Hey everyone. I live in Alabama. I’m very new to woodworking. I have a very limited amount of tools. I’ve been making some bentwood rings and other small things. I want to try some bigger stuff. That’s what leads me here to my next question. I have the type of wood and all that figured out. But here’s what I’m doing and what I don’t know how to do.
I’m planning a Viking style shield. Not hard. But most people who make them, from what I’ve seen don’t make them period correct. Correct shields taper from the center outward. Generally from 1/2 inch to 1/4 inch. Sometimes larger sometimes smaller. Averaging 32-34 inches in diameter.
Mine will be 34 inches in diameter, it will be for display, not use, so I’m going to stick to the lighter side and go with 1/2 inch center to 1/4 inch outer edge. This herein lies my problem. How do I taper the boards? If I get 1 inch boards and have them planed down to 1/2 inch, how then do would you taper them to 1/4 inch?
Any help on that would be great. Guess there are calculators to figure out pitch and angle. I’d really like to do it with hand tools. So is there a jig out there or is there a jig I can make to help this along?
Thanks for any help on this. Also, if this is in the wrong place, forgive me, I will move if necessary. Not sure which category this really belonged.
Replies
Photos or a diagram would be helpful. However, if I understand you correctly, I would say that the best way is to start with the 1/2" thickness and then use a combination of hand plane, scraper, and sandpaper. If you wanted to go with power tools, then use belt sander and orbital sander. For measuring thickness, look at the large calipers commonly used in turning work. They look like a pair of large S's with a pivot point in the center. The are a simple tool that you could probably make out of wood.
From what I understand you want to make a circular shield that is ½" at the center and ¼" at the perimeter, but the back can be flat. If that is the case I suggest either a spokeshave or a draw knife to shape the desired profile. The trick for a novice will be getting the blades properly honed. A plane would also be a choice if you have one. With any of the tools you would simply start cutting close to the perimeter with short stokes and gradually work into the center taking longer strokes as you go until you achieve the desired dimensions.
My guess would be the draw knife would be similar to the ways the Vikings may have done it, the spokeshave a slightly easier to control more modern tool but still along the same lines, and the plane would be even more modern but far short of a belt sander or CNC machine.
You may find tear out to be a bit of a problem as you cut against the grain, but somehow I doubt the Vikings worried it too much.
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