78. Finding centers to incongruent shapes

[Make Things]

[Philip Davies]

Appreciate the device, but have found with experience that it can be done by eye. Before acrylic, I’d have hacked it off with a hatchet! (Presumably, you want to set it on a lathe?)

[Make Things]

Appreciate the device, but have found with experience that it can be done by eye. Before acrylic, I’d have hacked it off with a hatchet! (Presumably, you want to set it on a lathe?)

The great thing about woodworking is that there is no correct solution. Some ways work better for some than other ways. After having said that, if you haven't tried doing it this way, you might find you'd like it. I like it because I can't gather the size a lot easier than trying to measure. Again, to each their own!

Thanks for commenting

[mklotz]

Thinking out loud here...

The "center" you're looking for is the center of mass. Suspend the object by hanging it on a plumb bob cord above the bob. Now, the object must hang with its CM below its suspension point. That means the cord must pass over the CM location. Draw a line along the cord.

Now repeat this process while supporting the object from a different point. Where the two lines cross is the CM of the object.

Obviously, this method won't work for unwieldy or super heavy objects and something like that posted in the OP will be needed. I just wanted to throw this idea out to see if anyone can use it to make some clever tool.

On further thought...

It would probably be easier to just pin the object to the wall with a single pivot and let it hang free. Then hold a plumb line to the pivot and use it to mark a point on the object opposite the pivot point. Later, a line drawn through this mark and the pivot point will pass though the CM.

As above, repeat with a different pivot point. The CM is located where the two lines cross.