Making Wooden Mechanical Models

Book excerpt: There's something intriguing about a machine with well-crafted wooden parts . . . cogs and cams that fit together "just so" to perform a task. There's also precise challenge in building such a wooden wonder - and a special satisfaction in watching the excitement of those who turn the handle to see what happens. Making Wooden Mechanical Models contains plans for fifteen good-looking and incredibly clever machines with visible wheels, cranks, pistons and other moving parts made of wood. Projects include the: • Oil pumping rig • Flywheel propeller machine • Rack & pinion machine • Harmonic oscillation punch machine • Reciprocating engine • Cam & fork machine • Combustion engine • Pendulum escapement machine The plans call for a challenging variety of techniques and procedures - laminating, cutting cyma curves, tenon wedging, precision drilling, pegging, whittling and more. By completing these projects, woodworkers will gain the know-how to build wooden models of their own design...machines that beg to be set into action, turning the simplest movements into marvelous feats.