How to make a claw foot leg?

[Josh Goldsmith]

I want to learn how to make claw feet legs. I have a slight idea how to carve the claw but haven't actually tried it cause i don't want to waist wood until i talk to you guys. Is there any tutorials out there, or has someone here taking pics of there work and could help walk me through this. Thanks Josh

[Tyler Howell]

Josh,
Can you find a class or SMC mentor in you area??? I find the class room environment very stimulating and have advanced several levels learning a skill with the guidance of a pro and support of fellow classmates.;)

[Carl Eyman]

Josh, before I tried making the dining table I did I learned a lot from Ron Clarkson's book (written with a co-author) on making a Chippendale Tea Table. It has over 400 fotos and very detailed instructions. He also wrote a book about making a Chipendale Chair - again very detailed and many pictures. While he shows pictures of the ball & claw foot in the chair book, most pictures deal with a hairy lion's paw. So on the chairs I got Taunton's video with Phillip Lowe who is a great teacher. It is a very good step by step learning aid. If you want to see the results, take a kook at www.eyman.org/furniture. If I can be of further help let me know. For instance, you might want to know what carving tools I used. It sounds like I'm trying to sound like an expert, but I'm not. It's just I did these as my first experience i9n b&c carving; so the questions I had are pretty fresh in my mind.

[Richard Wolf]

I have also seen Phil Lowe's video on craving a ball and claw foot, and was impressed with the instructional quality of it. If you plan on doing this, it seems a nessesary resource.

Carl- That's a pretty impressive collection of period furniture you have there.

Richard

[Clint Malone]

Sorry for the direct link; there is a post on woodnet from 5/14/05 by John Fry that describes in detail how to make one. Hope it helps.