Staved Columns - Made Any?

[Matt Hutchinson]

So, I am interested in making some staved columns as prototypes to get experience. I'm wondering if any of y'all have made one before, and if so, how you cut and assembled the glue-up. Also, wondering if the joints could be made using a power feeder on a tablesaw, assuming the angle was set accurately enough.

Thanks!

Hutch

[Greg Just]

Matt:

What diameter and length are you considering? I make my coffee travel mugs with staved construction, but they are only about 4 inches in diameter and 6 inches tall. I use thick rubberbands as clamps to hold them together during the glue-up and drying process.

Greg

[Dennis Ford]

I have made some short ones (turned them into cookie jars). I cut the angles on a table saw. I laid the pieces out flat, put packing tape across the joints then turned them over and added glue. It was pretty easy to roll them up using the packing tape for clamping. For a real column (long) I think some biscuits would help maintain alignment during glue up.

[Harry Hagan]

http://www.woodturner.org/products/aw/articles/StavedJig.pdf

[Mark Hubl]

http://www.woodturner.org/products/aw/articles/StavedJig.pdf

Here is a link to some video clips from Tim Yoder's episode on staved vessels. He worked with Bob Fulton in Bob's shop. Bob is the author of the article Harry has the link to.

http://www.finewoodworking.com/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesArticle.aspx?id=30742

[Quinn McCarthy]

I bought a birds mouth router bit from magnate and used it in the shaper. I ran the boards through after I cut them. You end up with kind of a V groove for the neighboriing board to sit in. THere is just about no sliding around when you clamp it. I used ratcheting clamps for the glue up. The column was extremely strong. I turned a piece of MDF for each end that just fit on the inside of the column and glued srewed that in place. I turned one with a face plate on and used that more the head stock end. Moved the tail stock up to the center of the other piece and turned it true. The first one I tried was a little off center. Not fun. My lathe was doing the jig.

Hope that helps.

Quinn

[Matt Hutchinson]

Thanks for the responses guys! Here's my concern: If I run the staves on a tablesaw, if the stave comes off the fence at all it will create a fat glue line or gap in the joinery. I am first gonna try using featherboards, and if that don't work I'll invest in a power feeder.

I haven't tried anything yet, just trying to do a little ground work. I want to attempt a 4' long column first, then once I get one completed to my standards, go for a 7" column. The joinery method were really my biggest question. I have been doing some searches, and there's about 4 which all seem feasible.

Anywho, my goal is to be able to make a few and develop efficiency in the operations, then go to builders and millwork shops in hopes of getting architectural work.

Hutch

P.S. The staved vessel jig from the Woodturning Workshop is pretty cool. I buddy and I are in the process of making one together. That was one of my favorite episodes, and I can't wait to try it out!

[Richard Madison]

Matt,
Might try featherboard(s) on the side and maybe build a "hold-down" device also. Consider making staves with one square edge and one angled edge. Glue up to half columns and run them over the jointer to get straight, flat surfaces to glue to the full column. I would try several things before spending $$ on a power feeder, since you don't have a guaranteed market at this point.

Also consider "roughing" the staves on the tablesaw and then finish cut the joint surfaces on the jointer to get them straight and flat.

[Bob Hamilton]

As Richard said, I would dress and fine tune the table saw cuts on the jointer. My staved project was not a column but a tapered lighthouse base. I used a set-up tool I got from Lee Valley, the Veritas Poly Gauge http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=32521&cat=1,43513
to set my jointer fence tilt and the angles were spot on the first try.

Good Luck!
Bob

Oh, the lighthouse turned out okay :)

http://www.bobhamswwing.com/justpics/lhdone.jpg

42" tall overall.

[Quinn McCarthy]

Here is a web site I found helpful.

http://www.bigtreeturnings.com/articles/columns.html

Hope that helps

Quinn

[Matt Hutchinson]

Thanks for the link! I have been to that site before, but I guess I didn't have it bookmarked. Some good info there!

Well, in a month or two I hope to have a column to show y'all. Thanks!

Hutch

[Grant Wilkinson]

I've worked part time for a buddy whose business is turning columns. We cut the staves on a table saw. No jig, just tilt the blade. We've made up a table with "holders" at each end. They are simply plywood cut into steps that hold the staves in place. We roll titebond III onto the staves, then place them in the holders. These columns run anywhere from 4 to 8 feet. We hold them together with steel bands until the glue sets up. It's quick and works very well.

[Matt Hutchinson]

I guess I am having trouble envisioning what you mean about the holders. Any chance you could make a quick drawing to illustrate? Thanks!

Hutch