Thread: Cutting tapers on thick stock legs

Originally Posted by gilbo

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was going to build an island bench, and I was tossing up about mortising or dowel joining. I spent all yesterday mortising the hardest F***ing wood in the world. They were left over F27 structural joists from a deck I built. The tip of drilling with a forstner bit really did help, although the wood was nearly too hard for my drill. Anyway the plan I am using as a guide from Australian Woodsmith tapers the 75 mm square legs on the inside edges for about 180 mm up the leg. They show a template for cutting the tapers on a table saw, but my blade will only make about a 70 mm deep cut in one pass. I thought about planing the taper, but this could get very untidy. I do nt have a scroll saw. Any ideas? I did consider an ordinary old hand saw, but I am scared that the hardness of the wood will make cutting an angle very difficult. Cheers.

Bandsaw?

Have not got a bandsaw.

Hold it at the appropriate angle with a jig under a router?

Gilbo

Make two passes at 40mm on the opposite sides - I think you will need right- and left-handed (ie mirror image) jigs because the usual trick of turning the wood end-to-end won't work (I think).

Cheers

Jeremy

Make one pass with the table saw, then use flush trim bit on the router?

This is a time when power tools have serious limitations because of safety issues. It can be done, but you need a jig to support the piece through a tablesaw if you do not have a bandsaw. Ditto using a router table (forget a hand held router!).

Frankly the best tools here, now, are handplanes. Either you could use a spokeshave (especially with curves), such as ...

..or you could use a jointer/jack plane..

Just a few more strategies to consider.

Regards from Perth

Derek

How about making a full depth cut with your table saw and finishing the last 5mm with a hand saw and tidy it up with a plane?

Nice one Derek,

How do you like that Veritas low angle plane?

For completely darkside tapering, I have used a handsaw and chisel to chop away most of the waste, then used a handplane to produce a lovely smooth taper. Better than anything you'll get off a table/band-saw or router.

For completely darkside tapering, I have used a handsaw and chisel to chop away most of the waste, then used a handplane to produce a lovely smooth taper. Better than anything you'll get off a table/band-saw or router.

Great idea ZW.

I often pull out and use a scrub plane for such waste. This can take really thick shavings.

How do you like that Veritas low angle plane?

Hi Tunahound. Welcome to the forum.

Have a read here of the reviews I have written. Also more at my link below.

BU planes are great.

Regards from Perth

Derek