In my last blog post I showed you how to make a circle center finder. Now I'll show you how to make a center finder to use with boards and rectangular pieces of lumber.
Supplies and Equipment:
- 4" x 1½" x ¾" wood blank
- Center Finder Template
- ¼" dowel rod
- Eye screw
- Liquid wood adhesive
- Proxxon Table Saw FET
- Proxxon MICRO Bandsaw MBS/E
- Proxxon Disc Sander TSG 250/E
- Proxxon Bench Drill Press TBM 115
How to make the center finder:
- Cut the ¾" wood blank to size using the table saw. You'll need to use a piece of solid wood—plywood and MDF aren't appropriate for this project.
- Draw two diagonal line on the bottom of the blank to mark the center.
- At this center mark, drill a hole through the blank for the pencil. I used a 9/32" bit, but you can test the fit of your pencil by drilling a hole in any scrap.
- Mark and drill the holes for the dowels ½" deep into the blank, and centered to match the hole just drilled for the pencil.
- Mount the pattern on the blank. Cover one side of the blank with painter's tape. Mist the back side of the pattern with spray adhesive, and mount on the taped blank. The painter's tape makes removal of the pattern easy without leaving any sticky residue.
- Use the band saw to cut the top curves. NOTE: Step 3 and 4 are optional and do not affect the way the center finder works. The top curves are only aesthetic. You can skip them and go right to Step 6.
- Using the mounted pattern as a guide, drill a hole for the eye screw that holds the pencil in place.
- Sand the surfaces on the disc sander.
- Cut two 1½" lengths of ¼" dowel. Glue the dowels in place.
Here's how it works:
- Insert a pencil into the center finder with the point extending just enough to mark a line.
- Place the board between the dowels, and angle the center finder so the each dowel is snug against the sides of the board. Slide the center finder along the board so it scribes a pencil mark in the center.
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| Carole |
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