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Thread: Efficient cutting of wood ribs?

  1. #1

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    Question Efficient cutting of wood ribs?

    what is the best method or saw for cutting material for making wood ribs?
    thanks

  2. #2
    Chad Jensen's Avatar
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    Are you talking small spruce capstrip? I used a bandsaw for my Tailwind spruce capstrip, but a simple handsaw will buzz right thru the small stuff.
    Chad Jensen
    EAA #755575

  3. #3

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    what I was referring to are the ribs built from 1/4" material enforced with gussets
    thanks

  4. #4

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    Quote Originally Posted by stolflite View Post
    what I was referring to are the ribs built from 1/4" material enforced with gussets
    thanks
    I use a template, and cut with a router, by cutting a 1 inch thick template to the exact size and shape, you can place the new stock on top of it and cut with a laminate trimmer bit in a router. makes a perfect rib every pass.

  5. #5

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    its not clear to me whether you are stick building ribs or sawn from a solid piece of plywood. if i ever get around to building my own Cherokee II glider (1/4" plywood sawn ribs) I will probably look into having the ribs laser cut from a cad file. Tom's method works well for mass production of sawn ribs but on the glider the wing is tapered and there are only two of each individual rib.

  6. #6

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    My apologies for not being clear in stating my question. What I want to do is rip 3/4"x 6" stock material into 1/4"x 1/4" rib material for making ribs by gluing and gusset method.

  7. #7

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    In making gussets for my Hatz project, I used the tablesaw to cut strips of mahogany ply, stacked them, and cut multiple gussets at a time on either my bandsaw or my chop saw.

    I did the same thing with the individual spruce strips - made a prototype, then set an angled stop on my bandsaw so I could align a bunch of strips and cut several identical ones at a time.

    As I cut the unique gussets and spruce strips, I put them in zip-loc baggies which I labeled to show which type of strip or gusset was inside.

  8. #8

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    Quote Originally Posted by stolflite View Post
    My apologies for not being clear in stating my question. What I want to do is rip 3/4"x 6" stock material into 1/4"x 1/4" rib material for making ribs by gluing and gusset method.
    I do that in 5 steps, first you edge the board in a jointer, then rip 3/8 inch off the edge, plane that strip to 1/4 X3/4, and rip in half, and plane each to 1/4 x 1/4 you loose a lot of wood to saw dust.
    Last edited by Tom Downey; 12-09-2011 at 05:43 PM.

  9. #9

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    do you cut then with a 200 tooth blade on your saw?

  10. #10

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    Name:  sawing new post.JPG
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tom Downey View Post
    I have a Sears band saw that I use as a re-saw with a fine tooth blade with as little set as possible to get a clean no burn cut. shown set up to cut a new rudder post for my Fairchild. removing a 3/16' piece from the side.
    Last edited by Tom Downey; 12-09-2011 at 10:46 PM.

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