On May 17, 8:02*pm, "Morgans" wrote:

I'm reading with interest. *One other note, though. *If a person does not
have a circular saw already, one of the small table top saws can be
purchased for near the same price as a good circular saw.
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Dear Jim,

Roger that. Almost ANYTHING would be better than trying to BUILD a
table saw. But the people showing the most interest in the 'Chugger'
project are not here in the States, where small table-top saws are
available -- many of them are in countries where they don't even have
electricity. Think about that one for a minute. Turning out 3/4"
square longerons (ie, or 19mm) using a 'stomp-saw' and a lot of
enthusiasm. The DIY table saw is for those wealthy enough to not only
have electrical power, but who have access to things such as used
portable saws. And as you've probably guessed, most of them have
ALREADY made some effort to apply their portable saw to the task of
turning out rib-sticks, spar-caps, longerons and so forth.

One thing coming out of all this is a fuller appreciation of my
statement that knot-holes will automatically fall out of the
equation. That is, the available lumber is cut according to the
pieces for which there is the greatest need -- typically rib cabs and
longerons. Large knots typically cause the piece to break at the knot,
leaving the builder to scarf the pieces together. But if they keep
cutting, re-sawing the pieces which fail inspection until they arrive
at the smallest pieces -- the 1/4" rib-sticks -- by the time you
arrive at that point the matter of suitable wood for longerons and
spar caps has resolved itself.

A point often overlooked is that SOME knots ARE allowed (!!) (Read
the manual.)

But the need to make long, accurate cuts is the driving forced behind
the table saw project. And even that carries a hidden message:
Flying IS possible, even at a village level. All it takes is for
someone to step outside of the 'box' -- to look at the problems from a
new perspective.

I doubt we will see many POWERED lightplanes -- there simply isn't
enough suitable engines. But primary gliders are well within the
capabilities of virtually everyone.

-Bob