Back to the fore lower mast.  The top of the mast should be smaller than the base.  This is achieved by marking the shape of the taper on one side of the square 'pole'  and then sawing with the band saw and sanding with the belt sander.  Then the half tapered 'pole' is rotated 90 degrees and the same taper is marked again (shown here).  This is also sawn and sanded to achieve the complete taper.