Author Topic: French Curves (Read 2084 times)

BarryE · « **on:** December 27, 2019, 06:01:59 PM »

Ok, I know this Art 101, but this just struck me. (Yeah, I know I'm a bit slow here!) When working on carving layouts, it's amazing to me that
French curves are so useful and often dead on to the curves in an original longrifle. Call me naïve, but I envisioned that the masters of old just naturally did the sweeping curves by hand. Now, I'm sure some of them were just that good. But I have a suspicion that the judicious use of the French curve may have been a part of their layout at least at times. What do you think?

t.caster · « **Reply #1 on:** December 27, 2019, 06:14:29 PM »

Awe, they didn't have plastic! Haha. I have very old ones that I use, but not for carving layouts, they are too big. I do use a lot of different angled Ellipse templates in my work.

rich pierce · « **Reply #2 on:** December 27, 2019, 06:16:53 PM »

A thin brass French curve would be cool. I use one quite a lot.

louieparker · « **Reply #3 on:** December 27, 2019, 07:16:02 PM »

I know next to nothing about French curves.. But I have spent a bit of time studying the work of George Eister.. You have done a great job on what I can see... Will the toe plate be pierced ? Are you going with his seventeen screw patch box. Just curious. Great job ! ....LP

flinchrocket · « **Reply #4 on:** December 27, 2019, 07:32:59 PM »

Is a French curve formed using the golden mean spiral ? If so,I think it was probably taught as one of the mysterys of gunmaking,used to make C and S scrolls.

Wiki says no, uses a Euler Spiral. Have to ask a railroad or highway engineer

Chowmi · « **Reply #5 on:** December 27, 2019, 08:14:21 PM »

I have a set that I use to work on designs on paper. I really like using them. I just wish I had found ones that are a bit smaller. This post reminds me that I should look for some smaller ones.
Norm

Scota4570 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 27, 2019, 08:34:27 PM »

I inherited a draftsman's collection of drawing tools. I use the templates often. I can not draw a smooth line. Even when I copy someone else's work, finalizing the design with french curves, ellipses and circles make it look crisp and neat. Amazon sells drafting templates cheap. I also find softer pencils to work better on wood than the regular #2. Quality compasses are very useful too. I install a scribe tip for lost of metal layout tasks. For drawing plans I use the T-square, board, triangles and such. If a guy could find an old drafting kit he would get lots of mileage out of it.

BarryE · « **Reply #7 on:** December 27, 2019, 08:56:21 PM »

Louieparker , Thanks for the kind words. I was able to photograph and document the rifle I used as a basis for this build. Eister is a local builder to me and I have always admired his work. This one is in Kindig's book. It did not have a pierced toe plate, and is not the famous 17 screw rifle. I added a couple of photos for your perusal.

Daryl · « **Reply #8 on:** December 27, 2019, 09:33:40 PM »

Really nice work, BarryE.

louieparker · « **Reply #9 on:** December 27, 2019, 10:03:44 PM »

BarryE thanks for the photos.....LP

Waksupi · « **Reply #10 on:** December 27, 2019, 11:57:54 PM »

When I was being taught engraving, design and layout were the first things I had to learn. I was instructed to make different size boxes on a piece of paper and practice. I had a lot of rejects at first, due to flat areas on the curves.
When you learn to do the design work, you are actually training your eye to "The Golden Mean". No French curves were allowed. I do use them on laying out a stock at times.

BarryE · « **Reply #11 on:** December 28, 2019, 12:37:05 AM »

T.Caster. There you go! I never even tried to use my elipse master in a layout scenario. Still learning!

BarryE · « **Reply #12 on:** December 28, 2019, 02:30:22 AM »

Thanks Daryl. After seeing Taylor's latest (the beautifully engraved leftie) I feel like a poor apprentice on his first gun.

J. Talbert · « **Reply #13 on:** December 28, 2019, 02:41:26 AM »

Barry,
I tend to doubt any use of templates in the carving layout on the originals, but whatever method you have used, the result looks outstanding!
I've spent more time studying Eisters in person and in pictures than I have the work of any other maker.
From what I can see you got it right.

Jeff

BarryE · « **Reply #14 on:** December 28, 2019, 02:49:42 AM »

Jeff, Thank you! I am trying to do the work as closely to his style as possible, but as you already know he really was the big deal that Kindig felt he was. There are many subtleties in both his carving and engraving which is stretching the limit in terms of my own capabilities. But, I like a challenge and it sure is educational!

smokepole45cal · « **Reply #15 on:** December 28, 2019, 06:21:26 AM »

Barry its funny that I am seeing this now. I was just telling my wife earlier this evening that I need a French curve to help double check the cold-bend on my breech plug tang before committing to inletting into the wrist.

Whats the brass thickness on your patchbox and toe plate? Looks great.

Jerry V Lape · « **Reply #16 on:** December 28, 2019, 08:44:45 AM »

The typical commercial French Curve is fine for drawing on paper or other flat surfaces. But I found it useful to copy them onto some soft flexible plastic I rescued from the trash so I could make the curve conform to the stock's rounded surface. I don't copy the whole curve tool, just the portions needed for the task at hand.

BarryE · « **Reply #17 on:** December 28, 2019, 01:20:25 PM »

Smokepole45
Thanks! I used .62 brass on the patchbox due to some of Eisters decorative features.
Jerry V,
Putting the curves on flexible plastic is a great tip. Thanks!

BarryE · « **Reply #18 on:** December 28, 2019, 01:28:37 PM »

Smokepole45.
I believe I used .40 brass for the toe plate. .32 for the thimbles

alacran · « **Reply #19 on:** December 28, 2019, 03:29:24 PM »

That's not the first thing that came to mind.

bama · « **Reply #20 on:** December 28, 2019, 04:54:34 PM »

I am with Louie, fabulous representation of Eister's work.

t.caster · « **Reply #21 on:** December 28, 2019, 05:49:54 PM »

Agree with others...you are doing some real fine work there! Keep us updated with more pics as you progress.
Thanks.

BarryE · « **Reply #22 on:** December 29, 2019, 02:56:59 AM »

Bama, t.caster.

Thanks! I appreciate your kind words. I will try to update as I progress.

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Author Topic: French Curves (Read 2084 times)

smokepole45cal