Shaping some cabriole legs for dining table. 29 inches in length. Cherry. Enjoying plenty of hand tools, including spokeshaves, rasps, files and card scrapers.
mortise.jpgshaping leg.jpglegs.jpglegs.jpg
[OP]
Contributor
Shaping some cabriole legs for dining table. 29 inches in length. Cherry. Enjoying plenty of hand tools, including spokeshaves, rasps, files and card scrapers.
mortise.jpgshaping leg.jpglegs.jpglegs.jpg
Friend of the Creek
Great work, Mark. I’m so jealous every time I see a spokeshave at work. Love that tool. I’d be thoroughly happy shaving a 2x4 down to a toothpick. Look forward to seeing the rest of the build. Please share when you can.
Contributor
If work can be called fun then it appears ass though you are having it. Thanks for the pix.
[OP]
Contributor
Thanks for the comments Phil & Curt. Love to release tension wacking my Sorby mortise chisel.
Contributor
I agree with everyone else - that sure looks like fun.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
“If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.”
Moderator
Cabriole legs ARE fun most of the time. But a warning, making a set in Tiger Maple takes 4-5 times as long as in any non-figured wood. The reversing grain makes it tough to get a smooth unrippled finish.
Dave Anderson
Chester, NH
[OP]
Contributor
Dave, I’m sure that figured grain was challenging - but you did a beautiful job!
[OP]
Contributor
Sometimes it feels good not to use power.Originally Posted by Frederick Skelly
That's fantastic work and I'm envious of your work ethic to get them done. I've gotten lazy over the years and I have to have cabriole legs,I'm ordering from Adams. I do still make Goats' legs but after doing some in Cherry and sanding being so long, I'm now going to stick with tapered unless I call Adams.
[OP]
Contributor
Thanks Don - shaping the legs can be a workout. I check out Adams site - they do have a nice selection.
Contributor
Beautiful work AND looks like fun....I too love spokeshaves..Fun to use when sharp and fine tuned....
Jerry
[OP]
Contributor
Very true Jerry, the spokeshaves work much better with a very sharp blade.
Mark I really enjoy your work thanks again for posting.
Cabriole legs are one of my favorite furniture elements and also one of the most troubling for me to design/layout. My experiences getting the curves even slightly "wrong" always looks intuitively off somehow in the final result. Goodness knows I've ruined some pieces I otherwise enjoy by not quite getting the cabriole leg curve correct.
Are there any design proportion/rules of thumb, online available templates or examples etc. that you find particularly helpful?
Thanks for sharing, Mike
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