Adding Curves to Your Toolkit

A lot of woodworkers shy away from curves. There’s plenty of reasons for this. For starters, some of the common power tools are built for rectangular construction, a table saw is a good example. Limitations imposed by our machines can nudge us away from curves. A second reason is that curves add an extra level of complexity to any design. Doors can be fussy to fit even if they are flat. Why up the ante and mess with a curved door and the extra headaches that take us beyond our comfort zone?

Yet the biggest reason folks avoid the curvy road is stepping out into the unknown. Curves are wild things like the flight of a falcon, beautiful yet unpredictable. A curved line can easily crash into the weeds. In fact it’s a sure thing you need a bigger trashcan next to your drawing board if you venture into the land of curves. Added to that are the challenges of scaling up a curve from a small drawing to a life sized layout and it’s not surprising that some woodworkers avoid designs with curves.

Curves Beckon

Oddly enough, those reasons for avoiding curves are also the strongest temptations to venture off road and take the scenic route. It’s exciting to push beyond the fenced in back yard