Today Shirl makes a curved towel rail based on a design by Keith Briggs from Perth. This design uses a clever technique to make the curved uprights. Shirl will cut pieces of pine very thin, glue them together, then put it in a mould for 24 hours so the curve holds its shape.
Step by Step
1
Set out your desired curve for the rails. This can be done by bending a 1 metre rule until the shape is achieved then tracing around the rule onto a scrap piece of 6mm MDF which will become your template.2
Cut out shape on the outside of the line leaving enough waste to trim to the line. 3
Spokeshave the waste down to the line, making sure you have a smooth flowing curve. 4
Use this template to make another jig parallel to the first leaving an 18mm gap between the two. 5
Use the two jigs to reproduce two pieces each of 32mm MDF or particle board. 6
Apply a two-part epoxy wood glue to both faces of the 3mm pieces for the curved rails. PVA glue is not suitable for this application as it is too flexible. 7
Trim curved rails to size using a jointer and then thickness to width. 8
Glue up all vertical rails and feet by following the same procedure. 9
Mark out and cut mortice and tenon joints. 10
Assemble pieces by gluing and clamping. 11
Join curved rails to straight vertical pieces by biscuit joints. 12
Sand complete project and apply an oil finish.
Cutting List
Tasmanian Blackwood
3 Top Rails 45 x 30 x 890mm
2 Vertical Rails 40 x 18 x 820mm
24 Curved Rails 40 x 3 x 900mm
12 Feet 60 x 3 x 400mm
1 Brace 40 x 18 x 900mm
Diagram
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