Working with flitches

[Prashun Patel]

I got a piece of walnut flitch that I'd like to make into a low bench. The edges have the bark removed, but they're still rough.

How can I smooth the edges? I'd like to roundover the edges but I'd have to freehand a router.

[Wilbur Pan]

A spokeshave would do this job pretty quickly.

[Jim Becker]

I use my ROS for this, typically the Rotex, but you can use any ROS if you control the tool carefully and keep it moving along the edge. You are not using the whole pad like you would on a flat surface; rather, you're using the rotating edge of the abrasives to follow the contour of the natural edge so you don't take off more detail than necessary. Practice on a cut-off if you can.

[Doug Shepard]

I picked one of these up not too long ago and they work extremely well http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=56529&cat=1,42524. They cut fast and leave a surface a little nicer than a #50 rasp.