Riser shapeing?

[Savage]

I cut out the basic shape on the bandsaw, then do the fadeouts on the planer. I use the 3" and 1" sanding drum on the drill press for the basic sanding then go to the rough rasp, fine rasp, block sanding then hand sanding. Whew! You can skip the drum sanders and go straight to the rasp too, takes about the same amount of time.

[eflanders]

I use some rasps & files and a belt sander but I just got a oscillating spindle sander on sale for $80 and I love it.  But I still will use all of the aforementioned tools.

[Sixby]

I do 99 percent shaping on my Grizzly 80 in profile sander. Slap on some heavy grit and you can flat out make sawdust. I do all shaping by eye and feel.
God Bless you all, Steve.

[Bodork]

I shape mine with a 4x36 belt sander. Heavy grit on the drum end. If you want a smooth, professional finish you'd better get used to a rasp or file. After the sander, I caress mine with a half round file on the contours and the flat side on the flat wood. No mater how careful you are,  any power tool will leave dimples. A file will smooth everything right out. You don't have to be a gorilla, just light, even strokes. It's quite therapeutic.  Then start with heavy grit sand paper on a sanding block, go to the next grit and so on. I use a sanding block for all my sanding until I am at the 400 grit. If you use finger pressure, your fingers will follow the soft grain in the wood and make an uneven finish. Ask a professional auto painter if he uses a block or his fingers.

[Sixby]

Right on Mike. I have a sanding file I made that takes 1 inch belting. I use it for my heavy file work then I go to a 16 in board sander  that the sandpaper clips on. Commonly used for body work. I use mostly 8 grit on that . All the flats ect need to have any little gouges or wobbles that might be made with a profile sander taken out with a board flat sander. If you don't do that then they really cause problems later.

You are right. it is theraputic. I enjoy shaping and sanding.

God bless you all and have an awsome day. Steve