strip plank edge radius

[chrisk]

I am curious how it is determined what radius to use when cutting arcs into the edges of strip planks. I know for canoe strip planking they sell router bits that have a diameter of 1/4" which matches the width of the strip. However, for larger boats the arc is not a full semi-circle like it is for the canoe bits I've seen.

Is there some rule of thumb on what the radius of an arc for the edges of a strip plank should be ?

I hope people can figure out what I am referring to. I have a jpeg file with a nice picture that would make it obvious but I am not sure how to get the jpeg file into this message. The "Image" button just seems to want a URL and I don't have a place to put the jpeg file to make it accessible via http.

Chris Kottaridis (chriskot@quietwind.net)

[George Roberts]

The best fit will be when the diameter equals the finished thickness or the strip thickness. Sharp angles will require trimming of the cove.

If the diameter is larger than the strip thickness, sharp angles will require filling of gaps.

[Steve Lansdowne]

To post photos here, just set up an account for free at Imagestation or one of the other free providers, then upload your jpg file to that site, then link from there to your WB Forum posting.

[chrisk]

OK here is an attempt at a picture. I think it's too large but I haven't figured out how to shrink it down with the tools I have. Hopefully you get the idea from it.

http://www.quietwind.net/~chriskot/pictures/strip-arc1.jpg

Chris Kottaridis (chriskot@quietwind.net)

[JimConlin]

What George said.
If there's, say, a ten degree angulation between two successive planks, you'll get sizeable gaps to fill and corners to plane off.
You might make the cove a tad less than full-depth, so that there's not a feather of material on the inside that has no place to go. It makes the strips less fragile, too.