Turning laminated legs

[Brian Kent]

I will soon build a white oak high chair with 1.5" thick turned legs. I have 4/4 and 8/4 stock. They recommend starting with 2.5" stock and turning down to 1.5". I assume this will work fine as far as strength. Let me know if I am wrong.

For strength and appearance I could laminate 3 pieces of 4/4 to have a solid piece in the center. Or I could put 8/4 in the center and 4/4 on each side, so I can have a thicker core.

My first grandson is due in a week and he won't be able to use a high chair quite yet, so I have a little building time. I would like to use this over the years for any number of future grandkids, so durability is the most important.

Thanks

[Robert McGowen]

Perhaps I am missing something, but even though they RECOMMEND starting with 2.5" stock, that certainly seems like over-kill. Why can't you use the 8/4, make sure you center it accurately, and easily end up with a 1.5" turning?

[Jim Underwood]

Not sure why you'd need to start with 2-1/2" and turn away a whole inch. Especially if it's kiln dried lumber.... Many legs I've turned I laminated only about 1/4-1/2" big and have sawn/jointed down to size for the square ends, then turned it from there.

Course some folks may know better than I...

[Rob Price]

I'd go with the 8/4 and skip the glue-up if your finished leg is 1.5"

[Brian Kent]

Sounds reasonable and preferable to me. Thanks, guys.

[Sam Layton]

Hi Brian,

Each family gets their own... I have built two cradles to date. That's it for me.

Sam

[Curt Fuller]

I'm certainly not an expert but I seem to remember that laminated wood is more stable than solid wood for something like chair legs. I've never done a high chair but I turned a couple coat rack/ hall tree things from red oak. I laminated 4/4 lumber and with the grain in the oak the laminations aren't bad looking at all. But I think, even with kiln dried wood, you would have a more stable leg from two 4/4 pieces glued together than one solid 8/4 piece. But I could be wrong.

[Michelle Rich]

If you are using 8/4 kiln dried, it will be 1 3/4 to start and 1.5 will be easy to get. White/red oak with very straight grain, will be adequate as legs for small light children. I would make sure the wood has no cracks, knots, etc. Because the highchair is tall, make sure you get enuf flair of the legs!!! too easy for kids to tip!

[Brian Kent]

Thank you Michelle. I got 4 straight grained knot free blanks out of my stock. 1-3/4" square. Wide flair.

Here is the picture of the plan I am using:
http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2080517/29587/Kaliahs-Highchair-Plan-AFD-229.aspx

[Jim Underwood]

We wanna see pictures when it's done!