Replies

1. 
   RonK | Jun 14, 2006 03:46pm | #1

   There is an old Taunton Video "Carve a Ball and Claw Foot with Phil Lowe" which is an excellent introduction

    

   Queen Ann Furniture - Norman Vandal Taunton Press ISBN 0-942391-07-1

   gives a pretty detailed description of carving a ball and claw and several variations such as a slipper and Spanish foot.

    

   American Furniture of the 18th Century - Taunton Press ISBN 1-56158-104-6

   Has examples though not as detailed as Norman Vandal's above

    

   I'm not sure the books are still in print but you should be able to find them used.

1. 
   hdgis1 | Jun 14, 2006 04:08pm | #2

   Thanks. Ill give em a try

2. 
   joinerswork | Jun 14, 2006 04:19pm | #3

   hdgis,

   The suggestions for getting the books and/or videos are probably good ones.  Ultimately though, you will have to put chisels to the wood, and experience is the best teacher for something like this, in my opinion. 

   As far as layout goes, study old work if you can, museums or private collections.  Nothing like looking at the real thing in 3d.  Barring that, go to the reference books, and look at the feet there.  Furniture treasury, Downs' American Furniture, Flanigan's Amer. Furn. from the Kaufman's Collection,  Kirk's American Chairs, etc.  Different reguions of this country each had their own variation on the ball and claw foot.  For example, Newport RI feet have a more upright ball, like an egg stood on end, while most  Philadelphia feet have balls that look more like a tomato that is slightly squashed.  The profile of the block of your leg blank will need to reflect these proportions.  The detailing of the feet differs as well, Newport toes are typically not webbed, and often deeply undercut, almost free of the ball.  Phila, have webs down to the first knuckle, the knuckles are often well defined.  Side toes on Mass. work are often swept back toward the rear, etc etc.

   Don't try to saw much detail into the blank when cutting it out (the swoop of the toes, I mean).  You need all the meat in that block to round out the ball between the toes. I lay out two circles with a compass on the bottom of the foot- one describes the maximum dia of the ball- this will be partway up the foot, just how far depending on the style you've chosen.  The 2d circle will determine the dia where the ball touches the floor.  I roughly delineate the toes (which are on the corners of the block) with a parting tool, and then start rounding the ball to the max dia, so the ball starts out as a cylindrical section.  Then round down toward the bottom circle, so that the bottom half of the ball is pretty well done. I use a shallow sweep gouge, and a shallow sweep fishtail for this.  Then round up toward the top of the foot, between the toes.  Once the ball is pretty well defined, I go back and shape up the toes, working from the largest dia of the ball, toward the bottom, then work up toward the ankle.  Mostly I use a skew pointed chisel for this, changing to gouges as I get toward the webbed area between the toes. Finally, refine the ball/toe intersections, and carve on the talons if there are any.

   Trying this on a scrap piece first will improve your confidence.  Then carve the back feet of your project, so that as you become more proficient, you can put your best foot forward.  Get a mental picture of the foot you want, then cut off everything that doesn't look like a ball and claw foot.

   Good luck,

   Ray Pine

3. 
   BOBABEUI | Jun 14, 2006 07:12pm | #4

   Hi,

   I will second the Carve a Ball and Claw video by Phil Lowe. Lots of information and detail, want to say the length of the video was 80 to 90 minutes, I think the video was $20.

   Good luck

1. 
   RonK | Jun 14, 2006 07:31pm | #5

   115 Minutes

   He was a little younger when this video was made

    

1. 
   BOBABEUI | Jun 14, 2006 07:37pm | #6

   Ronk,

   Funny you say that, because I was orginally going  to say the same thing..

   But God Bless him, he still has quite the head of hair, then and now (just grayer).

1. 
   RonK | Jun 14, 2006 08:39pm | #7

   If your in the area he is having a furniture exhibition and open house this Saturday June 17 at his place in Beverly Ma(116 Water Street).

4. 
   Floss | Jun 14, 2006 09:39pm | #8

   If you can take the class from Phil then that would be the best way to learn. If not then the video is a good second. Just brew up some coffee, the video can be a little tedious.

   J.P.