rounding with hand tools

[pitch pine]

I am making some shelving from ash and want to put a curve on the edge of the boards. I want to do it with hand tools, is it a rounding plane I need?

Thanks.

 

[wizer]

It could be done with a block plane it it's just simple round over. Lots of chamfers blended with sand paper.

 

[jasonB]

I use a Radi plane also got the chamfer one.

You can also get a tool which is a bent piece of metal with a hole in it that is pulled along the timber to round the arris, think Veritas may do it.

Edit veritas one or one of these

Jason

 

[Waka]

You could also use a spokeshave.

 

[woodbloke]

It could be done with a block plane it it's just simple round over. Lots of chamfers blended with sand paper.

Agree with Tom here...a small block to make chamfers and then blend with some glasspaper and a cork block. Keep it simple - Rob

 

[bugbear]

You could also use a spokeshave.

It's difficult to make a form that's long and straight (in one dimension, at least) with a spokeshave.

This sounds like a job for something like a #5 + sandpaper to me.

I've made several garden tool handles for rakes, hoes, this way (the ultimate "rounding" job)

BugBear

 

[pitch pine]

Thanks for the replies.

I may well try the plane and sandpaper solution, simple is often the best.

Out of interest how long did it take to make a rake handle this way?

 

[bugbear]

Thanks for the replies.

I may well try the plane and sandpaper solution, simple is often the best.

Out of interest how long did it take to make a rake handle this way?

About an hour - hardest thing is holding it still.

BugBear

 

[dedee]

Saw Ray Mears last night make an axe handle with a large bent knife, crook knife (sp)?

He was using an awful lot of muscle power to get it to cut but the result seemed quite pleasing.

Andy

 

[AndyT]

Out of interest how long did it take to make a rake handle this way?

Rake handles - known as stails - were split then rounded with a 'stail engine' - otherwise known by many names including 'witchet' and 'rounder plane'. These came in various degrees of sophistication, but were like a pencil sharpener - an inclined blade in a holder, twisted round the wood. There's a nice clear picture of one here: http://www.metc.org/widget.htm

They are not hard to make if you fancy going in for rake handle making...

 

[pitch pine]

I have one of these but haven't had much success in making it work. I remember faffing around with the blade angle alot and then wondering which way the bevel should face......good job I don't make rakes for a living I would be going hungry.