: Hey all,

: Back from vacation and looking at the sticking point on my kayak
: project: the upper bow. This needs a recess chiseled into it.
: I'm not familiar with working with chisels and my first attempt
: was... humorous.

: Is there a way I can do the upper bow piece without chiseling?

: Thanks,

: Stephen

Stephen,
Here's an idea. I like it, perhaps you will too.

Use a pull saw to cut the edge of the recess on the top and sides. This will be the line between the permantent visible wood and where the strips will end. Then make a number of cuts with the saw parallel to and further back from that edge. Space your cuts about 1/8" apart. THEN, Tap the inboard edge of these cuts with a block of wood and a hammer. The cut pieces will break off. Clean up the recessed surfaces with a wood rasp.

Buy a nice pattern maker's fine rasp like the ones pictured from http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=30288&cat=1,42524

Worth EVERY penny, when you see how beautifully and smoothly they cut through wood. You'll be making claw foot chairs in no time.

I have one of those Shinto rasps, if you show up at my door I'll give it to you, because I don't like it.

Page 25 of your instruction book has a picture in the upper left of the "work handle", just a scrap of hardwood, screwed to the top of the upper bow piece.

This is also removed and screwed to the bottom to facilitate clamping the upper bow piece in a vise to work on it. So screw the work handle to the top, to work on the bottom and screw it to the bottom, to work on the top.

DON"T go at it with power tools, especially don't go near a table saw with this small chuck of wood or you're likely to remove a small chunk of flesh.

It's time to learn some new tricks.

Have fun!

Rob