Windsor Chair Bow taper
Gary Smyth
>I found an old bow back windsor chair at a flea market. Unfortunately the bow was cracked and I didn't see it through the paint. Around Christmas the under tension bow snapped into two. I figured I could fix it and got some ash and steam bent it into a similar matching bow. A series of router table roundover bits got it into a 3/4" round (rod) shape. I matched the curve and rilled the holes for the spindles in the new piece using a forstner bit to give me a flat bottomed hole. However to fit it into the arm of the chair to match the existing hole I need to taper both ends of the 3/4" diameter newly bent bow to slightly under 7/16" at the ends approximately 6" up each end of the bow, from where it enters the chair arm to the entrance of the back spindle. Question is, what are my alternatives to make the taper? A straight or curved spokeshave seems kind of rough going but possible. Semicircular scrapers (like a chair maker's devil) might also work. What about a hand held tenoner? I'm not sure how to go about this and I don't want to screw it up now. Suggestions?