Tools to use for board shaping?

**LongShawn** · 11-19-2009 08:33 PM

Ok, so someone gave me a nice piece of Oak. It's one of those stair things, I can't remember what they are called. It's 48" x 11" x 1", one side is rounded, but that will be cut off. It's six pieces v-lamed together. I thought, since it is so thick, that I would try a little shaping, some concave on top and convex on the bottom. What kind of simple tools would I use to take off the majority of the wood? There will be a lot at first to take off. Could I use a sander and some 80 grit to take it off? Or would that take too long? Any other ideas?

Added note: I am talking about shaping, after I jig the pattern and route the edges.

**SoloRider** · 11-19-2009 08:49 PM

It's called a stair tread. An angle grinder with a sanding disc will be the fastest way to sand a shape into it. You could also build a nice little jig and use a router to rough in the concave and then clean it up with a sander. That's what I'd do but it's not exactly novice level work.

**enrique60033** · 11-19-2009 08:55 PM

hand planer and sander

**Cann0n** · 11-19-2009 09:05 PM

Do it like the Amish and hand sand it...

Wood file planer things work good. Also, a door planer could be helpful.

**LongShawn** · 11-19-2009 09:29 PM

Originally Posted by SoloRider

It's called a stair tread. An angle grinder with a sanding disc will be the fastest way to sand a shape into it. You could also build a nice little jig and use a router to rough in the concave and then clean it up with a sander. That's what I'd do but it's not exactly novice level work.

That's a good idea, I do have an angle grinder. And I was thinking about using a router to set the depth down the middle on the top.

**Chainmaillekid** · 11-19-2009 09:39 PM

Use a Dado Blade.

Thats what I used for This board:

I didn't go to the trouble to actually make it Concave...
But its probably the fastest way to remove material.

**LongShawn** · 11-19-2009 09:43 PM

Originally Posted by Chainmaillekid

Use a Dado Blade.

Thats what I used for This board:

I didn't go to the trouble to actually make it Concave...
But its probably the fastest way to remove material.

What is a Dado blade?

**RyanTheMann** · 11-19-2009 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by LongShawn

What is a Dado blade?

Expensive, that's what.

What's the cheapest decent way to shape a board, a crappy jigsaw and some sandpaper? I used a rusty old handsaw I found to try to cut down the shape of my superglider a little bit and it didn't turn out great, in fact, it turned out very badly.

Thinking about this:

Amazon.com: Kawasaki 840067 3.5-Amp Variable...
Amazon.com: Kawasaki 840067 3.5-Amp Variable...

And maybe a sander?
What do you recommend? Links help.

SORY 4 THREDJAK N FOR BEIN TOOL N0OB

**Chainmaillekid** · 11-19-2009 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by LongShawn

What is a Dado blade?

Its a set of blades that are designed to stack, and cut out datos.

The one in the pic is pretty fancy... there are simpler/cheaper ones.

**LongShawn** · 11-19-2009 09:57 PM

Originally Posted by RyanTheMann

Expensive, that's what.

What's the cheapest decent way to shape a board, jigsaw and sandpaper? I used a rusty old handsaw I found to try to cut down the shape of my superglider a little bit and it didn't turn out great, in fact, it turned out very badly.

Yep, I did a search.

**redamnavit** · 11-20-2009 04:58 AM

I've never built a v-lam board so someone shut me up if I'm off base but in almost all of my other woodworking experience I've found the jigsaw to be the single most versatile tool in my shop. Want a curve? Jig. Want a straight line? Clamp a guide to the piece and jig. Need to shave down a piece? Steady hand, jig and some final sanding. Its not always the -best- tool for many jobs, and you'll generally need to finish sand afterwards, but if I could only buy one woodworking tool a jigsaw would be it.

**Ogre** · 11-20-2009 05:13 AM

Being that it is V-Lam, I'd be very careful how and how much wood you remove, I can see it weakening the joints past the point of breaking. Treads are built to be strong, but not built for the use you suggest. I'd just plane it to the thickness you want and Jig Saw the pattern, and be happy.