one lower block all ready shaped for the rib

using a gouge to cut away the excess wood from the block

checking for high and low spots and trimming as required

after using the gouge I then turned to a shaped block with sandpaper

one side all done and ready

a nice smooth curve

a towel to protect the finished side whilst working on the other

a really sharp gouge easily removes the spruce

the spruce just splits away with ease

this is the surface after finishing with the gouge and before the sandpaper

the silhouette shows the finished corner blocks

again from another angle

now with the block plane I finish of the end block surfaces. this is really easy compared to the corner blocks

the finished endblock

the ribs are cut to length and everything is ready to bend them all

the kevlar woven gloves are great to use with the bending iron and give great feel while protecting my hands from the heat

out of all the things I have done so far in this project bending the ribs was the easiest thing