Choosing
your Dummy
1.The first point to
consider in your purchase of a Dummy is if it is to be a
wall mounted or free standing type.
Wall mounted version, this type of dummy is
supported on two wooden struts which pass through the body
at the top and bottom. These in turn are secured onto a wall
mounted frame using steel bolts. Height adjustment can be
carried out by simply moving the struts to a lower or higher
hole position and securing with the bolts.
This type can be fine tuned to give more or less movement,
by having shorter or longer support struts. It does need a
good solid wall for mounting onto.
Free standing version, this type of dummy
has a longer body section and the base of the body section
sits into a pre-formed hole in the floor standing base. The
base is made from very strong plywood and weighted with
either sand or concrete.
This type does not need a strong wall to be mounted on, is
fully portable and does not take up as much width as the
wall mounted type.
Construction
of Dummy Bodies
The
body will be laminated from Kiln dried ex 9" (225mm)
wide *2.5" (63mm) these will be machined perfectly flat
and square before gluing them with a modern adhesive, this
produces an extremely strong body that will not crack or
split due to the natural movement of the wood. Once the
body blank is produced it will be turned down to its
finished diameter on a lathe and sanded to a smooth
finish. Then it will be marked for the arm, leg and
support strut hole positions, the holes will then be cut.
The finished hole sizes are made slightly larger than the
finished arm and leg shaft sizes, this allows the wooden
limbs to move when in use.
Above: A finished dummy body
with all the holes cut square.
2. The next point is
what timber would you like it in, this tends to boil down to
the colour that you would like it to be as all 3 timbers
have similar properties. Dave does not offer any of his
dummy parts in softwood so the hardwood options are:
Beech
this is a light coloured hardwood and can be stained easily
for you to achieve a colour of your liking.
Sapele is a red coloured hardwood and only needs
oiling to bring out the best from it.
Ash this is a light to golden colour hardwood
sometimes with a brown hue, again all this needs is an
oiling to bring out its character. There are other timbers
available at an increased cost Oak, Elm, Black Walnut.
3. Dummy Arms
The arms are a set of three comprising of the top two arms
which will have the square shafts offset
in order for them to sit more level when
inserted into the dummy body.
The middle arm will have the square shaft cut on the centre
so that it sits
perfectly on the centerline of the dummy.
Arms
can be purchased separately
They will be provided smooth sanded complete with locking
pin and ready for staining, oiling and finishing. The only
thing that you will need to do to the arms is to set them
into your dummy body to locate where to drill the hole for
the locking pin.
The arms are made from premium quality ex 75mm * 75mm square
kiln dried timber, this ensures that they are extremely strong
and will not break during normal use.
Left:
Bottom dummy arm in Beech
Left:
Top dummy arms in Beech
Left:
Locking pin in Oak
4. Dummy legs
Leg can be purchased separately
The legs are available made from a jointed
construction, this produces a really strong and durable leg.
They will be provided smooth sanded complete with locking
pin and ready for staining, oiling and finishing. As with
the arms the only thing that you will need to do to the leg
is to set it into your dummy body to locate where to drill
the hole for the locking pin.
5.
Dummy mounting frame or Freestanding
base
Freestanding base
Floor standing base can be purchased from Dave and
filled by you with either stones or sand to give it the
necessary weight. The dummy body then drops into this base and
is ready for use.
E-Mail:
dave.thomas@dtwoodturning.co.uk
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