Alan Carruth wrote:
I've used a drill press planer to rough out arches for decades. You lay out a contour map of the surface and use the tool to remove anything that sticks up too far. It's more controlled than a Lancelot, and slower, but is, perhaps, safer (although I have students who might disagree). I can rough in the outside arches for the top and back of a guitar pretty well in an afternoon this way.
Totally agree Alan. I still have my Wagner Planer and use it pretty much exclusively for roughing out archtop plates. Works great and saves a lot of hand carving time. I know you've worn out way more blades than I have.
I'm on my last set of blades so thinking and hoping they'll last as long as I do at my tender age of 59.