On Sat, 17 Nov 2018 12:46:04 +1300, Eric Stevens
wrote:

On Sat, 17 Nov 2018 09:17:20 +1100, Peter Jason wrote:

--- snip ---

Now I have seen the photograph: I think you should Google 'spiling
board'. No, that is not a spelling error. The word is 'spiling'.

Thanks, I checked out "spiling" and this seems
most applicable to clinker boats. The point of
making a virtual ''cast'' of the job and then
thansferring this to the new stock might be the
same in my case that is to cut a profile in
cardboard in one part, then another, and then yet
another and then merging these parts on to the
final timber for subsequent fret-sawing.

Spiling is certainly used in the construction of clinker boats but it
has a much wider application than that. I recently used it to make a
shelf in the cabinet under a laundry tub. It wa a very odd shape and
also had to clear the plumbing under the tub.

The purpose of spiling is to make a template of the shape of the
object to be fitted into place. The idea is that you take a plain
surface, usually a scrap of wood, and mark on to it key points which
can be used to define the shape of the object against which the
finished product has to fit. As shown in most videos this is commonly
done by spanning with a compass.

In your case you want to do this twice: once for each side of the
doorway. Once your two template ends have been determined the next
thing is to fix them to something at the right distance apart. The way
I would do this is as follows:

1. Cut the template ends to shape with a jigsaw (or whatever).

2. Confirm that they are correct by holding them up against the
section of wall to which they correspond.

3. Get a piece of wood which almost spans the doorway and after
(somehow) holding the two template ends in place glue the two
template ends and the piece of wood together. Once the glue
hardens you will have complete template for the shape of the
finished door step.

4. Transcribe the shape of the template to the wood from which you
intend to make the doorstep. If all has gone well you will have
step with wiggly ends just the right shape for everything to drop
into place.

Yes, thanks. I've laid my hands on some thin
corrugated board and will check this out.