[Music Playing]
Now with our legs are all cut out, everything is looking pretty good. The next step is going to be to shape everything to make it nice and rounded smooth, make it just a really nice organic form. So, the way that I like to do that is to start out at the router table. I have got a lot of material here to remove, if we are going to round these corners over all the way across this shape. You know, that is a lot of hand grasp work to do, and I do not really want to do all that work
So, I am going to get the bulk of the material over there with a one inch radius round over bit. Okay, so it is a lot of routing but it will be well worth it in a time-savings because what we are going to end up with is something that looks more like this. Okay, so it is a sort the rough rounded over edge, now, it is got a lot of sharp points here, you know, with a round over stops and I do not want that. I want it to be nice and smooth all the way around. So, this will get us pretty close to where we want to be and the rest will do, you know, will use hand tools maybe, some sanders. Basically, whatever I get my hands on to make the shape exactly what I want it to look like. So, let us head on over to the router table.
This process is similar to the Flash Trimming Exercise, using index pen and push pads. Also, keep in mind that the larger bits like this do require you can run the router at a lower speed. Consult the manufacturer specifications for exact numbers. Now, it is time for the hand shaping. And, my favorite tool for this task is going to be a Number 49 Nicholson’s Cabinet Makers Rasp. It is this guy right here. Okay, this thing cuts fast, it can cut aggressive, it can cut smooth, kind of reminds me of a lave tool. You know where you could, sort of, turn it one way or the other and get either an aggressive cut or a very light cut. So, the more you work with the tool, the more you get to know it, and the more effective you are going to be.
So, what I want to do is, primarily, smooth the back end and the inside edge of the leg here. I am really, going to leave this part alone because this is where it is where it is going to join up to the center piece and not really a 100% sure how I am going to resolve all that just yet. But I want to get the bulk of these done while I have the legs separated from each other and individually. So, we will start with the Rasp, move on to—well, I guess, anything that excites me from that point. I think I will probably, at some point be moving to a five inch random Orbit sander, but let us start with the Rasp and see where it takes us.
And, the first thing that I am going to hit is the sharp corner here. We have our nice flat edge, which is what we needed to do to routing, but I really want to blend it. So, it is a little bit more of a natural curve from a round over to the other round over. So, the key here is, really, keeping it consistent, not working in one area too much before you move on the next section. So, that when it is all said and done, it is all pretty even. If I really worked hard over here, I got it to the point that it was perfect, exactly, where I want it and then tried to continue and move down. You might go too far so if I am going to, basically, hit this corner here, hit that edge at a 45º angle.
[Cutting edge of the wood]
That sounds far as I am going to go before I move on to the rest of it, okay, because I want to make sure I work every spot and even them out.
[Cutting edge of wood]
And even if it is not exact, at least, it is pretty done and close because I, physically, have not worked one area more than another, okay, but I will do my best to try and keep that angle consistent as I start around it over. So, usually, start by making what would be like a chamfer on that corner that 45 degree cut.
[Cutting edge of the wood]
All the way.
[Cutting]
Okay, now, if you think about it, now I have, basically, a straight edge. Here, all the way across that edge. So, what I want to do is now soften the other two corners that I have just created. I created a new one here and a new one here. So, I want to do the same thing but a lot faster going back and forth here. So, I am going to do the one closest to me and the one closest to you.
[Cutting]
So, an effect now, in a very rough sort of way, I am sorry I do not need that. I just rounded that over. Okay, so we are going to do that but to a much more thorough degree over the entire piece. That was just the small amount. So let us go ahead and continue with it, I am going to shut up and start working here.
[Music Playing]
I would not pretend that, I any of this is official. I just kind of made it up because I went along what seems to feel natural as I work with this tool. There, maybe, other great techniques out there but I am not even aware of, but this one, it works for me. So, as I go through, I like to really round it over, so as I am pushing forward, follow the curve. I guess, we are much more consistent to round over along that edge.
[Music Playing]
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