Time to start shaping the front rail. You just have to take it slow and easy.
I do it pretty much by eye. I just take it slow and easy. I use a planer and a shaper and am very patient.
As I go, I can see the highs and lows and what I need to take off, a little bit at a time. I just bring it around to the nose and then start on the other side.
I just really like the looks of that rounded rail. What is also amazing is that, as I shape it, you can see the different layers of wood that I have glued up. When it’s all over and done and stained, it all comes together to look like one piece–very impressive. I just love it.
Time to start on the top. I lay out the planks–kind of dry fit it to see how it’s all gonna look when it’s the finished product. I use the compass and scribe the edges to get the top planks good and tight on the rail. It makes for a nice finished product.
This is a really good picture of that top rail and how I just work on it, walk away from it, work on it and walk away from it, etc. It just takes a lot of patience to make sure I don’t make any mistakes. I want it to look very nice when it’s done.
Jack