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I’m building an unusual custom home with many radius walls (3’5″, 4’5″, 8’0″, 13’5″, 17′, 56′, 92′, 288′).
Does anybody have suggestions on how to cut the plates for these walls? For the tighter radius, I’ve used a circular with every other tooth bent out in the opposite direction, increasing the kerf enough to make the curve. I’ve also used a sawzall and jig saw, with moderate results. I’d like to get a nice, clean (almost machine-like) cut.
I’ve also kerfed a 2×4 every few inches to enable the bend- this works OK in some situations, but I’d prefer to make the plate out of 1-1/8″ plywood, cut on radius with a good cutting technique. Any suggestions?
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usually done with a good blade in a jigsaw... and double plate of two pieces of 3/4 ply.....
your way sounds fine....
*I use a product called FLEX-C- Trac Its a metal track that pivots evry 3 inches. It can recieve either metal studs or wood. I have onlt used on floors but the brochure shows barrel vaults columns and such. http://www.flexc.com It may not be as craftsman like as cutting a piece of wood with a router but its easier, no waste and if you cut the wood plate wrong you got to start over, with this stuff you just unscrew, reset and rerscrew. Good Luck.
*Another alternative?For 1 1/8th ply, a router w straight bit on a trammel. Couple passes per cut. Easily repeatable, easily adjusted for varying radii, consistent results.
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Mr. Casey,
A circular, or worm-drive saw with a thin kerf 20-24 tth carbide blade should cut with precision the radii you've mentioned. Allow for about a little "fish-tail" in the blade. Take your time, practice.
The Machine
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I also would use the router with a trammel, but with double 3/4" plywood. I have never done this with such a large radius - I might suggest using 1/4" steel cable for the beam. It will be critical to keep the router held tight against the cable-beam so that the radius is held constant.
92 foot radius??? Just what kind of house are you building?
*All of my straight cuts have a 90' radius!blue
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I'm building an unusual custom home with many radius walls (3'5", 4'5", 8'0", 13'5", 17', 56', 92', 288').
Does anybody have suggestions on how to cut the plates for these walls? For the tighter radius, I've used a circular with every other tooth bent out in the opposite direction, increasing the kerf enough to make the curve. I've also used a sawzall and jig saw, with moderate results. I'd like to get a nice, clean (almost machine-like) cut.
I've also kerfed a 2x4 every few inches to enable the bend- this works OK in some situations, but I'd prefer to make the plate out of 1-1/8" plywood, cut on radius with a good cutting technique. Any suggestions?