Re: make - forge? - wedge for feathers-and-wedge rock-split

"Jim Wilkins"  wrote in message news:uu9t7t$173fs$1@dont-email.me...
The feathers for the 5x 1/2" set and the single 3/4" were all made from 3/8"
round rod. The large end is a half circle. I chose 1/2" after finding
several new 1/2" spline drive bits from an auction in a second hand tool
store (that's closing).
I suppose the feathers could be cut freehand endwise on an upright bandsaw
if the stock was tightly clamped in an inverted toolmakers vise to keep it
from twisting when the blade was off center, then beltsanded to smooth
ridges.
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On closer examination they appear to have been diagonally split lengthwise with a horizontal bandsaw, the scratches slightly angled too, leaving the large end about 1/4" thick, plus or minus several hairs.
I think a horizontal bandsaw plus a drill press could make this fixture:
Perhaps two short end blocks drilled 11/32" through and 3/8 part way, to axially clamp the 3/8" OD blank. The space between them allows inserting and removing the part. The bandsaw cuts its own slot. The shutoff tab is extended to stop the saw before it slices the fixture base, thus the slightly angled kerf marks. The base might be tilted closer to the blade angle. Turn the vise to the diagonal angle.
Initial setup centers the blade over the middle of the blank, afterwards lower the blade into the slot before tightening the vise.
To simplify machining the moving end clamp block could be on a pivot arm instead of a slot, which also moves the toggle clamp away from the blade. An eccentric pivot bushing would permit small angular error correction.