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Helix Forms
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I have created these helix forms using special methods I developed on my own.  As far as I know, nobody else has made anything similar.  The real trick is creating another helix form within the interior of the original solid helix.

I have released my new E-book, "How To Make Helix Forms With Your Scroll Saw".  If you have a scroll saw with a table that can be tilted and some spiral blades then you already have the basic tools needed.

I have made a new video illustrating the basic technique of how I make these helix forms.  There is no charge to learn how to do that.  I do have more information in a paid version that includes an Excel spreadsheet that lets you design a pair of helix forms based upon a cross-sectional view and gives you the parameters for setting your scroll saw up to make them.  I also have details that show you how to build a more advanced jig for your scroll saw that can handle larger helix forms much more accurately with a smoother finish than a helix form turned by hand.  You can even put a motor on the jig and sit back and watch it go. The advanced jig uses wooden gears - I also sell an ebook about how to make those, or you can make them with the other method of sawing and sanding around a pattern if you like that tedious method.  You can save $6 when you buy two ebooks at the same time, or $10 when you buy all three together.


How To Make Helix Forms On Your Scroll Saw.

Added 3/9/2010

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Wood Shells - A New Art Form
 
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Helix Form Calculator
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Click Image To Enlarge
3-piece helix
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Made from a 3/4" maple dowel
Conical spiral
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I cut out this maple conical spiral in just a few minutes.  It measures a little over three inches long and 3/4 inch diameter. Unfortunately I had to break away another helical form that was made at the same time to get this one out of the middle.  That's what the broken pieces are from.

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The first step in making a helix is to make a pattern that defines the pitch of the helix.  The pattern will be offset from the blade so that it can be re-used and not get all cut up.  Cut a piece of paper a little longer than the helix form you want to make, and wide enough to wrap one full turn around the dowel and overlap onto itself.  Wrap the paper around tight and draw a pair of marks across the overlap.  These two marks will become four shorter marks when the paper is unrolled.

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Draw a line between the ends of the two marks that are along the overlap.  This line will be right along the edge of the paper where it overlapped onto itself.  Draw equally spaced marks along the line using one of the original marks as a starting point.  The spacing between the marks determines the pitch.  In this example I used one inch spacing for a one inch pitch.  Draw a matching row of marks along the edge in the same positions along the length as the first set of marks.  Finally draw diagonal lines using the marks as endpoints.  Note that the direction of the diagonals will determine whether the helix will be left or right-handed.

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Wrap the pattern back around the dowel.  The ends of the diagonal lines will meet end-to-end to form one continuous helical line wrapping around the cylinder.  Use tape to keep the pattern from unrolling and it should be able to slide along the dowel so that it can be aligned with the mark drawn on the V-block fence in starting position.

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Here the end of the pattern is aligned with the mark on the V-block fence.  The end of the dowel is just touching the spiral blade (I am using a #2 Olson spiral blade here).  Before you start cutting, use a spring clamp on the table to put pressure on top of the dowel to help hold it down in the V-groove.  You will probably need a small block of wood on the underside of the table for the lower part of the spring clamp to hold on to.  Make sure the top part of the clamp is farther up on the hold-down so that it provides enough pressure against the dowel.  The hold-down can be seen a few pictures below.  Tape the pattern down on the dowel after alignment to prevent slipping.

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Ready to start sawing.

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Twist the dowel into the spiral blade with a smooth and steady motion.  Set the tension of the blade as high as you can without breaking the blade.  If you turn the dowel in a stop and go fashion it will produce lines, dips and bumps in the surface.  I have bought a few small gearhead motors from an electronic surplus store that I let do the turning part for me so all I have to concentrate on is pushing the end of the dowel to keep the pattern aligned with the mark on the fence.  The motor is connected to a variable voltage power supply to turn the dowel at the proper speed in the neighborhood of 2 or 3 rpm.  Notice the hold-down on top of the dowel behind the blade in this picture.

Walnut Helix
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The Helix Shown In The Video.

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The three photos above are details of "All Screwed Up".  The sculpture disassembles into three pairs of right-hand helices, and the left-hand ebonized supporting helix that is attached to the base.

"All Screwed Up"
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A pair of helix forms that fit together
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Sold.

This walnut helix was finished with teak oil and both parts fit together with a twisting motion.  The smaller helix was made from the wood inside the larger one.  No glue or bending was necessary.