In another thread I was asked about the cheekpiece I added to a CVA Kentucky that I'm working over.
You will need a piece of scrap the same kind of wood as the stock, with suitable grain direction and pattern. (Thanks again 'bgf' for the scrap chair leg!)
First I cut the chair leg down to a block the rough size and shape of a cheekpiece. On the back side of the block, the side that will be glued to the stock, I used a shallow sweep gouge to contour the surface. Whittle, fit, whittle, fit, repeat until it's a pretty close fit. Place the block in location on the stock and trace around it with a pencil. Add some pencil lines extending the top, bottom and side lines out from the outline for reference.
Now find some old style carbon paper. Fabric stores still sell it for pattern transfer. Cut a piece a little larger than the cheekpiece block and place it on the stock, carbon-side. Tape or hold the carbon paper in place. Using the extended reference lines, place the block in place on the stock and carbon paper. Rub the block back and forth very slightly and the carbon will transfer to the high spots. Replace the carbon paper as needed. Use a shallow gouge to remove the high spots marked on the block. Repeat until you have as much carbon transfer as possible, especially right at the edge of the block, all the way around. This will insure the smallest gap in the inevitable glue-lines.
I can't tell you how this story turns out. I took the pictures above last night, so stain and finish is a ways off. I do think I'm going to add a star inlay to cover a bit of the upper glue line. I will post updates in the future... If it ever warms up enough to work out in the unheated garage.
-Ron
