for the heirs of original, uncredited, inventors?
"Your honor, my clients are the direct descendents of the original inventor of the wheel..."
Every time I see a student come in carrying a shiny, new, factory-made, version of a tool he could have made himself I have to ask myself whether they "get" the essential imperative of being a woodworker.
By nature, virtually all of the outstanding woodworkers I have known have been problem solvers - and many of them have been collaborators. And while I have known more than a few with the impaired judgment that accompanies Tool Acquisition Disorder, it's the inventiveness and skill evident in the devices of their own making that fuel the most ardent discussions - seldom the junk that's available for sale to anyone with the price of admission.
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
Every time I see a student come in carrying a shiny, new, factory-made, version of a tool he could have made himself I have to ask myself whether they "get" the essential imperative of being a woodworker.
At the risk of plaaying devil's advocate... how do you make winding sticks without first having winding sticks..?? I've been improvising for years, but its only experience that tells me I can get by; how does a rookie do it with nobody around to show em how..??
One of these days I'll get around to getting mine made... improvising with a #7 and #62 feels too much like showing off.... or is the Scots blood in me..... never can figure it out.. ;)
Just as a matter of interest.... do you guys inlay contrasting wood into the top corners of your sticks..??? I've been trying to find a piece of holly to do mine (I've had some rosewood set aside for quite some time)...Mike Wallace
Stay safe....Have fun
Hi Mike,
We have pairs of winding sticks (as well as pinch rods, etc.) available for students to use and copy. Although we teach students how to make them, and point out the benefit of contrasting species, it's not a requirement; they can plane them out of whatever suitably stable hardwood is at hand.
With a well-fettled hand plane and a few sticks, a novice student can make a workable pair in less than an hour; far more quickly if they use power tools!
I have two pairs: one in mahogany, and another in walnut and maple. I recently set aside a few cocobolo offcuts for a new pair, but haven't decided on the contrasting species yet ; - )
Aluminum?-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
Aluminum?
yupp......I know... I'd the same thought... I can see the market for em; there's bound to be more guys in the same boat as I was when starting out... But still... at least make em from hardwood....Mike Wallace
Stay safe....Have fun
This discussion on making/buying winding sticks is about the silliest I've seen on Knots for quite a while. Good grief, all you gotta do is grab the two closest chunks of stuff, eye them for straight, and lay em on the work. They don't have to be the same length, width, height, species, or color. They can be anything! You can even use a length of fettucine (uncooked) if it fits the project size. Use anything and in any combination. Sheesh.......OK, I feel better now.
took the words right outta my mouth...
took the words right outta my mouth...
That, of course, is copyright infringement, not a patent issue. Can we try to stay on track? :)My goal is for my work to outlast me. Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.
"a novice student can make a workable pair in less than an hour; far more quickly if they use power tools!"
The only objection I have with what you say is that is faster with power tools. This is too simple, too quick, with hand tools. I dought I spent 20 min altogether with hand tools, including wood selection, less drying time.
Again, winding sticks are not a big deal and would be a good warm up project for someone learning to plane (like me).
I used some left over scraps to make mine, walnut and maple. The maple is about 1/4 X 1/4. I only inlaid one stick. Did not see the need to do both, maybe I am missing something on the technique. Also they are a little longer then 12". I just focused on straight and parallel. Planed them together, reversing one every few strokes.
Did not see the need to do both, maybe I am missing something on the technique.
lord knows I'm no expert... but it sure sounds fine to me... inlay is to generate a dark / light contrast at the uppermost corners... So long as they're accurate enough to indicate where the twist is and roughly how much I doubt that adding any more to them will make them function any better... There are of course esthetic reasons for making something a bit more ornate though... One of these days I'll get around to making mine... never seems to be enough hours in the day....Mike Wallace
Stay safe....Have fun
Heaven forbid! What's next?
It is the Hammer Jazzdogg, it is the Hammer !
It is the brass hammer to adjust your plane iron. January catalog page 6.
The attorneys are working overtime.
HM
NICE Veritas winding sticks ...
OK.. I just coughed up a fir ball.. LOL
Not knocking Veritas GOOD FOLKS to be sure..
But... Veritas aluminum winding sticks?
I just saw "with the markings to tell tou how much you are out"
Sounds out like a good idea.. I just use two steel bars about 1/2 by 1/2 inck.. No markings so I have to guess!
I love this post.. REALLY hope you like them..
Again! NOT knocking YOU or Veritas.. Just me...
Like WilliG I am not knocking the product, I'm suprised it wasn't already out there. It is just funny that they introduced a week after my post. .....................
WAIT A MINUTE !!! They must have been following that thread! I've been robbed. You guys (and FG) will back me up on this one right?
Mike
I've got this idea about mounting a metal disk with notches on it to a motor by way of a belt. The motor spins the disk and when you push wood into it, the disk cuts away little pieces of wood. This thing mounts under a table with a device for raising the disk. A rail sits parallel to the disk and can be moved closer or farther as needed.
BTW, patent pending and everyone is my witness I thunk it up first! LOL I'll testify for you if you will testify for me!
Any lawyers out there ready to sue anyone who copies my idea? Then we can make millions and I can then build a new shop in my 1000 ft yacht and wood work while cruising the world.
A bad day woodworking is better than a good day working -- yes, I'm retired!
BAHHH, It'll never work. I'll stick to my trusty ol' hand saw.
Mike
Just ordered a pair myself today. Saw them in the catalog I got in the mail last week or so. I like the way they snug up so that you can put them away as one profile instead of two.. and perhaps use them as inside measuring sticks by applying a couple of hand spring clamps.
Also ordered a center finder to mount near my lathe.. and some of those molded dust masks with the feature that keeps 'em from fogging up your eye protection.
Nifty stuff they have at LV.
Hows about a couple of levels. Works for me!
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