Easier method to make 4 sided mission quartersawn legs
There are 2 traditional methods of creating 4 sided quartersawn oak mission legs. One method has you creating 4 sides and a core. This method is complex and the glue up is difficult. The second method has you gluing two quartersawn pieces together then sandwiching that with two 1/4 inch thick resawn faces. This is easy enough but results in glue lines that disturb the quartersawn effect. Here’s a third method that starts with the same pieces as the last method but eliminates the glue lines.
Take your composite leg you created in method 2 and cut 4 ‘v’ troughs along each edge the length of both non-quartered sides. (That’s hard to explain so see the diagram). I use a Whiteside 1503 router bit and it works great. Now remove the stock between the v grooves with a dado.
Next cut the 1/4 thick resawn faces also from method 2 but make sure you cut them about a 1/4 inch wider than necessary. Using the same router bit cut off the inside edges of both pieces. As you can see you’re creating a wedge that you can now glue easy as pie into the voids you created in the composite leg. Don’t worry if the wedges are a tad wide and stick up, as long as theres contact on the angles you’ll be able to plane the resawn faces to a perfect fit. By the way my sketchup skills are poor but you’ll get the idea.
Replies
45 degree Lock miter
Have you tried the 45 degree lock miter bit on a router table or shaper ? There is a learning curve to the bit set up,but once you have it mastered it's a great bit and the glue up is very easy, If clamped on the correct sides it pulls itself together and NO core section is needed.
RE:45 degree Lock miter
No I haven't. The thought of cutting 8 '45 degree' faces the full length of the 4 sides seems like theres too much room for something to go wrong.
I See The Light
Nicely done !
Self jigging for glue up. A little care in the depth of the "Remove With Dado" area and easy as cake.
Thank You !
Re:I see the light
Actually the overwhelming usage of these legs in mission furniture completely hides the end grain, one of the only exceptions is the Morris chair which only expose the center core of the leg. This means that you do not have to be too critical when you cut the dado as long as you err on the 'too deep' side. Also by playing with the thickness and width of your resawn faces you can easily find a good fit and by using one router bit to cut both parts you ensure that the angles will always line up. Glue up is a breeze. Just stack the pieces and clamp, the shape pretty much holds itself, after glue up just plane the faces.
Yep
Cool way to do it.
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