Router for Profiling Riser

[tsriberio]

Quick question for beginning bowyer:

I don't have a profile sander. I have seen bow form guides (Kenny's) that use a 1/4" guide to be used with a router to profile a form. My question is: could a riser block be profiled in this same way, provided that your flush trim bit is long enough?

[skeaterbait]

It could but depending on the wood you are using you could suffer some pretty bad tear out. Not to mention, a good router bit can make a  pretty smooth surface which would be counter productive to good glue bonding.

[kennym]

I think it would rip it on the one end...

And I still don't have my profile sander done...   Still fitting by hand!

[tsriberio]

I think it would rip it on the one end...

And I still don't have my profile sander done...   Still fitting by hand!

So what do you use to fit the riser? Rasps and other hand tools or belt sander?

[kennym]

On the back curve , disc sander and on belly ramps, the end of my belt sander

[Crooked Stic]

A router is a big no no for profiling. I know cause I tried years ago. It ripped a big piece of Osage off a block and slammed into the wall and nummed my fingers for a couple of days. Routing the plywood totally different. even with it cut as close to the line as you can before routing. Some people us robo sanders in the drill press. But I never had good luck with them.