Replies

1. 
   jigsawjohn | Jan 14, 2007 07:20pm | #1

   I don't know where you would find plans.

   This is not very difficult, You need a box a few inches longer and wider then your legs with rails to guide your router, the centers for the leg need to be higher on the smal end of the leg to match the one half of the taper in the leg. then make an index wheel with holes of the number of flust that are required. next nail the index wheel to the large end of the leg and use a alignment to locate the disk through the end of the box by simply drilling a hole for the start point.

   You can cut the taper the same way and with a little work with sand paper you can smothe them bafore fluting

   With a full round bit you can then carve the fluts.

   I hope that didn't sound over simplified but it realy is not difficult.

   JigSawJohn
1. 
   artiep2 | Jan 15, 2007 03:03am | #2

   Thanks a bunch

2. 
   jigsawjohn | Jan 16, 2007 10:40pm | #3

   I did a drawing of my jig, you can make a sliding center for the small end so you can make different legs in the same box as well as make the end of thje box moveable to accomadte other leg lengths.

   Because I din't know you and your skill level, I'm going to offer a caution or two. only run the router in one deriction, if you start right to left run all flutes the same direction don't pull the router back to the start point. you can set a stop at each end if you want a stopped flute, or run into a recess if you desire.

   While I'am a dummy, I can't figure how to send an attachment so no drawing

    

    

   JigSawJohn
3. 
   jrogerh | Jan 17, 2007 01:12am | #4

   I built a jig several years ago to cut flutes in the tapered legs for a 4-poster bed.  It was a long box that fit down over the turned leg while it was still on the lathe.  I used the fixed indents on the lathe to rotate the leg in increments for each flute.  I used a small round bit in the router and moved it along the top of the box (with guide rails mounted on the tip) to make each cut.  The top of the box was tilted to produce a wider flute at the bottom of the leg and a smaller one at the tip.  It worked fine.

    

1. 
   artiep2 | Jan 17, 2007 03:02am | #5

   Thanks a bunch

2. 
   joinerswork | Jan 17, 2007 05:25pm | #6

   jrogerh,

   I'll just add to this and the previous post, I found it necessary to wedge the post in place in the jig, to prevent the router bit "pulling" the post slightly to the side, as it traversed the length of the post.  The rotation of the cutter exerts a sideways force that makes the post want to flex between the centers, in my case anyway, that yielded less than straight flutes.  I expect that's why he recommended not cutting both ways, as it  is really a factor when only one side of the bit is cutting.  I found it best to cut both directions, as for best looks, the fluting (and thus, the jig) should taper, same as the post.

   Regards,

   Ray

1. 
   jrogerh | Jan 18, 2007 08:28pm | #9

   Sounds like a good idea although I did not seem to have a flex problem. 

4. 
   Riverprof | Jan 17, 2007 06:27pm | #7

   Artie,

   The magazine with the plans -- it's a PDF file -- is the very one that hosts this "knots" discussion.

   http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ProjectsAndDesign/ProjectsAndDesignPDF.aspx?id=25401

   Rp

1. 
   Riverprof | Jan 17, 2007 06:29pm | #8

   Oops, sorry -- this isn't for fluted columns. "My bad," as some people say.Rp