Replies

1. 
   jazzdogg | Jul 06, 2005 03:20am | #1

   Gizzo,

   I have Phil Lowe's video "Carve a Ball & Claw Foot" and it's excellent. The other Phil Lowe video in my library as also exceptional: "Measuring Furniture for Reproduction."

   He does an great job addressing design elements in both videos.

   I doubt you'll have many questions after watching his video. If you do, however, I highly recommend Jeffrey Greene's Book "American Furniture of the 18th Century," in which he provides user-friendly guidelines for laying out cabirole legs (p 149) and ball & claw feet (pp 156-157).

   Have fun,

   -Jazzdogg-

   "The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." Bertrand Russell

   
   

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   Edited 7/5/2005 8:22 pm ET by jazzdogg

1. 
   AlanTurner | Jul 06, 2005 04:12am | #2

   Greene's book, plus about 6 articles from FWW, including those by Landon and Bird, should give you a leg up on the design of a cabriole leg. It is not easy, and the design time is very well spent, IMHO. Mock up your pattern in poplar, and look at it for a few days, and you will begin to understand that a shape drawn in 2 dimensions, but made in three, looks different. In 3 dimensions, the curves are much stronger. Also, you might note that there is a fair difference in style in the 18th C. furniture centers. Boston legs tend to be straighter and thinner, perhaps to a fault. Philadelphia and Newport legs are stouter, and more curvacious. Being from Philadelphia, I hate to admit it, but I favor the Newport legs, at least generally.The Greene book, and the earlier articles from FWW, will give you an idea, and some guidelines, for the relationship between the relative sizes and locations of cornerblocks, knees, and ankles. This brief study will educate you more than a pattern borrowed from another.For a pattern, I use 3mm BB ply as it will shape nicely with a spokeshave, which is a pretty easy way to fair a curve.Have fun, as designing a cabriole leg is a great experience. Once you have your own design, you will treasure it, and the 3mm BB will last a long time. Mark it well and you will use it much over the years.If you borrow a pattern, you will not ever own in. Or at least that is my opinion.Alan

   http://www.alanturnerfurnituremaker.com

2. 
   Floss | Jul 06, 2005 05:03am | #3

   gizzo,

   Phil features carving the Philadelphia style of ball and claw. It is not too much different from a Boston or Newport, but the differences are significant enough to require slightly different layout and dimensions for roughing out.

   As others have said, practice.

   If you haven't laid out a cabriole leg before then it is a good idea to work it out on paper and transfer the drawing to 1/8" ply or similar material for a pattern. Then saw it out and study the shape.

   You will be amazed how different the leg can look when it is sawn out of the solid as opposed to a 2-dimensional drawing.

   One tip is to minimize the curvature. If it is too curvy it looks rather awkward.

   I tried to watch the video once but fell asleep after ten minutes. It is slow, real slow. However it does present the information in a format that the viewer can use to successfully carve the ball and claw.

   What size of leg are you wanting to make? Is it for a specific piece of furniture or just a sample?

   J.P.

   http://www.jpkfinefurniture.com
1. 
   gizzo | Jul 06, 2005 02:26pm | #5

   I want to make a side table and a newport bonnet top high boy.

1. 
   87bluejay | Jul 06, 2005 04:27pm | #6

   Hello. In an earlier article in FWW, Randall O'Donnell has an excellent method on carving a ball and claw foot. The article is about making a small foot stool. I have taken a class with Randall and actually used his methods stated in the article and had no problem carving the leg. I think that the article is available through the archive section on this website.

   Hope this helps!

   DR

    

3. 
   jazzdogg | Jul 06, 2005 05:06am | #4

   Gizzo,

   There's a very thoughtful reply from Alan that I want to make sure you don't miss, as it was inadvertantly addressed to me.

   -Jazzdogg-

   "The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." Bertrand Russell