Replies

1. 
   professor | Nov 15, 2004 04:05pm | #1

   Sharp chisels and gouges and a marking gauge and compass.

   No other way but to carve them by hand.

   even if you were to use a router you would probably have to do some of the finish work with hand tools unless you are doing an arch that can be followed entirely with the router.

   With shapes such as the classic " tombstone" shape the inside corners have to be carved by hand.

   However it ain't that difficult.

   try it on some scrap and experiment

2. 
   RickL | Nov 15, 2004 04:05pm | #2

   The only way would be to use  the same type of plane  for your rectangular panel but made to conform the the desired radius. Simply put if you could bend your plane to the desired radius. Basically you build each plane to the radius you want.  This would be to do a simple "tombstone" type radius. The more complex arch top radius panel would require extensive hand work with chisels, scrapers etc. I consider the classic tombstone to be a simple radiused top but I get the inpression from others that the more complex version is what they consider to a be a classic tombstone shape. 

   You did say by hand so I'm assuming the router is out of the equation.

   http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/Smessin983/Halloween/98blake.jpg
   

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   Edited 11/15/2004 4:36 pm ET by rick3ddd

   
   

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   Edited 11/15/2004 4:43 pm ET by rick3ddd
   

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   Edited 11/15/2004 4:45 pm ET by rick3ddd

   
   

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   Edited 11/15/2004 4:47 pm ET by rick3ddd

3. 
   joinerswork | Nov 15, 2004 04:17pm | #3

   ian,

   I cut the arch profile first.  Then lay out the edge of the field, and scribe the thickness of the panel's  edge (where it fits into the rail) with marking guage.  I use a router to remove waste up to the edge of the field, and then to mill the edge of the panel so it will fit into the groove of the rail, but this can be done with mallet and chisels.

   I cut the bevel of the panel by first using a parting tool  (carver's V chisel) to plough a groove from field to edge to define the inside corner of the shoulder of the "tombstone" shape.  Then I use a carver's gouge to remove the wood from the outside corner in toward  the vee groove, and then from the vee groove toward the top of the panel.  Clean up with a shallow sweep gouge, and then a flat paring chisel.  A good-sized skew chisel is helpful to work from the inside corner at the shoulder around towards the top of the arch- the grain direction dictates that you carve from bottom of the arch.

   Reagrds,

   Ray

1. 
   ian | Nov 16, 2004 12:28pm | #4

   thanks everyone

   I was afraid that I'd have to carve the top curve, but it looks the only way.

   ian