How do i round the corners on a tabletop to be consistent?

[David Ruhland]

I made a children's table-rectangle in shape... i want to round the corners a lil bit and have them all look the same. a quick internet search brings up the woodpecker radius jigs.. I have tried the paint can in the past, but never get 4 corners that look the same.

Suggestions please....

[George Bokros]

The jig from Woodpecker is an option but there are less expensive jigs to do that.

[Anthony Whitesell]

Do you have a router? Do you have or can you get a top or bottom bearing pattern following bit?

If you have seen the woodpecker or rockler jigs and don't want to spend the cash, then make your own of the one size you need. With a single jig/template all four corner will look the same.

The rockler jig is more of a kit http://www.rockler.com/rockler-corner-radius-routing-templates. But if you only need one size it is enough to make it as a single piece.

[David Ruhland]

I do have a router.. and router table..however the darn table is already assembled the rounded corner was an afterthought after quality control inspector (mom) got a look at things lol i just have to figure how to keep the cover the same distance away...

[Derek Cohen]

There are some tasks that are just so much easier using hand tools. Plus you do not need to dissemble anything.

Mark the rounded corner with a template (can and pencil), use a jigsaw to cut close to the line, and then use a rasp to the line. Smooth this with a file and blocked sandpaper.

With a little care, you will finish on the line with a constant curve. Do not obsess about whether the sides are perfectly vertical - this is invisible to the eye.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[lowell holmes]

I would suggest a wood rasp and sandpaper to dress up the corners.

[andy bessette]

Make a pattern out of 1/2" plywood and use a pattern following router bit. Using a saber saw, cut to just outside the pattern prior to routing. So easy.

[Jim Becker]

Just clamp a pattern on to a given corner and use your regular router to make the cut with a pattern bit. I suggest you knock most of the material off outside the line prior with your bandsaw or a jigsaw.

[Ray Newman]

Instead of rounding the corners over, take a square, draw a 45 degree line say 1" from the corner, cut the corner off with a circular or jig saw, then sand smooth? Quick and easy to do

[Jacob Mac]

You could draw your radius, cut close to the line and use a sanding pad, rasp, file, or a spokeshave to finesse it to where you want it. That might get you the best results.

[Prashun Patel]

I wouldn’t bother with a router. Draw your radius on each corner. Then use a straight handsaw and cut of the corners and then again. Finally, use a sanding block to sand to the line. I Have done this multiple times and it works fast and well.

Nobody can tell.

You said round off a little bit, I assume this means an inch or less radius just for safety.

[Ken Krawford]

Here's a jig I bought for $20 that works pretty well - https://www.ptreeusa.com/rtr_jigs_radius_templates.htm

[michael langman]

David, Take a straight 1x3 or similar piece of wood about 15 inches long and hold it up against the edge of the table top on the end where the radius is going. Then put the can on table top and push it up against the board you re holding. Do this to both sides of the table top to get the can right on edge with the table top or tangent. Then draw your radius. Do same on all 4 corners.

[Frankie Hunt]

However you do it, just DO IT!

My children are grown now, but when one was little he fell and caught the corner of the kitchen table. It missed his eye by less than an inch. I immediately got out the jig saw and cut that corner off!

Use a pattern bit (one that has the bearing on top). Make a template that you like, clamp it down onto the table and follow that template. All 4 will look the same.

When making the template, mark the radius on a corner and take your time cutting the template out leaving the pencil mark and then some. Then sand to the line with a sander.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

I agree with Jim Becker. Take a piece of wood and make a jig. Clamp the jig to a corner and use a pattern bit to round the corner. Using the same jig, repeat for each corner.

[Bill Dufour]

For kids furniture do not worry. make each corner rounded but very different, adds character. For instance one is egg shaped, one a whales back, a tortoise, cloud etc , just paint the figures onto the top after rounding them over.
Bill

[Mike Cutler]

David

Mark the radius on both sides of the table top. Using a rasp, and going with the grain, begin to relieve the corner. The motion for the rasp is rocking motion, opposite of the curve you need to make. It seems counter intuitive, but it works.
Don't drag the rasp backward. Use firm, but gentle, pressure, holding the rasp at both ends and rock it. finish up with a sandpaper block using the same rocking motion.
It will probably take you longer to mark the radius of each corner as a guide, than to remove the material.

Trust your hands and eyes. ;)

[Dick Brown]

Surprised that it hasn't been mentioned before but if you would be happy with a corner that had the radius of the distance from the edge of your router bit to the edge of the router base, just clamp a board with a square end to your table top with the side and the end each that distance from the edge of the table.Then pivot the router around the corner keeping the same spot on the base that you measured from tight to the corner of the board (in case the bit is not exact center or you have a square base) All done and all corners the same.

[Bruce Wrenn]

Surprised that it hasn't been mentioned before but if you would be happy with a corner that had the radius of the distance from the edge of your router bit to the edge of the router base, just clamp a board with a square end to your table top with the side and the end each that distance from the edge of the table.Then pivot the router around the corner keeping the same spot on the base that you measured from tight to the corner of the board (in case the bit is not exact center or you have a square base) All done and all corners the same. You can do the same thing with template bushings and some plywood. Use template bushing instead of router base for pivot.

[Joe Tuminello]

Thanks Dick Brown and Bruce Wrenn for the great tip!

[Prashun Patel]

If your goal is safety for kids and you're not married to the look of a radius, you can simply truncate the corner. That's a lot easier to do symmetrically with a simple hand saw. As long as you ease the corners a tad, it will be functionally equivalent for safety.