Jack Posts
Jack posts
by: Will F.
So Grandpa, why use a magnetic drill on wood?
“Well Poppet, we clamp a steel plate to the wood, then the magnetic drill allows us chippies to makes nice deep vertical holes in very large pieces of timber”.
Making the prototype Paddle gear and Jack Posts for the lock restoration has involved many volunteer groups including experts at Alex Farm cutting the heavy greenheart wood to approx. size, the machine shop making the metal parts and chippies at Weston Depot cutting, finishing and fastening the assemblies together. Add in Jim the designer, John the draughtsman, Rick and Vince and the Crew for making a new storage area and you can see great cooperation.
The tasks have made us develop innovative ways of boring deep wide holes, the pillar drill would have meant balancing some 50 kg plus lengths of timber and has limited drill depth, so we have used the steel plate and magnetic drill technique to good effect. We have also used our mortice machine with extenders for the Forstner drill bits.
Cutting on the Band saw has meant we needed to make strong guides and stable supports, we have also made a “tea trolley” matching the work bench height (see earlier blog post), so that supporting and moving the heavy wooden beams is made easier and safer.
We now have one complete Paddle frame and Jack post, with second set only a day or so away from completion. Martin is looking at lifting kit as we need to lower these heavy items into the lock safely and whilst at Pike Lock we can get to both sides easily, at Blunder and other locks off side access is restricted, so we need to transport the items across the water safely.
