Building a Riser

[EzellH93]

When cutting out the riser shape from the block, any tips on getting a perfect fit to the form?

My form has a very simple radiused curve, but my bandsaw isn't particularly good (what I mean by that is my skills aren't very good).  Tried to cut the pattern out and sand it down to fit but just couldn't get it perfect.  Bandsaw cut came out pretty haggard.  Probably sanded this thing for about an hour or two.

Any easy solutions to this? How do you guys cut your risers to the form? I'm a big fan of work smarter not harder anyway.

I've tried making a template for a flush trim router bit, but ran into the same issue... couldn't get the template perfect.   

[Flem]

Should not be that hard. What are you sanding with?
If your band saw tension is good and the blade is good, you should be able to get a decent cut, IF you are patient and take your time. I'll probably get flamed for saying this, but when I am doing a task that I am not experienced or very good at, I try to visualize myself doing a perfect job of it. Sometimes it even works!

[Roy from Pa]

Sometimes it even works!

10% of the time isn't bad:)

[Crooked Stic]

  first thing is that router is gonna get you hurt.
You will be better off with some type of pattern sander with a guide ring or pin.
You just have take your time and make a pattern so you get a perfect fit. And if you do a sanding jig you only have to pull hair one time per design. If you do free Hand I have found a edge sander works better than a spindle.

[Crooked Stic]

Here are a few.

[EzellH93]

Here are a few.

So what do you use these templates with? Spindle sander or drill press with a drum sander attachment? I agree this would be far easier but I would need to modify either my oscillating spindle sander or fabricate something for the drill press. Not sure which is easiest.  Spindle sander would be better but the oscillating motion makes for a challenge when using a guide. 

[Mike L.]

I found sanding drums on stew mac’s guitar building website and used my drill press.  I wanted to modify one of my oscillating spindle sanders or do one of the modifications the guys on here have done to the Grizzly 6 x 48 edge sander, but I haven’t gotten around to it.  I made a couple of bows sanding and then checking, but that’s insane making for a perfectionist.  I eventually took my plans over to a machine shop and had a couple of pieces of aluminum cut out to give me the basic shapes and used those to make jigs.

[Crooked Stic]

Yes sir the first ones for the jig are time consuming.
I had a riser one made by CNC that works really great to.

[oldandslow]

When cutting out the riser shape from the block, any tips on getting a perfect fit to the form?

My form has a very simple radiused curve, but my bandsaw isn't particularly good (what I mean by that is my skills aren't very good).  Tried to cut the pattern out and sand it down to fit but just couldn't get it perfect.  Bandsaw cut came out pretty haggard.  Probably sanded this thing for about an hour or two.

Any easy solutions to this? How do you guys cut your risers to the form? I'm a big fan of work smarter not harder anyway.

I've tried making a template for a flush trim router bit, but ran into the same issue... couldn't get the template perfect.   

A little late to reply but a relatively sharp bandsaw blad make a heck of a difference. Probably no wider than 1/2 inch.
But a 1/8 blade is kinda small for exotic hardwoods a 2 inches thick. I find a 3/8 new blade to be ideal for this kind of cut.
Always leave some line to sand to...use a course grit. 60 works great for me and is very quick. Does require practise.

[Mad Max]

Get you a piece of 3/4" plywood, get it to fit as good as you can with 1 piece of glass and a taper on the form.
use masking tape to build up on the plywood to get the gaps closed.


Clamp it down on half the stack until all gaps are closed between the form and the glass using the tape on the template, put some plastic wrap over the lams and butter up the template and clamp it down, you may have to do this 2 times. Draw a center line on the template lined up to the center line on the form. Make your template longer on both ends, you can cut it back some later

[Crooked Stic]

Have used this method twice Max works well

[Mad Max]

Have used this method twice Max works well