Vintage Windmill and Wind Generator Forum

I am currently in the process of making sails for a friend's 6 ft dempster . Was wondering what the best way of cutting the slots for wheel bands

Smax

a laser is the best just get them to cut the whole sail

paul in Canada

Thanks Paul laser would be nice but I am making them by hand. got them all cut out but the slots then will roll and head them. Steve

I use an air powered cutting wheel for doing stuff like that. You have to have a steady hand and cutting the short side would be touchy. Mine has a 3 inch cutting wheel.

I would clamp 3 or 4 together and drill a hole on either end of the slot then cut out the slot using a metal cutting saw blade in a jig saw. The only thing odd is the ends of the slots will be radius instead of squared off.

I agree with Grezmonki! Dempster late model #12 sails actually have rounded off ends on this band slot, which I think they did to prevent stress cracks from forming which seems to be common on squared off slots.

Lance

Thanks guys the info is much appreciated Steve