Hello All:
I'm a big fan of Harvey Ellis design furniture so all my work has at least a
couple of arched cuts. My current project has 12. After botching several
pieces of nice oak I have arrived at what I think is essentially a foolproof
technique for cutting uniform arches. The set up seems a bit time consuming
but I am confident that it is faster from start to finish and with MUCH
better results than other methods I have tried.
Step 1: Lay out the arch on a piece of inexpensive hardwood that will be
your template. Of course this involves some geometry but I'll leave that out
of this post.
Step 2: Use a 1 x 2 or 1 x 1 to make a bow. Run a wire from one end to the
other and devise a way to tighten the string to get exactly the bow or curve
you want. That is, tighten it to make it match the curve you laid out on
your template.
Step 3: Rough cut your template on the bandsaw. The rule I use is "don't
remove the pencil line" and I find that this give me the most consistent
results.
Step 4: Align your bow with the pencil line curve and screw it in place at 3
points minimum. Depending on the length, more may be better.
Step 5: Use a flush trim bit on your router table to clean up the bandsaw
cut to match the bow. Remove the bow and you have a perfect template.
Step 6: Use the template to scribe the curve on each work piece.
Step 7: Rough cut each work piece on the bandsaw as in step 3.
Step 8: Mount the template on a work piece with double sided tape or screw
it in place. DO NOT scrimp on tape!!! Don't ask me how I know this :-(
Step 9: Clean up the cut on router table as in step 5.
This technique was my own idea but it may be well known and old news to some
of you. If you already knew about it please don't make fun of those of us
who are still in the process of discovery.
Cheers,
Jim
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I use ply for templates, make the 5/8 variety for symmetry. Do yourself a
favor and make the template long enough to rest on your pattern bearing
before the bit engages. Else, starting pin. They run fast away....
NB, save the patterns. Just your luck someone'll take a fancy to the piece
the week after you pitch 'em. DAMHIKT
"George M. Kazaka" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Jim what you have discovered is called "Pattern Cutting" There are
numerous
> ways to make the pattern.
> When doing any kind of freeform curve ie: not a radius, you make only half
> the arch then use the same method to make the full arch.
Whatz a "biomechanist"?
On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 09:31:28 -0700, "Jim Martin"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>"Bay Area Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> Jim, are you a attorney? :)
>
>Nope. My profession is much more obscure than that; I'm a biomechanist.
>
>
>---
>Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
>Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
>Version: 6.0.537 / Virus Database: 332 - Release Date: 11/6/2003
>
Jim what you have discovered is called "Pattern Cutting" There are numerous
ways to make the pattern.
When doing any kind of freeform curve ie: not a radius, you make only half
the arch then use the same method to make the full arch.
Actually you ar making a pattern to make a pattern. in some complex
situation i have had to make 5 or 6 patterne to make the final pattern.
If your arch is a segment of a radius then swing your router like a compass
to make the pattern.
Pattern cutting is used when you have many peices to make of the same size.
Heavy pattern cutting can be done on a shaper, but i shouldn't mention that
here.
Gooid Luck,
George
"Jim Martin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hello All:
>
> I'm a big fan of Harvey Ellis design furniture so all my work has at least
a
> couple of arched cuts. My current project has 12. After botching several
> pieces of nice oak I have arrived at what I think is essentially a
foolproof
> technique for cutting uniform arches. The set up seems a bit time
consuming
> but I am confident that it is faster from start to finish and with MUCH
> better results than other methods I have tried.
>
> Step 1: Lay out the arch on a piece of inexpensive hardwood that will be
> your template. Of course this involves some geometry but I'll leave that
out
> of this post.
> Step 2: Use a 1 x 2 or 1 x 1 to make a bow. Run a wire from one end to the
> other and devise a way to tighten the string to get exactly the bow or
curve
> you want. That is, tighten it to make it match the curve you laid out on
> your template.
> Step 3: Rough cut your template on the bandsaw. The rule I use is "don't
> remove the pencil line" and I find that this give me the most consistent
> results.
> Step 4: Align your bow with the pencil line curve and screw it in place at
3
> points minimum. Depending on the length, more may be better.
> Step 5: Use a flush trim bit on your router table to clean up the bandsaw
> cut to match the bow. Remove the bow and you have a perfect template.
> Step 6: Use the template to scribe the curve on each work piece.
> Step 7: Rough cut each work piece on the bandsaw as in step 3.
> Step 8: Mount the template on a work piece with double sided tape or screw
> it in place. DO NOT scrimp on tape!!! Don't ask me how I know this :-(
> Step 9: Clean up the cut on router table as in step 5.
>
> This technique was my own idea but it may be well known and old news to
some
> of you. If you already knew about it please don't make fun of those of us
> who are still in the process of discovery.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jim
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.537 / Virus Database: 332 - Release Date: 11/6/2003
>
>
Jim Martin wrote:
> Hello All:
>
> I'm a big fan of Harvey Ellis design furniture so all my work has at
> least a couple of arched cuts.
Have you seen Tom Plamann's curve & arch work? I drop by his site almost
every day for inspiration and motivation. <g>
http://plamann.com/sys-tmpl/door/
> After botching several
> pieces of nice oak I have arrived at what I think is essentially a
> foolproof technique for cutting uniform arches.
If the arches are based on a circle you could cut the template from 1/4"
hardboard using a router and circle jig.
-- Mark
On 17 Nov 2003, Jim Martin spake unto rec.woodworking:
> Step 2: Use a 1 x 2 or 1 x 1 to make a bow. Run a wire from one end to
> the other and devise a way to tighten the string to get exactly the
> bow or curve you want. That is, tighten it to make it match the curve
> you laid out on your template.
It's probably unnecessary to add this, but this will only work if the
batten you are bending is of uniform grain and density. Before continuing
with your other steps, flip your tensioned batten over and make sure that
the arch is symmetrical. Otherwise you could end up with twelve identical
uneven arches.
Scott
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"Bay Area Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Jim, are you a attorney? :)
Nope. My profession is much more obscure than that; I'm a biomechanist.
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Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
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"Scott Cramer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On 17 Nov 2003, Jim Martin spake unto rec.woodworking:
> It's probably unnecessary to add this, but this will only work if the
> batten you are bending is of uniform grain and density. Before continuing
> with your other steps, flip your tensioned batten over and make sure that
> the arch is symmetrical. Otherwise you could end up with twelve identical
> uneven arches.
Good point and one that I had not considered. I just went out the garage and
checked. Seems that the poplar I used was uniform enough to do be
symmetrical. Whew....
Thanks,
Jim
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"Lawrence A. Ramsey" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Whatz a "biomechanist"?
I am a professor and I study neuromucular fucntion. My specific interest is
in the mechanics of repetitive muscle contraction. Beats workin for a livin
;-)
Cheers,
Jim
Jim, are you a attorney? :)
and thanks for sharing your process.
dave
Jim Martin wrote:
snip
If you already knew about it please don't make fun of those of us
> who are still in the process of discovery.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jim
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.537 / Virus Database: 332 - Release Date: 11/6/2003
>
>
"Jim Martin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I am a professor and I study neuromucular fucntion.
Ahhh! Now I know the answer to "Is 'neuromuscular' in the spell check
dictionary?" :)
"Scott Cramer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On 17 Nov 2003, Bay Area Dave spake unto rec.woodworking:
>
> > oops! I changed "litigator" to attorney just before I hit send. "a
> > attorney" is the grammatically incorrect result!
>
> Gesundheit.
Comesoutloose