Work platforms, cheap tools and rounding of topdeck edges.

A few months ago Tom set-up a large work platform which has given us easy access to the foredeck area. Before the foredeck fairing and undercoating can be completed, the topdeck outer edges must be rounded and taped. So, reluctantly, we had to temporarily dismantle this platform to create a new one along the length of the boat.

Still it was going to be rewarding to finally be rid of this untidy unfinished edge.

The 38mm round-over bit is a huge clunk of metal, for which we have yet to find router with a large enough base plate hole diameter. Tom has been using it in a modified Ryobi router.

Unfortunately, today was the last day in the life of this Ryobi router. One metre short of the length to be routed, it gave up in a huge plume of smoke. Tom has never been particularly happy with this model, as its body flexes excessively during operation, and the depth set pole vibrates out of position. This has required many stops and adjustments in even the smallest of jobs. Tom remembered an older, heavy Makita router that he rarely uses. He performed a test cut using a smaller router bit, and found that despite its weight, it was a much nicer tool to handle. But its base plate hole was still approximately 8mm too small in diameter.

I found some stainless steel jigsaw blades at Bunnings, which Tom used to increase the diameter to accommodate the 38mm bit.

The Makita router performs like a charm. And we now have one side of the deck rounded and taped, at last.