Arch top carving

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mac007
Kauri
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Arch top carving

Post by mac007 » Sun May 19, 2024 11:00 am

Hi
I'm building my first Benedetto arch top and am finished rough carving the bunya pine top with finger planes. I've now moved to card scrapers but find they really fur up and chip rather than nice smooth shavings.
Is this just a case of (scrapers are no good on soft wood)?

Should I go straight to sanding to take out the gouges left by the curved sole plane?

Thanks for any replies

Maurice

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kiwigeo
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Re: Arch top carving

Post by kiwigeo » Sun May 19, 2024 11:41 am

Have you tried Carruth scrapers?

I rarely use my card scrapers any more...the Carruth scrapers are the bees knees.

https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-a ... e-scraper/
Martin

mac007
Kauri
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Re: Arch top carving

Post by mac007 » Sun May 19, 2024 12:07 pm

Thanks Martin
No I have Bahco and a Crucible

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Mark McLean
Blackwood
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Re: Arch top carving

Post by Mark McLean » Sun May 19, 2024 1:44 pm

I agree that the Carruth scraper is the best of them and, like Martin’s, my card scrapers stay in the drawer these days.
https://umgf.com/viewtopic.php?p=2804821#p2804821
However, it must also be said that hardwoods smooth well in response to scrapers and soft woods just don’t tend to respond the same way. So, if it is not working for you definitely try sanding instead.

mac007
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Re: Arch top carving

Post by mac007 » Wed May 22, 2024 8:41 am

Thanks for the replies.

I tried using a spokeshave (flat sole) and it worked much better.

So much so I'm thinking of getting a convex spokeshave.
Or a rounded sole?

Any thoughts for carving the top and back plates both sides?

Chrs

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kiwigeo
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Re: Arch top carving

Post by kiwigeo » Wed May 22, 2024 8:51 am

mac007 wrote:
Wed May 22, 2024 8:41 am

Or a rounded sole?
You're not using a rounded sole plane? I have a set of brass rounded sole planes I bought many years ago.....either from LMI or Stewmac.
Martin

mac007
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Re: Arch top carving

Post by mac007 » Wed May 22, 2024 9:09 am

Yes I have a small brass curved sole thumb plane but as you get closer to the final shape the plane leaves too many gouges so a flatter blade seems in order??

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kiwigeo
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Re: Arch top carving

Post by kiwigeo » Wed May 22, 2024 9:18 am

mac007 wrote:
Wed May 22, 2024 9:09 am
Yes I have a small brass curved sole thumb plane but as you get closer to the final shape the plane leaves too many gouges so a flatter blade seems in order??
The planes I have a larger than finger planes....blade much wider and shallower curve
Martin

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