SHAVINGS
Volume 3,
EMERGENCY
Number 2 !
URGENT !
We need v o l u n t e e r s to r e s t o r e and r e f i n i s h our B r i s t o l Bay g i l l n e t t e r . Anyone who can s a n d , s c r a p e , p u t t y , c a u l k , and p a i n t i s n e e d e d . O n the job t r a i n i n g a v a i l a b l e . Contact us at 283-9166.
DIRECTOR'S CORNER The q u e s t f o r o u r s i t e i s a s f r u s t r a t i n g a s a k i d l o o k i n g i n the window o f a candy s t o r e c l o s e d f o r v a c a t i o n . The g o o d i e s a r e t h e r e , b u t no one knows when the s t o r e w i l l be o p e n e d . Any r e d b l o o d e d government o f f i c i a l w o u l d s h r u g o f f the c o u n t l e s s c o n f e r e n c e s , memos, d r a f t s , s t u d i e s , and guidelines as their basic v i t a l support system. T o me, i t i s l i k e a v i s i t t o a d i s t a n t p l a n e t , where the breath of l i f e is paper. D o n ' t m i s u n d e r s t a n d ; a l l the p e o p l e were f r i e n d l y and s y m p a t h e t i c , a s t h e y c h e e r f u l l y s h u f f l e d our papers through the p r e o r d a i n e d p r o c e s s e s . They were c h a r g e d w i t h f o l l o w i n g r u l e s and r e g u l a t i o n s , n o m a t t e r how b a f f l i n g . W e l l , we a r e a l m o s t t h e r e , and guess what we g o t ? A temporary p e r m i t f o r Waterway 4: 364 days r e n e w a b l e , w i t h a 30 day e v i c t i o n n o t i c e p r o v i s i o n . Y e s , t h a t temporary p e r m i t i s what a y e a r ' s d e l i b e r a t i o n was a l l a b o u t . Remember, waterways a r e p u b l i c property. We w i l l be watched to see t h a t we p r o m p t l y and t a s t e f u l l y use the s i t e f o r p u b l i c b e n e f i t . W e must g e t o u r b u i l d i n g , f l o a t s , and w o r k i n g e x h i b i t f l e e t in shape. W e must
March-April,
$0.25
1981
b e a u t i f y the s h o r e s i d e w i t h l a n d s c a p ing. And w e must d o i t a l l d o u b l e time ! W i t h the s i t e p e r m i t i n h a n d , w e c a n ' t g r i p e about d e l a y s any more. That was the e a s y p a r t . We must p u t up or shut up. We have come a l o n g way on enthusiasm. Now we need to add some deep p o c k e t money, a s w e l l a s s p e c i a l i z e d s k i l l s and m a t e r i a l s . I n a d d i t i o n t o the s i t e p e r m i t , w e must o b t a i n a S h o r e l i n e s Management p e r m i t , a Corps o f E n g i n e e r s p e r m i t , a h y d r a u l i c p e r m i t from the S t a t e Department of F i s h e r i e s and Game, sewer p e r m i t , e l e c t r i c a l p e r m i t , more i n s u r a n c e t o r e l i e v e the C i t y o f l i a b i l i t y , and a bond t o s a f e g u a r d the C i t y from h a v i n g t o remove sunken o r abandoned s t r u c t u r e s . We s h o u l d have a l l t h e s e m a t t e r s c l e a r e d up about the time of the Wooden B o a t Show, J u l y 3 , 4 , 5 . But d o n ' t be s u r p r i s e d if some more f i n e p o i n t s o f order are d i s c o v e r e d , t h a t need t o b e s a t i s f i e d w i t h p e r m i t s . Who nows the i n n e r w o r k i n g s of the good f o l k s o n P l a n e t P a p e r ?
MAY MEETING The r e g u l a r m e e t i n g on May 1 5 , at the u s u a l 8:00 PM, w i l l f e a t u r e P a t F o r d as speaker. P a t i s the l o c a l w h i z o n r e s t o r a t i o n of c l a s s i c runabouts. He w i l l t e l l u s about h i s s p e c i a l t r i c k s o f r e p a i r and r e f i n i s h i n g . P a t knows how t o g e t i t done r i g h t , and g e t i t done f a s t , under l e s s than p e r f e c t weather c o n d i t i o n s .
A PUBLICATION OF THE CENTER FOR WOODEN BOATS 2770 W e s t l a k e A v e . N. S e a t t l e WA 98109
SEMINAR GIVES PRACTICAL FOUNDRY EXPERIENCE Two of the most p o p u l a r CWB s e m i n a r s a r e the T o o l m a k i n g Workshop and P r o f . P a u l F o r d ' s Foundry Workshop. Both have r e s t r i c t e d c l a s s s i z e t o make the h a n d s - o n e x p e r i e n c e a s w o r t h w h i l e as p o s s i b l e , so we s e n t the SHAVINGS e d i t o r i a l s t a f f t o c o v e r the l a t t e r , to g i v e members a r e p o r t .
w i t h s p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n t o the p r o b l e m o f making ones t h a t a r e s u i t a b l e f o r the p r o c e s s . D i f f e r e n t shapes r e q u i r e d i f f e r e n t c a s t i n g t e c h n i q u e s , and h e e x p l a i n e d how to r e c o g n i z e them and to make the n e c e s s a r y a l l o w a n c e s . In a d d i t i o n t o sand c a s t i n g , h e e x p l a i n e d i n v e s t m e n t ( l o s t wax) c a s t i n g , d i e c a s t i n g , and c o r e m a k i n g . A l l were i l l u s t r a t e d w i t h examples and many quick blackboard sketches.
P r o f . Ford teaches Mechanical E n g i n e e r i n g and the U n i v e r s i t y o f Washingt o n , w h i c h makes t h i s alum w i s h t h a t some " u p p e r campus" i n s t r u c t o r s were a s f u l l o f enthusiasm a s Ford i s . The workshop b e g i n s w i t h d e f i n i t i o n s : f l a s k , cope, d r a g , r i d d l e , s p r u e , r u n n e r - the s p e c i a l i z e d v o c a b u l a r y o f foundrymen. (Three weeks l a t e r , I w a l k e d p a s t C o o l i d g e P r o p e l l e r ' s Lake Union f o u n d r y , and saw "FLASK 1 7 , COPE" and FLASK 1 7 , DRAG" c h a l k e d on two huge m e t a l r i n g s . The v o c a b u l a r y s t i l l i s i n e v e r y d a y u s e , not m e r e l y a h i s t o r i c a l curiosity.) Patterns
2
were
Prof.
Ford's
next
subject,
One of Prof. Ford's diagrams, part of h i s seminar notes.
Making a s a n d mold i s . a s u r p r i s i n g l y complex t a s k , but F o r d made the p r o cess u n d e r s t a n d a b l e , i f not e a s i e r . He showed s e v e r a l examples of how s h r i n k a g e makes h o l l o w s i n f i n i s h e d c a s t i n g s , and how l a r g e g a t e s and s p r u e s can be used as l a r g e masses of molten m e t a l t o " f e e d " more i n t o t h e actual casting as it cools and shrinks. M u l t i p l e gates often are used f o r f l a t p l a t e s and o t h e r c a s t i n g s o f l a r g e a r e a b u t l i m i t e d v o l u m e , and F o r d e x p l a i n e d the r u l e s f o r t h o s e a s well.
The c l a s s r o o m t h e o r y took 2 1/2 hours of r a p i d f i r e l e c t u r i n g , peppered w i t h personal experiences of both i n s t r u c t o r and s t u d e n t s . Many students seemed to have some foundry e x p e r i e n c e , and were t a k i n g the c l a s s to l e a r n some fine points. O t h e r s n o l o n g e r had a c c e s s to the e q u i p m e n t , and were t h e r e b e c a u s e , once exposed t o the f a s c i n a t i o n o f c a s t i n g , t h e y were lifelong enthusiasts. S i n c e foundry equipment i s d i f f i c u l t t o l o c a t e , P r o f . F o r d hands out a r e s o u r c e s h e e t o f s u p p l i e r s and approximate c o s t s . The second h a l f of the workshop gave p a r t i c i p a n t s a chance t o t r y out t h e i r new k n o w l e d g e . W i t h s i m p l e wooden f l a s k s , b u i l t b y Rowland M e s s e r , each s t u d e n t h a d a chance t o r i d d l e , ram, s t r i k e o f f , and r e a s s e m b l e a m o l d . F o r d s p e n t t h i s time g i v i n g a d v i c e and f i r i n g up a s m a l l p o r t a b l e furnace of h i s own d e s i g n , f u e l e d w i t h c h a r c o a l , s i n c e w e c a s t i n aluminum, chosen f o r i t s low m e l t i n g p o i n t . W i t h the f l a s k s a l l ready t o g o , everyone s t o o d a r o u n d the l i t t l e f u r n a c e , w a i t i n g f o r the m e l t , and i n d u l g i n g i n B i g Machine Talk.
Deb H a r r i n g t o n e x p l a i n e d how t h e y l a t h e d p r o p e l l e r s h a f t s b e f o r e the War; somebody t a l k e d about t u r n i n g r a i l r o a d w h e e l s ; somebody e l s e unearthed an unusual f a b r i c a t i o n p r o c e s s h e ' d once s e e n . Then came the p o u r i n g , w i t h a l l i t s s p e c i a l problems. N a t u r a l l y , one f l a s k l e a k e d molten metal a t a l l i t s seams, w i t h a s p e c t a c u l a r b u r s t o f flame. My c a s t i n g s t a r v e d o u t , w i t h out enough m e t a l t o f i l l i t . The l a s t step is a l i t t l e l i k e Christmas--you have a good i d e a o f w h a t ' s i n the p a c k a g e , b u t u n t i l i t ' s unwrapped, y o u ' r e n e v e r s u r e . O f c o u r s e , the leaky f l a s k produced a b e a u t i f u l s e t o f o a r l o c k s and the b e s t - l o o k i n g pour had a huge sand p o c k e t i n i t . That's p a r t o f the p e r v e r s e n e s s o f Made Things. W i t h the i n s t r u c t i o n o v e r , s e v e r a l o f the d i e - h a r d s , c a s t i n g s i n h a n d , went t o a l o c a l pub t o t a l k f o u n d r i e s and boats. S o o n , nobody was l e f t i n the S h o r e l i n e Museum p a r k i n g l o t e x c e p t P r o f . F o r d , who had h i s u s u a l problem: "There I w a s , e v e r y b o d y a l r e a d y gone, and the f u r n a c e s t i l l t o o h o t t o p u t back i n the t r u c k . "
OWNER'S NOTEBOOK: THE 18' MICMAC CANOE Having l i t t l e e x p e r i e n c e w i t h canoes, I chose a l a r g e b o a t c a p a b l e of c a r r y i n g the whole f a m i l y . With a c o u p l e of hundred m i l e s b e h i n d me, I m i g h t choose d i f f e r e n t l y now (I c r a v e a f a s t c a n o e , t h e s e d a y s ) , b u t my b o a t ' s a t t r a c t i v e l i n e s create favora b l e comment w h e r e v e r she g o e s . And I s t i l l t h i n k a l o n g e r canoe i s b e s t .
On a s t r o n g b a c k , e r e c t 13 plywood f o r m s , d e f i n i n g the shape o f the b o a t , w i t h a form at each end f o r the stem and s t e r n . S t a p l e the s t r i p s t o the f o r m s , g l u i n g edge t o e d g e . P u l l 5,000 s t a p l e s , and g e t o u t the d i s k s a n d e r and the r e s p i r a t o r . Many h o u r s and many s a n d i n g d i s k s l a t e r , you are ready f o r the hand s a n d i n g - more h o u r s . B u t , o h , when you are done! A s l e e k b o a t has emerged, one w h i c h s m e l l s s o good you c o n s i d e r l e a v i n g i t t h a t way, j u s t f o r the way the workshop s m e l l s . Enjoy i t , the f i b e r g l a s s i s n e x t . G e n t l e r e a d e r , i f you must muck about w i t h p e t r o c h e m i c a l g o o , use the epoxy v a r i e t y , not p o l y e s t e r . The p r o b l e m s I had w i t h the f i b e r g l a s s i n g n e a r l y b r o u g h t me to the p o i n t of c u t t i n g up the b o a t and h a u l i n g i t t o the dump. S a n d i n g the i n s i d e was the w o r s t p a r t . I h e l p e d sand a f r i e n d ' s b o a t a f t e r w a r d , and can a s s u r e you i t g e t s n o b e t t e r w i t h e x p e r i e n c e - - g i v e s one a whole new p e r s p e c t i v e on the word 'interminable. 1
I was
P a t i e n c e d o e s n ' t b u i l d the b o a t , nor s k i l l (though i t h e l p s ! ) , n o r a n e v e r empty c h e c k b o o k . Perseverance does it. You can do i t , t o o . Dave Cox
A SOUTH SOUND BOAT SHOW
T h i s i s a s t r i p c e d a r and f i b e r g l a s s boat. Take 2 0 ' o f c l e a r 1 " Western r e d c e d a r p l a n k s and r i p 1 / 4 " s t r i p s . A f t e r 4 o r 5 h o u r s you w i l l have the 90 you n e e d , and more sawdust than you can i m a g i n e .
I wanted to b u i l d a b o a t when
y e a r s o l d ; I f i n a l l y d i d i t when I was 30. I t w o n ' t b e the l a s t t i m e . I l e a r n e d s o m e t h i n g , t h o u g h , and I ' l l pass i t o n f r e e o f c h a r g e .
8
The O l y m p i a Wooden Boat A s s o c i a t i o n w i l l h o l d t h e i r second a n n u a l b o a t show a t P e r c i v a l L a n d i n g , the South t i p of Budd I n l e t , on May 9 and 1 0 . I n a d d i t i o n t o the o n - t h e - w a t e r show, they w i l l f e a t u r e d e m o n s t r a t i o n s o f steam b e n d i n g , c a u l k i n g , and p l a n k i n g . Rowing r a c e s , w i t h s e v e r a l c l a s s e s , and a s a i l i n g r e g a t t a , a r e s c h e d u l e d f o r Sunday, May 1 0 . A $15.00 e n t r y f e e p r o v i d e s b o t h d i n n e r and b r e a k f a s t f o r each p a r t i c i p a t i n g s k i p p e r and one crew member. C a l l Ron A r e n s , 7 5 3 - 8 1 8 3 , f o r f u l l information.
ROWING REGATTA & SQUARE DANCE The Vancouver and P u g e t E x p l o r a t i o n S o c i e t y i n v i t e s a l l muscle powered b o a t s to a two day r e g a t t a , the Second A n n u a l S q u a x i n I s l a n d Rowing R e g a t t a and Square Dance, May 16 and 17. Squaxin I s l a n d S t a t e Park i s l a r g e enough f o r a l l p a r t i c i p a n t s t o camp. T r a n s p o r t a t i o n t o the i s l a n d i s a v a i l a b l e f o r t h o s e who have no b o a t . S a t u r d a y , May 16, r a c i n g s t a r t s a t n o o n , w i t h a n e v e n i n g p o t l u c k and square d a n c i n g . Sunday, May 17, w i l l feature h u l l resistance tests. For f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n , c a l l C a r l B r o w n s t e i n , S h e l t o n , 426-5276.