Requesting advice for cutting rabbets

[Redshirt]

Hi,

As the title says, can anyone tell me a good and reliable method to cut a rabbet, especialy at the ship's bow?

I know that chissels and hobby knives are suposed to work somewhat adequately but im worried that cutting a clean line can be somewhat challenging with these tools. A milling machine will certainly work as well but tbh, im somewhat on a budget and simply cannot afford the money for one.

So i wonder, can anyone give me any good hints and tips? I saw many a finely cut rabbet here and wonder what tricks you use to achive this

[russ]

I use a sharp blade, always cut less than I need, and go slow, checking with a sample piece of wood for fit every so often. Use a stop cut at the bottom edge with the flat edge to the bottom. Cut just deep enough, but not too deep. You can always take a little more off if need be. Then cut from the top of the rabbet, down to the stop cut. Cut inside the lines and then fine tune your way to the lines as you go along. Time taken here to get this right will pay dividends later on.

 

Russ

[AON]

check out the scratch build of Young American by EdT page 5 post 74

I've tried to copy a link but no success.

[Jim Lad]

I cut my rabbets pretty much as described by Russ.  Make sure you have a new blade in when you do this.

 

John

[allanyed]

Don't worry about not having  the milling machine, it won't work for a rabbet as the rabbet is dynamic for the most part and the set up on the mill would be static.    The Fully Framed Model Vol. I describes the process very well on pages 44 and 45..  A SHARP vee gouge and/or knife and chisel will do the job beautifully if you follow the advice of Russ and take baby steps.

 

Allan

[druxey]

Good advice. Note the stress on the word 'sharp'.

[Jack12477]

I have used both a 60^o and 90^o V-gouge to cut rabbets. Set the V-gouge so that one side is perpendicular to the wood and lay the other leg against the inboard side of the keel piece and gently take small cuts in the wood.  With a little practice you can get the hang of it and cut a pretty decent rabbet.  As everyone has said make sure the gouge is SHARP and go slow

[jbshan]

Sharp and small.  I used a home made chisel from an exacto blade, so you don't need to spend hundreds of dollars, though mine is a little flimsy.  Good thing, though, perhaps, as it made me go slowly.

The books mentioned will also teach you what your result should be like, in shape and curve, etc.  That's important, too.

[Redshirt]

Thanks for the many suggestions

[gwish]

Sharp and small.  I used a home made chisel from an exacto blade, so you don't need to spend hundreds of dollars, though mine is a little flimsy.  Good thing, though, perhaps, as it made me go slowly.

The books mentioned will also teach you what your result should be like, in shape and curve, etc.  That's important, too.

 

 

I agree, Sharp and small.  Also, watching a few carving videos on youtube or vimeo, where the carve is using the V chisel in different applications can be of great help.  This gives you an idea of how the tools work and what to expect.

 

Gwyl

[Trussben]

I used an extremely sharp v gouge on my Pegasus, I practiced first on some scrap taking very small amounts of cuts over multiple passes, slowly but surely I got a really good result.

Practice and a very sharp tool!

 

Ben