Originally Posted by
PAR
I should add that oval masts need to be stayed and shouldn't be used as a free standing stick.
I've found most doing birdsmouth spars, make more work for themselves then they need. Custom ground router bits, tapering jigs, etc. most of this isn't necessary.
I taper all the staves at once on small spars, what ever I feel comfortable with really. I set up an inclined ramp on each side of the staves, usually a couple of 2x4's wedged to position. Then the staves are solidly wedged in position, between the two ramps. One of the ramps always has the in feed shoe of the power plane or hand plane riding on it. This keeps the taper angle correct and the plane square with the work. A few passes with a power plane, followed with several swipes by hand, I don't spend a lot of time on them. Good setup always make your job easy and short.
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