Bow Back Box

[Whiskey 28]

wright need some help lol got me ply wood inges nail screws glue the lot even got me pencil behined me ear so i look like i no what am doing but how do i mark out the curve for bow back box tried it by eye and its as crooked as are lasses smile so and advice would be great

[bobcullen79 1,495]

Right... Put a panel pin in each end, on the edge of the wood you want the curve, close to the edge as you can.

 

Next mark a halfway line on your timber, now work out how deep you want your curve, mark it along you half way line. Put another pin in at your mark.

 

Tie on some string at one end, take it round your middle pin, then tie it off tight on the last pin. Once tight, take out your middle pin and starting at one end with a pencil, run the pencil along the string and it will bow out to the strings max lenth and magically form a curve from one pin to the next.

 

Prob easier using your first one as a template for you second curve. Hope you get what I mean.

 

Make sure you use string that has no stretch or you curves will be all over the show... Dont try to go mental on the curve cos you`ll struggle to pull your timber in to meet.

[moxy 617]

A pencil. A nail and a piece of string.

 

The longer the string the shallower the ark.

 

Don't get too giddy with a deep bow as you have to make the ply flex and it doesent go that far without heating or steaming it.

[bobcullen79 1,495]

Doesnt that circular curve make it too acute, wouldnt you have to do a really big circle to get a shallow enough curve? Not a dig. just curious Moxy.

[moxy 617]

Yes bob. But as your only marking 18 or so inches and not the full circle you don't need tescos car park. Lol.

 

I tried alsorts of methods until I made templates but it works for me.

 

Another way is to draw half of the bow and accurately cut it out. Reverse it and you have a mirrored match.

[Whiskey 28]

thanks i got it now with the string and pins will any varnish do ?

[moxy 617]

Some is better than none mate.

[bobcullen79 1,495]

Nice one Moxy. Made a bit more sense the more I thought about it Ive gave up making them with bows, no need. Dont really carry them all that far and the rare occasions I do, its like buckaroo any way.

[tiger82 43]

What wood glue do you need for the boxes like mate im after making one

[moxy 617]

Pva is just as good as any along with brads or pinns.

[tiger82 43]

Thanks mate whats brads?

[moxy 617]

Thanks mate whats brads?

A type of thin small nail.

[tiger82 43]

Thanks mate

I can build hutches but never made a ferret box im just making a new hutch its nearly finished so after I will make a ferret box

 

atb

[moxy 617]

Best of luck. Just remember, enough room for the stinkers, comfy for you and the stinkers, no sharp edges or rouge pins and well balanced.

Build it well and it will last.

 

Atb

[lifelong cumbrian 1,826]

Drill 2 screws through a piece of wood (slate lat or the like) at the radius you want (like trammels), if you bend one with a hammer it will let you fine tune the measurement when to screw it in or out. Works like a cam.