I just want to comment on how much more versatile our Woodworker is becoming in relation to what we hoped we’d use it for. Our dream is to, at some point, be able to craft intricate pierced wood panels and the like, but today I used it to flatten/surface an epoxy river table.
Unthinking, I almost began using a messy router sled to do the job then realized the CNC could do it much quicker, cleaner, and with less personal effort! Duh! In the next couple days I’ll use it to cut the pocket slots for the table’s leg mounts rather than doing it manually. (A confession though. The surfacing revelation caused me to realize I should also use the drum sander to begin the sanding process too… Your probably thinking I’m fairly dense, I know, but what can I say.)
The 1F promises to become a great new tool and I’m looking forward to exploring more opportunities as time marches forward.
Perhaps there are others who would like to share their 1F shop discoveries too.
Excellent points Phil. I will tell you, I’ve tried to use my drum sander on a river desk and it was NO fun. I have many hours of video of us struggling to get the desk through my relatively small 16/32 sander. I suppose if you had a large belt sander it would make sense, but muscling that slab into the sander was an epic failure for me. Using the CNC to get the initial flatten done and then the drum sander to finalize would probably best.
That is exactly the process I undertook after I realized both the 1F and drum sander were the perfect tools for the job. It was just old habits that got in the way at the outset for me.
Like so many computer-controlled machines, they can be used in so many ways, some not even imagined or experienced yet. With that being said, don’t confuse your customer as to what your business does. Trying to be all things to all people because you can is a big mistake. Keep your focus more narrow and become the expert at your specialization. The path will be much easier.
So yesterday I found another use for my 1F.
While using the jointer to clean boards for glue up, I noticed a blade nick that prevented a satisfactory smooth edge. Not patient enough to interrupt the build process, I used the 1F to finish the edges instead. Before finish clamping each board down I trammed along the X axis to make sure bit contact was consistent, then clamped it and simply micro advanced Y for a couple of passes. Voila’, the 1F replaced the jointer and, though not as fast, the result was just as smooth!
It would have been an option to rip the boards then use the planer, but the 1F saved the day, so to speak.
Of course I’ll have to circle back after my project is finished to replace the jointer blades. (I’m thinking a Shelix cutter head might be the next investment there)
One of my favorite topics! Much of what I do on my machine is utility application or machined parts for Xometry. In fact, anymore, I do relatively little ‘artsy’ type projects. I turn to the CNC for many things. For example, I used it to modify the mounting ends on replacement ceiling fan blades after I managed to snap one. BTW, you guys with full-size machines could quite easily make your own custom fan blades.
Another time I needed to make a custom threaded mounting flange for a handheld shower handle.
There have been countless other similar projects. As an old-school machinist that ran manual Bridgeport mills in the late 70’s, and later CNC machines, I would have never dreamed back then that one day (decades later) I would actually have my own affordable CNC machine in my shop. Other items I’ve made were custom mounting plates for solar lights and the solar panels to mount them to carport posts.
Bill, I love the creative ways you are using it! I’d have never thought of using it to fix a mouse scroll wheel. However, my Grizzly table saw didn’t offer a zero clearance throat plate so I made one using the cnc. Tools can make tools I guess.
In the early 80’s built a duplicating lathe to rough out wooden airplane props. If there was still a demand, could carve props up to 5 ft diameter on my 1F. Coulda been almost ready to fly just needing sanding and spraying.
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Aiph5u
(Aiph5u (not affiliated with Onefinity))
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Hi Aiph, tried to thank you for the G92 tip but methinks I have been naughty. Started out building small wind turbines for sailboats in San Diego in the early 1980’s and an ultralight manufacturer saw my blades and asked me to make some for them, pretty soon was making half of the props for Eipper Aircraft Lake Elsinore, and half for Rotec engineering in Texas. Made a few for experimentals and for Bob Hovey & others, within 2 years we had 17% of the NA market, then 60 minutes did an article about ultralights falling out of the sky and my two biggest customers folded & took the money they owed me with them.
The Shelix cutters are fantastic. I put them on both my 8in jointer and my planer and will never go back to straight blades. Its a heafty cost but so worth it.
You wont regret it.
