Replies

1. 
   BG | May 07, 2003 12:46am | #1

   Brian,

   I believe those columns are usually made on a lathe using the indexing feature and a router.  The wood is held in position with the index on the lathe and you run the router down the piece of stock while it sits on a jig.  By pulling the pin on the index you can rotate the stock so many degrees and replace the pin.  I think that is how its done? 

2. 
   lostarrow | May 07, 2003 06:04pm | #2

   Brian,

    Those are quarter columns on the corners, not half columns. They are usually made by gluing up four pieces of stock large enough to turn the size column your plan calls for. When you do the glue up use newspaper or brown paper between the joints. After the turning,reeding or fluting is done ,you can then split the four quaters apart. There is a very good write up on making quarter columns in FWW # 93. There are several articles on columns in other issues of FWW and one in particular (I can't remember which one) described a way to make the quarter column more than a  quarter of the column,perhaps about  3/8th's of a column. That gives the column more of a rounded look. It'a hard describe or visualize what I'm saying, but it does add something to the appearance of the columns.

   If you need a source for whatever wood you chose to do this secretary, you won't  go wrong with Irion lumber.  Irion's yard is about a 2 hr. drive for me. I,ve been out there 3 times for wood,( curly maple and walnut). It's a woodlovers dream just to see their lumber stash. Big wide ,thick,clear planks of all types of native wood and mahogany. They have 36" - 40" wide mahogany,wide walnut,cherry,maple,oak. Matching sets of 3" and 4"  thick stock  for legs. I get to drooling when I think about it.

   ken(with the small k)

1. 
   Briyon | May 08, 2003 07:39am | #4

   ken,

   Thanks for the info. A friend and I took a weekend trip to Irion last fall and you are right it is heaven on earth for wood workers. I bought a complete set of curly maple for the project with a couple of the boards measuring 18" wide. I would love to go back and stock up on some more and I am sure I will some day.

   I will see if I can get a hold of that issue of FW...I may have it.

   Thanks again,

   Brian

3. 
   ron61 | May 07, 2003 07:24pm | #3

   Great site for ideas Brian

   I would use a heavy brown craft paper to do the glue up for the columns make splitting apart  easier.

   Looks like a fun project I would like to do one myself

   Ron