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Updated: May 04, 2023
Expert tips for marking, cutting and fine-tuning curves
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Family Handyman
Mark, cut and fine-tune curves in wood, using routers, saws and other simple tools, by following these expert techniques. You can master them quickly and easily and deliver first-class results.
By the DIY experts of The Family Handyman Magazine
Cut precise curves with a router trammel
Best Curves Photo 1: Lay out the trammel
Draw the sides and ends of the trammel. Trace around the base plate and drill holes for the mounting screws.
Whether you’re building a frame for an arched opening, making curved brackets or fashioning arch-top casing, marking and cutting curves is part of the process. In this article, we’ll show you several techniques and tips for marking, cutting and fine-tuning curves. Some methods are best suited for rough curves. Others are refined enough for furniture making. Choose the technique that works best for the project at hand.
This simple router trammel is easy to build and allows you to cut a perfect circle. For circles up to 6 ft. across, use a piece of 1/4-in. plywood, MDF or hardboard that’s about 4 ft. long and at least as wide as your router base. Start by removing the base plate from your router and clamping it to one end of the trammel material. If you want your trammel to be stylish, trace around a coffee cup to make a nice-looking rounded end. Then draw tangent lines connecting the circles and cut the sides. If you don’t care about looks, simply make a long rectangular trammel.
Trace around the base plate and use the mounting holes as a guide for drilling holes in the trammel (Photo 1). Cut out the trammel and drill a 1-1/2-in. hole in the center of the router end to clear the router bit. Countersink the mounting screw holes so the screw heads won’t tear up your workpiece. Attach the router to the trammel with the base plate screws.
Screw the trammel to the workpiece, centering it on the circle you want to cut out. Mount a straight plunge-cutting bit in your router and set the router bit to cut about 3/8 in. deep for the first pass. A plunge router works best, but if you don’t have one, hold the router above the wood and start it. Carefully plunge it into the wood and begin moving it counterclockwise around the circle (Photo 2). Complete the circle, then readjust the depth and make another pass until you cut all the way through.
Plastic wood template
Often you can simply “eyeball” the best curve for the job by bending a piece of wood and using it as a template. But variations in wood grain can result in inconsistent curves. Here’s a tip to make this technique even better. Use plastic wood or a plastic molding instead. It bends very uniformly and yields near-perfect symmetrical curves. Azek, Fypon, Kleer and Versatex are several brands available at home centers. Choose a thickness that’ll bend to the curve you need. For gradual bends or wide curves, use 3/4-in.-thick material. For tighter bends (those with a smaller radius), use a 1/2-in. x 1-1/4-in. plastic stop molding or something similar. Support the ends of the plastic wood with blocks attached to a strip of wood. Adjust the position of the blocks to change the curve.
Draw large curves with a giant compass
Grab any narrow board or strip of plywood and drill a few holes—voilà, instant compass. Drill a pencil-size hole a few inches from the end of the board. Then drill a screw-size hole at the pivot point. The distance between them should be the radius of the curve, if you know what that measurement is. Otherwise, just use the trial-and-error method, drilling a series of pivot holes until you can swing the trammel and draw the right-size arch. It’s easy to draw parallel curves too. Just drill two pencil holes spaced the desired distance apart. Learn how to scribe for a perfect fit with a woodworking compass.
There’s no limit to the size of the arch you can draw. If your plan calls for a 10-ft. radius, find a long stick and use the floor as your workbench.
Get the Best Curves: Cut gradual curves with a circular saw
The first tool that comes to mind for cutting curves is a jigsaw, but if the curve is gradual, try a circular saw instead. It’s surprisingly quick and easy to cut a smooth curve with a circular saw. This method is for cutting rough curves. Don’t try to make furniture with this technique. The trick is to make sure the curve is gradual enough that the blade doesn’t bind. If you try this method and the blade binds or starts to heat up and smoke, switch to the jigsaw. The thinner the material you’re cutting, the sharper the curve can be. Set the blade depth so it barely projects through the bottom of the wood.
Stack and sand for matching parts
When you have several identical curved parts, the best way to sand them is to stack them and sand them all at once. You’ll save time and the parts will all match perfectly. The wider surface keeps you from rounding off edges. If the parts require a lot of sanding, a belt sander is a good choice. If you don’t have to remove much wood, try a random orbital sander. The key to success is to keep the sander moving at all times to avoid creating any flat spots. Check your progress by running your hand over the parts. Mark high spots with a pencil so you’ll know where more sanding is needed.
Use a pattern and a router for irregular curves
Photo 1: Make matching parts with a pattern
Trace out and rough-cut your part. Attach the pattern with hot-melt glue. Use a top-bearing pattern bit to follow the pattern and shape the part. Move the router counterclockwise around the pattern.
When your plan calls for cutting curved parts and you need to make two or more, first shape and sand a perfect full-size pattern from a piece of 1/2-in. medium-density fiberboard. Then use a router with a top-bearing pattern bit to cut out the parts.
Here are a few tips for routing with a pattern bit. First, use the pattern to mark the shape. Then remove excess material by cutting about 1/4 to 1/8 in. outside the lines with a jigsaw or a band saw. Elevate the workpiece to avoid cutting into your workbench. We used Bench Cookies (available at rockler.com). But hot-melt glue and scraps of wood are another option. If you’re cutting material that’s thicker than the pattern bit is deep, cut as deep as you can. Then remove the pattern and use the part as the pattern to complete the cut.
Mark an arch with two sticks
Photo 1: Arch drawing set-up
Set up for arch drawing with two sticks. Drive nails at the ends of the baseline and at the height of the arch. Lay one stick across two height nails and lay the other from the center height to the end of the baseline. Connect the sticks with short pins or hot-melt glue.
Here’s a quick way to draw an accurate curve if you know how wide and tall you want the arch to be. Let’s say you want to draw an arch that’s 3 ft. wide and 9 in. high. Drive two nails at the ends of the 3-ft. baseline. At the center of the baseline, draw a perpendicular line and make a mark 9 in. above the baseline. Drive a nail at the mark. At one end of the baseline, draw another perpendicular line and make another mark 9 in. above the baseline. Drive another nail at this mark. Photo 1 shows how to arrange and connect two sticks that you will use to draw the arch (Photo 2).
Required Tools for this Project
Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you start—you’ll save time and frustration.
- Brad nail gun
- Circular saw
- Clamps
- Cordless drill
- Drill bit set
- Orbital sander
- Pattern bit
- Plunge-cutting bit
- Router
Required Materials for this Project
Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here’s a list.
- 1/4 in. MDF
- Plastic wood
Originally Published: August 26, 2019
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FAQs
How to Cut Curves in Wood? ›
A circular saw will help you cut curves in wood. It's simple, quick, and easy to do so in a smooth curve. However, it is specialized for rough curves. The technique is to make sure the curve is gradual enough that the blade doesn't bind.
What tool cuts curves in wood? ›A circular saw will help you cut curves in wood. It's simple, quick, and easy to do so in a smooth curve. However, it is specialized for rough curves. The technique is to make sure the curve is gradual enough that the blade doesn't bind.
What is the best tool for cutting curves? ›Get the Best Curves: Cut gradual curves with a circular saw
The first tool that comes to mind for cutting curves is a jigsaw, but if the curve is gradual, try a circular saw instead. It's surprisingly quick and easy to cut a smooth curve with a circular saw.
Coping Saw
It is used for making curved cuts on wood, and in fact, this is where it gets its name from, as it is ideally used to create coping joints rather than miter joints. The blades of these saws are narrow, with between 15 and 17 teeth per inch of the blade.
A jigsaw is a saw which uses a reciprocating blade to cut irregular curves, such as stenciled designs, in wood, metal, or other materials.
What blade for cutting curves? ›For cutting tight curves (less than 5⁄ 8 " radius) and delicate, thin materials, use a 1⁄ 8 " or 3⁄ 16 " 10–14-tpi standard-tooth blade. To cut curves greater than 5⁄ 8 " radius, or when cut quality matters more than speed, use a 1⁄ 4 " 6-tpi standard- or skip-tooth blade.
Which saw is used to cut curves and follow irregular layout lines? ›Band Saw
There are band saws designed to cut wood, metal or both. In addition to wood and metal, a band saw can also cut through some other materials, such as PVC. These saws are ideal for cutting circles, curves and irregular shapes.
Make relief cuts in from the edge of the material right up to the edge of the finished shape. Space the cuts about an inch apart and parallel to one another. Then, as you make the cut on the shape itself, the falloff will do just that – in small, manageable pieces and without binding the blade.
What tool is best used for curve surfaces or difficult to areas cut? ›Jigsaws are ideal for cutting curves and complex shapes in wood (Photo 1). They also work well for making short crosscuts on a board (Photo 2) and finishing inside corner cuts (Photo 3) that you start with a circular saw.
Which tool is used for straight or curved cuts? ›A jigsaw is the most versatile kind of saw. It can accurately cut both straight lines and curves. Especially for sawing curves, a jigsaw is clearly the best option. A jigsaw can use a wide variety of blades, optimized for different materials, accuracy, speed and curves.
What tool is used for cutting shapes curves in wood using narrow blade? ›
Jig Saw: Jigsaw is used for cutting shapes and curves in wood with a narrow blade.
What saw uses a back and forth blade to cut curves? ›Types of Saws: Reciprocating Saws
Reciprocating saws are useful for demolition and remodeling jobs. Reciprocating saw blades move rapidly back and forth to cut through tough material.
If you're looking to do some serious work and need to cut through boards quickly, then a circular saw is the better option for you. But if you're working on more intricate shapes or detailed number cutting, then a jigsaw is going to be your best bet.
What kind of saw will cut circles? ›A bandsaw is similar to a jigsaw, with a narrow blade that is designed for curves. You can freehand cut a circle with a bandsaw, but it's much easier to get great results with a jig. You make a simple bandsaw circle cutting jig out of scrap wood in just a few minutes!
Is a circular saw a good choice for cutting circles or curves? ›Despite the name, circular saws aren't designed to cut circles or irregular shapes — they're meant to cut straight lines. A circular saw can make crosscuts, rip cuts, and bevel cuts.
What is the name of the saws used for hand sawing curves? ›Coping saws are special handsaws that cut very tight curves, usually in thinner stock, like trim molding.
What tool do you use to cut curves in paper? ›Rotary Cutters
These cutting tools come in several sizes, which is helpful when cutting along curves, and you can select the one that best suits your project. Straight or pinking edges are available for use with these tools.
Olfa 18 mm and 28 mm Rotary Cutters
The smaller Olfa 28mm Quick-Change Rotary Cutter and Olfa 18mm Rotary Cutter are both excellent for use on cutting curves for your quilt piecing or cutting out fabrics for garment sewing. The Olfa 18mm Rotary Cutter is especially good for applique work and miniatures.
A jigsaw is an ideal option for cutting curves and complex shapes in wood. It is also known for making short crosscuts on board. Reciprocating Saw - It is the form of a powered machine used for cutting the work-piece by applying push and pull motion of the blade.
What is the best tool to cut curves in metal? ›Tin Snips. Like a pair of scissors, tin snips are an inexpensive handheld tool that cuts straight, or if the blade is curved, can cut curves and circles. Tin snips are ideal for cutting soft metals like aluminum and copper, and are especially useful for cutting sheet metal, gutters, metal roofing, and studs.
What tool is used to make curves? ›
Answer: The curved line drawing tool is used to create curved or straight lines. The curved line tool provides greater control over the shape of a polyline than the straight line tool (see Drawing With the Straight Line Tool).
Which saw cuts curves and plunge cuts best? ›A jigsaw is the most versatile kind of saw. It can accurately cut both straight lines and curves. Especially for sawing curves, a jigsaw is clearly the best option. A jigsaw can use a wide variety of blades, optimized for different materials, accuracy, speed and curves.
Which tool is used for cutting curves but is stationary? ›Band saws are suitable when it comes to cutting curves and for slicing through thick material. Stationary band saws are generally packaged with a rip fence (for resaw cuts to make wood thinner) and miter gauge (for accurate cuts across the grain).
What is a thin bladed tool to cut curves and intricate shapes? ›Scroll Saw
A scroll saw is a small electric saw that cuts intricate curves in materials, including wood and metal. It has an extremely thin and narrow blade that cuts more delicately than a jigsaw but more easily than a coping or fretsaw.
Irregular curves (not circles or arcs) are drawn with special plastic instruments that are made in many different shapes. The most common of these instruments is called the French curve. It is used to connect irregularly distributed points to form a continuous curved line.
Where is the curve tool? ›The Curve tool is found in the Text Edit menu, next to Alignment. Select the Text tool at the bottom of the Canvas. Type text into the text box, choose your font and font style, and use the Letter Space tool to adjust letter spacing as needed.
Which handheld saw is used for cutting curves? ›Coping Saw
Coping saws are special handsaws that cut very tight curves, usually in thinner stock, like trim molding.