How do I make this half-curved piece of wood

[sams93]

As part of something i've been asked to make from oak, I need to make 2 pieces like this (the bits at the top). I have a decent range of power and hand tools, what is the most economical/effiecient way of making the curved top piece that stretches from end to end? It isn't solid to my knowledge - although I suppose if I can't come up with a simple enough way to do it then it might end up being solid!

 

[Inspector]

I would cove cut the inside with my tablesaw.
Then saw the corners off the outside, finish shaping it with a spokeshave or hand plane followed by sandpaper.

Pete

 

[Cabinetman]

Probably easiest from solid, start off with a rectangular section and draw a semicircle on the end, then keep pushing it through a table saw altering the tilt of the blade till most of waste is removed. Screw a temporary block to the bottom to hold it in the vice and hand plane all the peaks off then a bit of a sand.
You could glue pieces to form a barrel type structure but that would take longer imo.
Ian

 

[Spectric]

You could make several strips each cut with a given angle and then joined together, ie with a 15° cut you need 24 pieces for a circle so using 12 would give you the 180° semi circle. You would need to sand afterwards to smooth out the transitions. Another way would be to find someone with a lathe to turn you a round blank and then cut in half.

 

[Orraloon]

Faced with something like that I would buy some large section dowel and simply cut it in half. If you really need a hollow in the underside then do that on the router table but I dont really see it as that important. Who would be looking under there.
There are many other ways so It depends on how much time you want to put in.
Regards
John

 

[ChaiLatte]

One issue with hollowing out the underside of a piece made from solid is grain direction. At some point on a 180 degree curve, there will be a short grain (weak) section.

That issue would be reduced by the segmented approach but the top of the finished item might look 'unnatural'.

If it did need to be hollow, as the end of the piece is not seen, perhaps stack veneers over a former and restrain while the glue dries.

 

[TRITON]

Kerf cut a long section to give the(are we calling this a 'barrel' ?) ,the ends of the flat board will hide the kerfed ends.

 

[Yojevol]

The parts are in a prominent position so appearance and finish are important. It looks as though you'll be making this out of 1" boards so I think the kerfing method mentioned above would be the most economic and give a good result.
The curve is quite tight so it would be worth experimenting with a short length first. Choose good straight grained stock. Make a couple of formers and use steam or a heat gun to gently wrap the kerfed timber over them. Leave to set for a while then glue with a a gap filler such as cascamite.
A nice little woodworking exercise.
B

 

[meccarroll]

Just a few ideas:

If I was doing it I would shape it on my spindle moulder out of the solid but you may not have that equipment.

If I did not have a spindle moulder I would turn it on my lathe leaving the ends square then pass it through a table saw to cut it in two halves.

Failing both of the above I'd shape it first with an electric plane then with a hand plane and finish with sanding.