Round We Go

Rounding plane, witchet, widget, take your pick on the name. This tool, found in the Texas Hill Country, is user made (stamped E. G. Bell). It is of mesquite, I think, with a cutter from a saw blade. The hole tapers from 1” to 3/4”. As seen in the photo, it turns out a very nice 3/4” dowel.

Why Two Compass Saws?

Grandpa’s tool box had these saws in it. No maker’s mark on handles. Illegible marks on blades, which are 8 tpi. I have recently become interested in what these saws are all about.

Turns out one saw is filed rip, the other crosscut. They are intended to cut curves, as in a round table top. As the direction of the grain changes the user swaps from rip to crosscut or visa-versa. The kerf is wide to allow turning. Though they make a rather rough cut, they do the job and that’s why we have spoke shaves.

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