Cutting Sideways = Curves

Cutting Sideways = Curves 11 comments

One woodworking show that I enjoy watching is Rough Cut, with Tommy Mac. A recent episode talked about making a cheese board from a piece of 6/4 walnut from the cut off bin … and that episode showed the way for me to do this design.

There’s a technique where you cut sideways across the table saw blade, rather than straight through the blade. The result is a graceful cove cut, which this cheese board has on all 4 edges. Combine that cut with a rounded shape for the board, and you get unique curves going in many directions. Here’s how it’s done:

I started with 6/4 Walnut stock, that was glued up and then flattened with the planer.

Edges trimmed square on the table saw. Action photography and shop safety supervision by Velda, incidentally.

That's a fir 2x8 that's clamped to the table saw top, exposing the front of the blade. The 2x8 is acting as a fence that I slide the board across. Since I'm cutting at an oblique angle to the blade, the sawdust shoots to the right, even through the dust collection system was on.

That’s a fir 2×8 that’s clamped to the table saw top, exposing the front of the blade. The 2×8 is acting as a fence that I slide the board across. Since I’m cutting at an oblique angle to the blade, the sawdust shoots to the right, even through the dust collection system was on.

Here’s the cove cut after about half of the work is done. The cuts are done in very small increments.

Another round of cuts. These cuts are made without a blade guard, so you must be VERY CAREFUL as you guide the board through the blade.

The cut is almost 3″ deep into the board, and about 1-1/4″ high.

A curve marked on the edge of the board. I really need to buy a real flex curve … why?

Cut the curved shape on the bandsaw.

My Bosch random orbital sander may not make it through another project … but it’s working so far. The dust collection o-rings have failed, so I’ve switched to a hose connected to the dust collection system … held on with packing tape. Worked, sort of.

Board # 1, with a quick coat of mineral oil. I ended up making 4 versions of this board in the first run.

Cheese & Cracker server # 92, The Surfboard. Black Walnut.

The board really feels great with the big cove cuts!

This is another version of this cheese board, with the top made from one lovely piece of 3/4 walnut. That top was glued to a base made from 3 pieces of 3/4 walnut.