"Ecnerwal" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Ivan Vegvary" wrote:

Wishing to turn a gear shift knob for my 1948 Pontiac. Automatic
transmission with lever on the steering column. Original was some kind
of
plastic/Bakelite that has broken to pieces.

Final product would be about 3 inches long and vary in diameter from
about
5/8 inches to 1-1/4 inches. Would like to glue-up some light and dark
woods
for the turning, BUT, wish for the alternate colored woods in the
finished
product to look more like a spiral.

Do I simply glue up a block, say W/D/W/D/W (W=white, D=dark) and saw it
on a
diagonal before turning? I can't quite picture how to make the blank
prior
to turning.

All help, advice etc. appreciated.

Ivan Vegvary

No, that will just get you diagonal stripes. For approximation of a helix
(3-D
spiral), glue up some striped strips, saw into squares, and glue up the
squares
with each one rotated a bit from the one below. For the shape you
describe, you
might want to use smaller/thinner strips on the part that will be turned
smaller.

This type of common wind-dangly-thing should give the idea - you have to
envision each strip of this being expanded to a full striped layer.

http://crafttimes.extremelynice.net/...ying-Helix.JPG

http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.124436564.jpg

--
Cats, coffee, chocolate...vices to live by

Thanks Ecnerwal,
That explains it. I will do as you suggest.

Ivan Vegvary