Replies

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Aug 17, 2008 12:20am | #1

   Not sure I understand, but . . .

   Drill a hole in your rough stock for the base, centered. Cut the circle with the hole as the center of the circle. Put a bold through the center hole, tighten with a nut. Mount the circle in a drill press, lathe, or similar slowly turning device. Just sand/buff the edge by holding the sandpaper against it as it turns. Remove the nut. Cut the inner circle, centering the hole saw in the center hole.

   Or, you can do it the old-fashioned way. Pick up sandpaper. Sand.

   ;-)

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA

1. 
   drf3 | Aug 17, 2008 03:55am | #4

   Thank you for your suggestions. The first I will try. Due to a disability, traditional sanding is one thing that is difficult for me. Thanks again for your ideas.
   drf3

2. 
   RalphBarker | Aug 17, 2008 12:44am | #2

   As Mike suggested, I'd do the whole operation on the lathe, either with a centered mounting bolt or a mounting plate screwed to the base of the cone.

1. 
   drf3 | Aug 17, 2008 03:51am | #3

   Thank you for your suggestion to use a lathe. Unfortunately, I do not have a lathe. Maybe I could use my table mounted router. Thanks for your inspiration.drf

1. 
   RalphBarker | Aug 17, 2008 04:18am | #5

   Absent a lathe, how are you making the cone? Depending on the size of the cone, if you have a drill press, you might be able to use it as a slow-speed "vertical lathe". An arbor on which one might mount a grinding stone might serve a similar purpose. Just something to spin the cone at a relatively slow speed.

1. 
   drf3 | Aug 17, 2008 04:42am | #6

   Ralph,Interesting idea, the 'vertical' lathe. Rather than make a cone, I'm using a ready-made 2.5" diameter cone. I'm planning to cut 1) a 1/4" thick x 3.5" square piece of wood with 1) a 2.5" hole saw only 1/8" deep hole, 2) cut a 3-3.25" through hole. The ready-made cone will fit into the slightly sanded down 2.5" hole. I'm planning on mounting the cone and base with a T-slot bolt through the center of the cone. I'll probably cut a second smaller circle to mount higher in the cone and center the T-slot bolt. The project I'm making will allow me to strengthen my injured hand.I will keep your 'vertical' lathe idea in mind. At the moment, I can only handle equipment with one hand. Thanks again for your help.drf3

2. 
   MikeHennessy | Aug 18, 2008 02:27pm | #7

   OK. After reading your subsequent post, I think I understand better what you need to do. You need a wooden circle, 3-1/2" in diameter, 1/4" thick, with a circular depression 2-1/4" in diameter, 1/8" deep, cut in the middle. You don't have a lathe, but you do have a router table. Unclear whether you have a drill press.

   I would do this on the router table. You can make a simple circle-cutting jig/fixture (but that's another thread) to both cut the circle (with the bit raised all the way through the wood) and to hollow out the depression (with the bit raised only 1/2 way throught the wood. You'll need to freehand the very center of the depression, since you won't be able to get to it without removing the piece from the jig/fixture.

   Sounds like you'll be doing this one-handed. Be sure that you have taken the necessary precautions to control the workpiece (I'd fasten the workpiece to a larger board with double-stick or glue&paper) and keep your working hand safe, or you may end up rehabbing two hands instead of one. ;-(   A foot-controlled power switch for the router (or a helper to throw the switch) would be something I would deem absolutely essential if I wuz doing this.

   Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA

1. 
   drf3 | Aug 24, 2008 03:48am | #10

   Hi, again,Thank you for your suggestions. I have a drill press and a router -in-table. Yes, I am working one-handed. Thanks for your warnings.My most recent thoughts to create the base for the cone include cutting the 2.5 hole with a hole saw and routing the edge with a Dremel set on a circle jig with a more-than-11-degree triangular cutter to trim the circle plug smaller and angled as needed. I thought I'd glue the cone inside of the trench.I will think through your suggestions. Using a foot-controlled power switch is a very helpful recommendation I will definitely use immediately.Thanks again.Best,
   drf3

3. 
   Steinmetz | Aug 21, 2008 04:21am | #8

   If you have hole saws, use one with a 1/4inch pilot bit. Cut out the ring (do-nut?)with the two correct sized hole saws.
   Extract the holesaw slug left inside the smaller holesaw. It is usually 1/8" narrower than the new cut center hole.

   By wrapping electrical tape around the slug's perimeter,(and thereby enlarging it's size,) make an arbor using a 1/4" nut and bolt through the slug's hole .You then can attach it to a drill's chuck and by 'wringing' the do-nut onto the arbor, you may sand it to your heart's content. Steinmetz

1. 
   drf3 | Aug 24, 2008 03:31am | #9

   Hi,Thanks for your suggestion to use tape and the drill press for being able to sand the circle. Best,
   drf3