Vol. 64, No. 1 Spring 2019 36


sheet on one side for quick removal of wood and 250-grit on the other. T e mast is pressed evenly against the sandpaper and rotated slowly as I sand it. Basically I make myself into a really slow speed lathe. (Figure 7)


Figure 7.


Once they were tapered, the masts got a series of reinforcements designed to keep them from splitting with the stresses of a storm at sea. In French practice at this time they used a combination of stiff , strong iron bands and more fl exible rope and wood straps called, in English, wooldings. T eir number and locations were taken from the masting plan. T e 2-inch-wide iron bands were made from 1/16- inch brass strips which were cut and shaped, then chemically blackened. T ey were installed with thin cyanoacrylate, then reinforced with four iron pins, one of which can be seen just below the light refl ection on the band. (Figure 8)


Figure 8.


T e rest of the cylinder is taken down with light, long strokes of the sanding drum. Since I am right- handed and the tool rotates clockwise, it grinds down aggressively as I pull it towards me, while rising and taking off a lighter amount when I move it away from me down the length of the blank. A combination of these motions quickly tapers the mast close to the fi nal dimensions. Finally, the small bumps and hollows are levelled using a sheet of sandpaper glued to a fl at plate of particle board. T ere is a 120-grit


T e wooldings are about seven scale inches (3/16- inch) wide. T e upper edging, a length of 0.030-inch square cherry wood, was cut carefully on my Preac miniature table saw. I can get away without a lathe in my shop, but not without the table saw. If your ambition is to achieve top quality woodwork I highly recommend that you have one of your own. Aſt er wetting for a few minutes in warm water, the cherry was gently wrapped around the mast, cut to length, and secured with thin cyanoacrylate. (Figure 9, upper leſt ) Linen bookbinder’s thread with a 0.030-inch diameter was used for the rope strap itself. A double overhand loop, which I call a ‘constrictor bend’ secured the fi rst wrap next to the wooden edging. T is knot gives me a lot of overlap to glue up the line without creating a large unsightly lump. (Figure 9, upper right) T e short end of the rope was led up and away from the strap, while the running end of the line was wrapped tightly a dozen times around the mast and fi nished off with another constrictor bend. (Figure 9, lower leſt ) A second cherry edging was installed below the rope and the ends of the line trimmed close. Wood stain evened up all the colors with the mast, followed by a painting with diluted white glue to secure everything. (Figure 9, lower right)


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