Thanks everyone for the awesome advice. Since I've only stripped about 5 deep each on the front and back I think I'll just knock them out and re-cut the opening vertically. I don't own a belt sander, but may get a cheap one off of craigslist to handle the strip ends as well. My Japanese combo saw may not be the tool to make a precise up-and-down cut, it doesn't go around a tight radius well, so I will also need to skip out to Lowes to pick up some sort of good small flexible saw.

: I'm with Ric on making the cut-out vertical. I also like to run an
: accent strip around the opening, since woods of different colors
: tend to hide sloppy joints.

: If it's too late to change to a vertical cut-out, you might try
: using an electric sander with a rough grit paper to bevel each
: recess strip. I use an upside down belt sander. It just takes a
: few seconds for each strip.

: John