The Gougeon Brothers on Boat Construction - WEST SYSTEM Epoxy

Chapter 8 – Tools and the Boatshop 61
Figure 8-3 Clamps: (1) sliding bar clamp; (2) heavy-duty,
large pad clamp; (3) quick action clamp; (4) C-clamps; (5)
spring clamps.
Construction with WEST SYSTEM epoxy requires a few
specialized tools, some of which can be purchased and
others made in the shop. Syringes, rollers, squeegees,
pans, and cups are available in most hardware stores or
through WEST SYSTEM dealers. Instructions for making
other useful gadgets are provided throughout this book.
Three or four well-chosen hand-held power tools will
make your work easier and cut down on the need for
major equipment. A saber saw is a little less accurate
than a band saw, but it can do most of the same work
and more. A good 1 ⁄4" or 3 ⁄8" electric drill with bits and
accessories is useful for many jobs. If you plan to scarf
a great deal of plywood, 1 ⁄2" (12mm) thick or less, a 71 ⁄4"
electric circular saw with a Scarffer attachment will
ease your task considerably. A circular saw can also be
set up with guides and used as a table saw. An orbital
polisher with a selection of foam pads will speed up
finishing. If you buy these tools for a project and later
find that your interest in woodworking has vanished, you
can usually sell them to regain a portion of their price.
<strong>The</strong> first major piece of equipment to think about
buying is a table saw. This versatile tool is used primarily
to saw lumber to exact specifications, but it’s also
handy for beveling and tapering. A good table saw can
masquerade as a jointer and put a straight edge on a
warped board, and, with the addition of a sliding miter
gauge, it can serve as a cut-off saw. With dado blades
and other heads, a table saw also can act as a shaper.
At some point, now or in the future, you may think
about purchasing other power tools. <strong>The</strong> following
inventory of our shop equipment may help you in
deciding whether or not to supplement your basic
inventory.
<strong>Gougeon</strong> <strong>Brothers</strong> Power Tool Inventory
In listing the equipment we use in our shop, we hope
to give you an idea of the possibilities available to the
(1985) boatbuilder. We are in no way suggesting that
amateur builders should try to duplicate this inventory.
Our list is arranged in categories according to use, so
tools do not appear in order of importance. Tool choice
is a personal matter: as we talked this list over, we
realized that we didn’t always agree about individual
items. Because they change so quickly, specific brands
and model numbers are not included.
<strong>The</strong>se tools have served best in reducing labor in a
professional boatshop. Many of them are industrial
quality and therefore may require additional electrical
wiring for safe use. Some are air-powered and so
require an air compressor. Should you decide to buy
air-powered tools, ask for advice about their operation.
Almost all of these tools may be somewhat powerful
for a home shop, and all are expensive. Note that we
use a number of auto body shop tools.
Electric Saws
Saber saw—<strong>The</strong> saber saw is one of the essential
boatbuilding tools. Look for a model that features
adjustable orbital blade action and a variable and very
accurate speed control, which enable you to set it to
best cut a variety of materials. It has a cutting oil attachment
for use with stainless steel and other hard-to-cut
metals, and it is extremely accurate in cutting wood.
71 ⁄4" circular saws—Use a circular saw to cut lumber
or plywood that is too unwieldy or too large to handle
on a table or radial arm saw and to notch frames and
beams. We have several and keep one permanently set
up with the Scarffer attachment to cut 8-to-1 scarfs on
plywood up to 3 ⁄8" (9mm) thick.
41 ⁄2" circular electric panel saw—This tool is
wonderful for cutting thin plywood and veneer,
but it’s not a necessity.
10" tilting arbor table saw—Look for a solidlyconstructed
unit that has a well-positioned arbor
with good bearings. An easily adjusted rip fence is a