The angle of the edge determines the number of sticks needed to 'complete the circle.' For an 8-sided mast, the edge angle is 22.5°. For a 12-sided mast, you'd use a 15° edge angle.

These sticks are thin and wobbly. John Wright clamps a guide to his fence to help hold the sticks down while they are being cut. This becomes moer important as you make longer and longer masts.

The edge angle is critical and should be set as carefully as possible.

The width of the sticks is also critical - as it determines the diameter of the mast. Because we cut our sticks from 1x4, all our sticks have a width of 3/4 inches.