Replies

1. 
   brisketbean_ | Jan 03, 1999 06:10am | #1

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   Michael;

   What type of logs are you attempting to cope and are they relatively symetrical in shape?
   If the logs are close to being symetric you
   can cut two 45 degree angles on the end of the log,
   just as you would with a piece of moulded trim
   and just cut out all the material that shows a saw cut on it. If the logs are close to the same size this should get you pretty close to a fit.

   If the logs you are useing are not very symetric
   you can use a technicue that I use wich is to crosscut a thin slice off of the end that you plan to cope to the second log and use it for the pattern to chisel out a flat mortise into the second log with. If you like to dowell your joint you can pree drill the end of your pattern log
   before you cut off the mortise pattern and drill thru the existing hole into the second log for the dowell.

   hope this is of some help
   brisketbean

1. 
   MichaelD | Jan 03, 1999 07:24pm | #2

   *Thanks for the reply. A better description of the situation would be a horizontal log supported on the top of a log columnn with a coped joint on the top of the columnn. Also a horizontal log attached to a columnn with the cope only in the horizontal log. With an accurate template to rough in the cut, less time will be needed for the final fitting process. Michael

1. 
   brisketbean_ | Jan 04, 1999 06:16am | #3

   *Michael; Are the logs that you are useing pretty near round in symetry and near the same size in diameter? If they are close to round and the same size in diameterthen fitting the cuts should be fairly simple. I might call it more of a saddle cut than a cope cut.If you want to profile the coped log to the center of the stick log and they are the same size in diameter you could cut two parallel 45 degree side cuts in the coped log and hollow out everythingproud of the 45 degree cuts and be pretty close to a fit. You can then check the fit and if it is close you could then wrap a sheet of light weight cardboard tight to the log and then trace the cardboard to the edge of your cut and trim to trace marks. Be sure to show a centerline on your templatefor alignment on subsequent logs. If you dont wantyour cope or saddle cut to go all the way to the center use less of an angle on the two side cuts. Brisketbean

2. 
   Michael_D | Jan 04, 1999 06:50pm | #4

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   I am looking for a way to make a template to rough cut a log cope prior to finish scribing the coped joint. I would like to be able to plug in diameters of logs into a graph that I could print out, trim along graph line for template. Is this possible?? Thanks for any help. Michael

3. 
   Guest_ | Jan 04, 1999 06:50pm | #5

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   Michael D

   As I understand it (and in simpler terms) you are trying to fit two different size cylinders together. You want a pattern you can lay out on the coped log so that it will rough fit the other. This is identical to ductwork layout, or cam layout. This can be done by hand or in cad. Either way anyone can do it. Our tin knockers make templates in a few minutes. They routinely cut a 6" duct into a 12", etc. They also do this for 45 and 90 degree connections, even into reducers! Get a book on Mechanical drawing or ductwork fabrication. The good new is you could even have a tin shopmake you 30 ga. "ducts" that you can wrap around the logs for templates, and use over and over. I can do this in CAD, but it would be difficult to automate this due to the large amount of geometry calculations.

   -Rob