Turning Queen Anne Legs

kennygolub · Post by **kennygolub** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 7:04 am

Is it possible to turn Queen Anne style legs using the lathe duplicator? My wife loves the style, and I thought I might buy one leg and try to duplicate it that way.
Anyone know of any web sites that have tutorials/videos for wood turning?

Thanks for any replies !!

chiroindixon · Post by **chiroindixon** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 8:41 am

Wow....you are getting ambitious.

I might recommend that you go to the excellent Sawdust Sessions that Nick and Drew have been making.

In Session 10 Nick does have a presentation on " Turning Cabriole Legs" which should help. Then try Session 3, and "Compound Cutting". It's the way I'm used to seeing "Queen Ann" legs made. Eccentric turning has so far been beyond my skill level, with or without a lathe duplicator.....

But I'm sure someone here will have a better answer. I simply recommend viewing these as great primers....

Doc

rkh2 · Post by **rkh2** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:30 am

Kenny
I have never attempted something like turning a Queen Anne's Leg however after doing some research I am attaching a link from popular woodworking magazine explaining how to do it. I figured you would have to do some offset turning and that is what the article talks about. I have seen them made on a bandsaw using compound cuts. Not sure how the lathe duplicator would work as I don't have one. Hope this link helps and good luck. Post some pictures of your finished project.

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/features/fea9.html

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 2:13 pm

kennygolub wrote:Is it possible to turn Queen Anne style legs using the lathe duplicator? My wife loves the style, and I thought I might buy one leg and try to duplicate it that way.
Anyone know of any web sites that have tutorials/videos for wood turning?

Thanks for any replies !!

Hi Kenny! Happy Easter!! Since you said you would like any replies, here's one that agrees with Doc's first sentence. "Wow!....".

My very first project with my new Mark V was a couch table with Queen Anne or Cabriole legs. I still don't think I have the skills, 10 years later, to try turning identical legs! I used the band saw to cut out the legs. First sawing one side, taping the cutoffs back on to the piece and sawing the second side. This is done using the same procedure that Nick showed (Sawdust Sessions) for sawing out the reindeer! The method may also be in PTWFE. In my case the legs extend from the table top to the floor. There is a seperate piece that fits between the leg and the aprons. It was doweled to the leg and then shaped.

[ATTACH]1148[/ATTACH]

The bandsaw method is a lot simpler for me than turning. After bandsawing, all you need is a rasp and some sandpaper. The bandsaw is only about $40 more than the lathe duplicator, but much more useful.

nuhobby · Post by **nuhobby** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 8:34 pm

Chuck,

Awesome table with great legs! This befits the forum's need for more photos too....
Tell us a little more on the top of that table too!

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:48 am

You do great work Chuck!

kennygolub · Post by **kennygolub** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:01 am

Thanks to everyone for the reply's. It helped a great deal in making a decision.
Chuck.... that's a beautiful piece of furniture. I don't think I could build anything that nice.

greitz · Post by **greitz** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:23 pm

Chuck- Beautiful table! You're an inspiration to us all.

Gary

Greenvilleguy · Post by **Greenvilleguy** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:47 pm

I have been watching this string with interest since I have some cabriolet legs to make.

I was expecting someone to chime in with the difference between turned legs and band saw cut legs. It has always seemed to me that the turned legs are not as "pronounced" and don't have the same graceful curves. I've thought of turned legs as faux cabriolet legs.

Is this correct? Has anyone actually turned legs that look as graceful as the ones Charles did? With all due respect to Nick, turning the legs is a great idea and would work on some projects, but his aren't nearly as nice as Charles'.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:07 am

Just for the record, folks, you cannot turn Queen Anne or true cabriole legs. They must either be carved or shaped with a tool that allows compound cutting, such as the band saw. "Turned" cabriole legs are not even a true cabriole or "cyma" shape. If you're curious about the technique for making true cabriole legs, I'd be glad to cover it in a Sawdust Session -- it's actually pretty simple. If you'd rather not wait for a sawdust session. you can find the technique on page 78 through 82 of "Using the Band Saw" by Nick Engler (part of the Workshop Companion series). There is also an abbreviated version on page 207 of "Woodworking Wisdom" by the same author.

With all good wishes,

Shopsmith Forums

Turning Queen Anne Legs

Turning Queen Anne Legs

Chuck's table