Bill, I think he raised the blade on his table saw about a quarter inch and just moved the dowel all over it to cut half the dowel away. Sort of like using a dado blade to cut it away.
I'm going to make one but I'll probably nail or screw a furring strip alongside the dowel with very short nails or screws and then run the furring strip along the table saw fence to cut away half the dowel. I'll have to lower it initially onto the blade since the ends aren't supposed to be cut. I'll stop a little bit away from the ends and finish the job with my saber saw Does this make sense or am I making it more confusing? Regards, Tom. From: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com [mailto:blindhandy...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of wstep...@everestkc.net Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 11:35 AM To: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: RE: [BlindHandyMan] Another measuring device Tom: I think I understand the theory behind what you've done here, but I'm a little confused about cutting the dowel. If I understand how this looks, there have to be two right-angle cuts, near the ends of the dowel, is that right? Or, how were you able to cut this dowel with a table saw without cutting all the way and then flattening the ends as well as the middle part of the dowl. Also, you said you clamped both ends. I have a cheap table saw, and if I were to clamp a piece of wood to the table, I wouldn't be able to slide it the way I think you'd need to do to get a flattened dowel. Did you do this say, by lowering the table over the blade? Thanks for any illumination. Bill Stephan Kansas Citty MO Email: wstep...@everestkc.net <mailto:wstephan%40everestkc.net> Phone: (816)803-2469 ----- Original Message ----- From: Tom Vos <vo...@iowatelecom.net <mailto:vos17%40iowatelecom.net> > Date: Thursday, November 19, 2009 7:31 am Subject: RE: [BlindHandyMan] Another measuring device > Here you go, with a couple additions. > There may be something like this on the market, but I like to make > my own > when I can. > I took a piece of half inch pvc, and a half inch dowel that will fit > inside.. The dowel is about an inch longer than the pvc. > You will want a dowel that fits inside the pvc without too much > wobble, but > it also has to slide freely. > I cut about half of one side of the dowel -- off the long side, > not the > ends, > except for about an inch on each end. > I put clamps on each end of the dowel to hold it firm without > getting my > fingers too close to the table saw blade. You could also drill > holes in > matching blocks, insert the dowel with a wedge or screw to hold it > firmly,.Then I ran it sideways across the table saw blade, till I > had a flat surface > for most of the length of the dowel. > So I had a dowel full round for one inch on each end, and about > half a dowel > between, for most of the length. > Then I drilled a hold near the end of the pvc, and put a small > bolt through > the hole, and threaded it into a nut inside the pvc, > The nut fits on the flat side of the dowel, allowing it to slide > in and out. > The full round of the dowel on each end keeps the dowel from > falling out, or > going too far in. > Now the dowel can slide in and out, but when I tighten the bolt to > fingertightness, it holds the dowel in position. I can use this > for measuring a > distance and transferring that measurement to my table saw, or > wherever I > need it. > I put a one inch piece of pvc on the one inch end of the dowel > that sticks > out, just for balance and looks > Now you are not limited to any set distance, and have an infinite > variationin measurements. > This works very well for inside as well as outside measurements. > I plan to make a couple more of different sizes. > > Blessings, > > Tom > -----Original Message----- > From: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> > [mailto:blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> ]On Behalf Of Alan & Terrie > Robbins Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 7:08 AM > To: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> > Subject: RE: [BlindHandyMan] Another measuring device > > > > Tom > > When you answer this, could I ask to include the original post > as well as > I > have misplaced and would also like to make one. > > Al > -----Original Message----- > From: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> > [mailto:blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> ]On Behalf Of Tom Hodges > Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 7:48 AM > To: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> > Subject: RE: [BlindHandyMan] Another measuring device > > Can you also tell me what diameter bolt you used? I'm going to > make one of > these, this weekend. > > What do you call this device. I've heard someone refer to > devices like > this > as a story stick, but a story stick is a completely different think. > > Thanks again, Tom > > From: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> > [mailto:blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> ] On Behalf Of Tom Vos > Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 9:19 AM > To: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> > Subject: RE: [BlindHandyMan] Another measuring device > > If the bolt stays threaded into the nut, it stays in place. > There is space for the flat side of the dowel to move past the > nut When > the > bolt is loose, > but the bolt is still in the nut, allowing the dowel to slide. > When the bolt is finger tight, it is against the flat side of > the dowel, > holding it firmly in place. > This device allows for infinitely small adjustments, and is not > limited to > clicks or stops. > It is faster than spinning a nut down a threaded rod. > And it took me less than an hour to make. > Blessings, > Tom > > -----Original Message----- > From: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> > <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> > > [mailto:blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> > <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> ]On Behalf Of jim > Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 10:19 PM > To: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> > <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> Subject: Re: > [BlindHandyMan] Another measuring device > > hi tom i love this and will be making one soon. > how did you get the nut to stay in the pvc? > jim > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]