New at this and I'm trying to lay out a pattern and to do so need to find 0 90 and 180 degrees on the blank is their a way to do this with complete accuracy thanks

Dale,
Lay the blank on a flat table and roll it across the table. Note if there are any bends,or if there are any points during the roll when the tip lifts off the table.
You are simply looking for the straightest axis. Rolling the blank across a "FLAT" table will quickly disclose the exact axis.

Take care
Roger

I think I know what you're after. You want to index and mark the blank at 0, 90 and 180 degrees. There are various circle templates that you can slide over the rod and mark these axis. You can probably eyeball it very close from the butt, marking the end of the blank and then taking the lines up the blank from there, but that won't be nearly as accurate as what you can do with the template.

Do you have a lathe? Some have indexing heads that allow you simply spin the blank to any desired axis and lock it in place.

You can also wrap some tape around the blank, a few turns. Then slit the tape straight across, and remove from the blank. Place the tape flat on a piece of glass or wax paper or something, and mark the center. Then mark half of each center. Now put the tape back on the blank - you now have your 0, 90, 180 and 270 locations.

..............

As Tom said. I should have read his last line. Just be sure to mark the location on the blank, so you can get the tape back in the same location. Blanks are tapered so your measurement will be spot or location specific. And don't stretch the tape when you put it back on.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/12/2010 06:43PM by Jim Upton.

Thank you Tom that is exactly what I am looking to do. Thanks again