Back to school - 5 Point star

[Phil]

Probably the last tree for this year.
It is the outside offcuts from the larger tree cut recently, joined back to back.
Looks chunky, but not serious.
To finish it off, a star would look good on the top, same thickness wood as the tree.

First off draw on paper a 5 pointed star and then size it for the tree.

Eenie meeny miny moe, grab the tools and lets go! (apologies not even wine time! )

Half a sheet of white A4 paper.
Small protractor, ruler and drawing instruments box. I have 5 boxes of drawing instruments, my one from school days and 4 from late brother.
Draw circle ‘pie’ of say 60mm in diameter.
Draw line though middle crossing both sides of circle, to provide starting points.
Determine circumference of circle, easy, x diameter, 3.14 x 60 = 188mm
Divide 188mm into 5 slices = 37.7mm
Set compass to 38mm and start marking off on the circumference.

Oh, NO, boy, wrong stupid method! Waste of time. You need to measure 38mm around the edge.
Go and read up, the last time you did this was 60 years ago.

Old XP laptop on workbench which stills surfs using Firefox and DuckDuckGo.
So, KISS, 360ͦ divided by 5 = 72ͦ per slice.
Mark the circle accordingly, join the dots and there is a 5 pointed diagram for the star.

I also found another longer method using the compass with more lines and circles, also works well.

It will be cut tomorrow and mounted to tree.

I might just try one of the electronics exercises, downloaded, for flashing Xmas lights.
The completed project will probably be posted in the new year.

 

[duke]

Too much math involved for me to try one.

 

[Niall Y]

No need for the maths. Draw a circle tweak the compass a little to make the radius a tad smaller. and step round the circle until it fits in 5 times.

 

[Pete Maddex]

I am sure there is a method of drawing a pentagon with only a compass.

Just did a quick google and there a couple of ways.

Pete

 

[John Brown]

There is a method of making a five point star by folding a sheet of A4(other A paper sizes can also be used...) and making one cut with scissors.

 

[CHJ]

Rather than drag memory back 70-80 years just google and Print for template.

 

[Phil]

I cut out one yesterday on the scroll saw.
Too small.
Drew larger one first on paper, will cut it out later this afternoon.

 

[John Brown]

No need for the maths. Draw a circle tweak the compass a little to make the radius a tad smaller. and step round the circle until it fits in 5 times.

Smaller? Doesn't the untweaked radius go round six times?

 

[Phil]

Ok, star cut.

Small one looked 'too small' - 60mm diameter.

Enlarged the circle for larger star to 80mm diameter, looks much better, one broken blade.



The larger one will be attached with a 6mm dowel and a small gap between tree and star.
I had to resort to other scraps of thinner Pine. The tree will also be attached to a flat stand.
It will eventually get some lights.