problem with collapsible basket pattern

[[email protected]]

I am using collapsible basket patterns by rick and karen longabaugh. When i cut the spiral i have to open the spring to get the bowl to colapse properly am i doing something wrong . I used the right blade and the bevel is correct ?????

[harpone]

Confused

I am using collapsible basket patterns by rick and karen longabaugh. When i cut the spiral i have to open the spring to get the bowl to colapse properly am i doing something wrong . I used the right blade and the bevel is correct ?????

Please explain "open the spring" so I am clear what you are asking. I have made several collapsible baskets lately using the Longabaughs Collapsible Basket Patterns book. I can confirm what I read in another thread or book review: the table angles shown in the book don't always give satisfactory results. I now cut a couple circles in the waste area of the wood using different table angles. That really helps visualize how the basket will expand.

BTW what wood thickness are you using?

[sawdustus]

Harpone has it right. You have to do a test on a scrap of the exact same thickness as the piece you are going to use. Don't trust the angle guide on the saw to be as exact as you need. The other problem is that the Longabaugh's don't tell what brand of blade they are using. I have found that for a given size of blade, the kerf can vary by several thousandths of an inch from brand to brand and that makes a difference when you try to expand the basket.

george

[crownj]

Hi I just inherited the collapsible basket patterns Longabough book from my dad and was going to try them out, when looking through the book I noticed that page 4 was missing which is the general instructions does any one have a copy of that page? I have tried make a couple of other collapsible baskets but after cutting them out they dont even open up so not sure what I did wrong followed the pattern and the instructions even the same size blade so I guess you just keep trying and dont give up.

Laura

[harpone]

Laura -
Cut some circles at different angles out of the wood you are using. Longabaughs' instructions don't tell you what wood thickness or saw blade brand to use and following their recommendations exactly didn't work for me.

I scanned page 4 but haven't figured out to send it in this format. If you send me (private message suggested) your email address I will forward it to you.

[Rolf]

If it doesent open reduce the angle.

[Rolf]

There was an article in one of the older mags with a pattern for this test piece. I have made several marking them with the blade I used. They are glued to keep them together. It is a great reference, and you can see that even at 2.5 deg there is not much of an offset using an Olson Mach3. If I did the same cuts with say a PGT5 the offset would be greater because the blade cuts a wider kerf.

As stated above do not trust the accuaracy of your saws angle gauge. I usE A Wixey or the attached homemade guide.

[will8989]

This is one instance where size does matter!! If your wood is 1/16" of an inch thicker or thinner, everything will change. If the blade isn't what they use for cutting, it will change. ALWAYS make a practice cut first on the same piece of wood you are cutting with the same blade you will be using. This angle guide is the best. I use the exact same one all the time.