Saw

• When building an archway from wood or drywall, it is essential to be able to saw portions of both the drywall and the supporting framework into shape. A jigsaw works exceptionally well for this task although a standard hand-held hacksaw or drywall saw would work if a jigsaw is unavailable.
  
  

Hammer and Screwdriver

• When assembling an archway, screws and nails are important. Nails are hammered into the corner beads and the drywall because they will lie flush with the surface of the drywall, unlike screws. Screws, on the other hand, are useful when attaching the surface material, either drywall or plywood, to wood or masonry backing. In this case, a screwdriver is needed.
  
  

Compass

• A well built archway will be drawn out in a perfect semi-circle, so a compass is important. The compass allows a guide line to be drawn onto the wood or drywall, which can then be cut out with the jigsaw. If a compass is unavailable, fasten a pencil to one end of a piece of string, nail the other end of the center of the base of the archway and use that to draw the guide line.
  
  

Considerations

• Regardless of the materials used to build an archway, it is important to wear hand and eye protection during the cutting and assembly process. Splinters, dust and other debris are often thrown off during the sawing process and these can easily cause harm you if safety equipment is not used.