Help needed. Building an arched doorway

Around here, builders make the vertical arch sides of ply, fill in under with short pieces of 2x4, 1/4 drywall on the 2x4 pieces.

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Easiest is probably to widen the door way then make a plywood insert with the arch you want, face the curved arch with the bendable plywood, install between/over the studs and then skimcoat with spackling OR put a thin piece of drywall over the plywood

John

Hi Mike, I have done this before. It consisted of 3 arches. Center one ,1 ft taller than the 2 sides. Came out very strong. It replaced a wall that to my surprise had contained a double pocket door I found during demo. This was done on the bottom floor of a triple decker. Not a bit of movement in the five years I remained living there.

Figure the radius you want for the inside and don't forget the sheetrock covering it. Using 2X4 or 6 (whatever). Score a cut at a depth approx 1/2 the thickness of the stud at the desired radius from the end of the workpeice. Clamp to a true flat surface (lathe bed). Raise peice up until the sawcut closes up and you will get the spacing for the sawcuts you just made 1 of, to acheive the radius you desire.

When I did this, I left 1 1/2 ft of straight stick below and put a half lap to marry the rest of the upright to.