Curious, how would you do this?

[Micky]

Curious, how would you do this?

I have half-round rails. I used to be able to buy them already made, but even then sometimes 8' was too long (at the end of a run or next to the gate, where the distance between the posts was less than the full 8 feet) and I had to shorten them and make them thinner at the last 3" at each end. That is, the poles were 4" in diameter so split down the middle the rails are about 2", and I want the last 3 inches to be about 1 1/4 thick.

I can do it, but I'm curious what methods you folks would use and whether it's better than mine. Because it seems like I can do better. I have almost all the hand tools a guy should have and quite a few of the portable power tools. The primary answer I'm looking for uses tools that I have.

I don't have many non-portable power tools, but even though I probably don't have the tool, you can get additional partial credit for suggesting a method using one of them. I have 14 rails to do with this batch and another 14 to do next summer. Maybe you'll give me a good excuse to buy some non-portable power tool.

[Unquestionably Confused]

If I understand you, you're looking to shorten a 2" thick fence rail leaving a 3", 1¼" tenon at the end?

Cut the rail to the length you need, tack (nail or screw back from the tenon area) two together. You now have a round rail of the proper length. Form the tenon using your table saw with an outboard table/support and a a cross cut sled arrangement (and/or some help). Set set a dado blade to a cut of a fat 3/8" and cut, rotate, cut, rotate until you see that you have what you want.

[Ed Pawlowski]

If it is what I visualize, I'd probably rough it out with a jigsaw, finish with a block plane if needed. g

[rbowman]

If it's what I visualize, I'd rough it out with my Fiskars hatched and finish with the hatched.

[bob_villa]

Heh? Hatchet, right?

[rbowman]

Yeah, you know, that little ax thingie...I've got a Ka-Bar BK2 for the fine chopping.

[Micky]

I was pretty sure there was a better way to do this than I was using, but none of the suggestions were that much better.

I use a reciprocating saw to cut a slit 3/4" into the wood at an angele, 3" from each end. Then I use a hammer and chisel from the end to chip out the first 3/4". It takes a while for each one, so I wanted to mechanize it more, but otoh it comes out good.