How to cut this curve

[Matt Sauber]

So, I am going to need to cut this curve in my current project. I'm thinking rough it out with a compass saw and then clean up with a spokeshave. Does that sound reasonable? How would you do it? Would I need a round sole spokeshave to cut this radius or what a flat bottom work here?
Curve.png

[Jessica Pierce-LaRose]

I've got a horribly set panel saw that needs rehab that would be the perfect thing for that . . .

Depending on the curvature, you might be able to get away with a flat bottom shave, but I'd prefer a round bottom one. To fair the curve more easily, a compass plane or round bottom wooden plane might be even easier.

I've used a coping saw in places like this, but a turning saw would be even better. Compass saw could work fine depending on the tool.

Often with somewhat smaller arcs like this, I'll cut a series of straight cuts to get as close as I can - two big cuts starting as a V, and then a couple smaller Vs. Either instead of or in combination with this method, a few relief cuts if needed, followed by a bevel down chisel to split out the waste, and smooth it out with a spokeshave followed by scrapers.

Regardless of your method, remember to pay attention to the grain direction!

[Jim Koepke]

My first choice would be a compass plane like a Stanley #20 or #113.

A round bottom spoke shave would be my next choice.

One cuts like this it usually works best going from the outside to the center.

I would make the cut with a bandsaw.

jtk

[george wilson]

I take it you don't have a bandsaw. Any hand held jig saw(properly called a bayonet saw). A coping saw will do. I have cut out curves like that with a sharp draw knife in soft wood,though you can't save the wood in the curve that way. A wooden block,planed to nearly that curve,with coarse,then finer sand paper will clean it up if you haven't a curved spoke shave. If you have a spoke shave you don't mind altering,you can usually easily file the cast iron sole to make it curved,and buy a straight one to replace it later on.

[Matt Sauber]

Sorry - should have qualified my questions a bit. I prefer to use all hand tools and to do things the "proper" way if there is one. I'm actually going to buy the tools for this job - I don't own a compass saw or a spokeshave - so "in-a-pinch" doesn't really apply to this situation because I'm going to buy what I need.

This is going to be in QSWO, too, if it matters.

[george wilson]

What is a QSWO ? I worked by hand for 16 years on instruments being in a museum. But,when it came to special rush jobs,like the cider press, I got it done however the best way was.

[David Posey]

A compass saw should be fine for that, but I find it easier to work to closer to the line using the technique Mr. Pierce describes above. If you use the saw cuts/chisel technique, make sure you aren't trying to take off too much wood at once if you're using a species that is prone to splinter.

A compass plane is nice, but they tend to be expensive, so I wouldn't purchase one unless I planned on using it for a lot of other projects. A round bottom shave should give you good results. You might even be able to use a flat one depending on the radius of the curve and the length of the shave's sole. If you have the small contour planes from Lee Valley, that would be another option. They have flat soles, but they are very short and have nothing behind the blade.

[Matt Sauber]

What is a QSWO ?

Quarter-sawn white oak. I only mentioned it because your reply said you use a draw knife in soft wood.

[Jerome Hanby]

Bow saw to the line then a Compass plane or Spokeshave to clean it up?

[Zach Dillinger]

Bow saw to the line then a Compass plane or Spokeshave to clean it up?

+1 on this. If you don't have a bow saw, you could use a drawknife or a hatchet to chop down close to the line, then clean up with a spokeshave / scrapers. Lots of different "right" ways to do this.

[Jonathan McCullough]

I think a flat spokeshave would probably be just fine. The radius on that doesn't look tight enough for it to make a difference. The soles on round spoke shaves are just small enough to make them a bit fiddly, and if you're going to buy tools you should probably have a flat spokeshave anyway. You can get pretty close to the curve by making a series of horizontal cuts approaching the curve, chopping the sections out with a chisel, then getting even closer with a coping saw and finishing with a spoke shave.

[Prashun Patel]

Everyone has their favorite method for smoothing. I prefer to use a flatbottomed spokeshave and a coarse rasp. I prefer flat to roundbottom on the spokeshave bkz it registers better and smooths 'waviness' better. The rasp is good because it doesn't care about grain direction. You'll have this issue right at the apex of the curve. The shave will require you to come in from either side to the apex. The rasp will allow you to go right thru the arc.

[Bill Houghton]

The methods suggested would work for the roughing out. One other possibility is cross-cutting every few inches from the waste side close to the layout line, splitting the waste out with a chisel, and then smoothing. Like this:

cutting curves with the kerfed block method.jpg

For the smoothing, definitely a spokeshave. A compass plane would be the fanciest way to do it, but might be hard to justify unless you plan to do a lot of this kind of work.

[Bryan Schwerer]

There is a company called CME Handworks that sells a very reasonably priced bow saw in many sizes and configurations. You can find them by Googling them. They have a store on an auction site prohibited from being linked here. I have the 12" and like it quite a bit. I have used it to cut curves in 3/4" QSWO. Its not as fancy as the Gramercy, but it has nice handles and a sharpenable blade.

[Jack Curtis]

That's exactly how I do it, too.

The methods suggested would work for the roughing out. One other possibility is cross-cutting every few inches from the waste side close to the layout line, splitting the waste out with a chisel, and then smoothing. Like this:

cutting curves with the kerfed block method.jpg

For the smoothing, definitely a spokeshave. A compass plane would be the fanciest way to do it, but might be hard to justify unless you plan to do a lot of this kind of work.