back chair rails

[Howard Pollack]

Hi folks,
How does one make a curved top chair rail, steam bend or cut with bandsaw? If steam bend, can you keep mortices for back slats lined up with the back seat rail (also curved)? Thanks.
-Howard

[DaveR1]

You can make them either way but if you are bending, you'd cut the mortises after bending, not before.

[jteneyck]

Many of the folks who make rocking chairs cooper the top rail, with the grain running vertically. If you want the grain to run horizontally, another option not already mentioned is to make a curved lamination.

John

[Herebrooks]

Did you man tenons?

[Howard Pollack]

No, I mean mortises (which would hold vertical back slats). Thanks.