Jack Chapman

[Forteau]

Is it possible to contact Jack Chapman. He wrote an article in The Router on making a Boot Jack in the June 2001 issue (Good Lord was it that long ago!!) and I want to ask him a couple of questions.

Keith

 

[adidat]

not aware of the person, do you have a question about making a boot jack? im sure we oculd answer any questions.

adidat

oh and welcome!

 

[Forteau]

Thanks for getting back to me. In the magazine that I mentioned, some of the sizes don't make sense and it doesn't say what the angle of the pivot is. If you have a copy of the magazine I can explain.

Keith

 

[adidat]

i dont have the magazine but i do have a home made boot jack which is very simple and has been used almost 10,000 times I would expect!

adidat

 

[powertools]

What is a boot jack?

 

[adidat]

item you wedge the back of your boot in to pull it off

adidat

 

[powertools]

Oh right, I call that the other foot.

 

[Forteau]

Thanks for the help...I figured out the angle for the boot jack pivot at 7.8 degrees...After a 6 hour search for my plug cutter, which gave me a chance to clean up the shop[ considerably and resulted in my finding several items not seen in months or more, I have it made the jack to my satisfaction. Used solid birch and mahogany plugs.

Keith

 

[Graham Orm]

Thanks for the help...I figured out the angle for the boot jack pivot at 7.8 degrees...After a 6 hour search for my plug cutter, which gave me a chance to clean up the shop[ considerably and resulted in my finding several items not seen in months or more, I have it made the jack to my satisfaction. Used solid birch and mahogany plugs.

Keith

Sorry Keith but I can't resist, If it were 7.9 degrees would it have failed miserably? :wink:

 

[Forteau]

Heh....Heh...Heh! I was going to put down 8 deg because I knew someone would respond....Then I thought....So much for that - I'll say what I used :O) If it was 7.9 it would have raise the front of it higher, not making a great deal of difference but seemed like it was ok at 7.8. At least now I know I can be a bit generous with all the sizes. In fact, the guy who wrote the original article had three sizes of boot-jacks - His, Hers and Theirs (for the little ones).

I guess I should have been a machinist instead of a nit picking woodworker. I give credit to our wonderful Industrial Arts teacher in school, about 60 years ago, who demanded only precision measurements and the best in what we produced. I must admit that because of that production in school and at home was and is very slow! But the outcome?? Worth it all the way.

I've even countersunk the screws and put tapered mahogany plugs in the birch board. Thought about inlaying some woods in a pattern but that's for another time. Heavy snow on my roof is calling. LOL.

Life is good

Best,
Keith