| Sculpted Pedestal Table -- Spiral Pedestal |
From "Wood Works"
episode WWK-402 |
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Spiral Pedestal
With the top pieces and crescent legs made, and the pedestal stock and joinery cut, work can begin on sculpting the spiral shape in the pedestal using hand-tools. Materials: Pedestal stock
Table router; 1-inch round-over bit
Die grinder
Carpenter's pencil
Safety glasses or goggles
Note: Cut sizes may vary. For exact measurements, please contact David Marks through his Web site -- information below under Resources. Safety Alert: Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses when working with wood, power-tools, saws, drills, routers, etc. Steps:
- Begin by making pencil-marks about 3-1/2 inches up from the top of the leg, and 3-1/2 inches down from the shoulder (figure A). The areas above and below these marks -- at either end of the pedestal -- will remain square.
- At the table-router, a 1-inch round-over bit is used to shape the area in-between the marks (figure B).
- Rounding down the corners of the pedestal (figure C) will help make the sculpting process easier. Because of the dense wood, the rounding is done in two passes.
- Next, lay out the marks to define the twist. Begin by drawing a center-line on each of the four sides. Then, slide in one leg (figure D), measure up 1-1/2 inches from the top of it and draw a line.
- Using that line as a reference, lay out and mark lines at 2-3/16 inch intervals up the pedestal face (figure E), stopping 1-1/2 inches below the tenon. Repeat this on all four sides.
- Starting at the corner, wind yellow tape around the pedestal, connecting the marks on all four sides. Repeat this process four times, winding four pieces of tape in a spiral pattern (figure F).
- Use a pencil to outline the edges of the tape (figure G). These spiral pencil-lines represent the high-points of the twist, and act as a guide for sculpting.
- With the lines defined, use a pneumatic die-grinder and 1-inch carbide ball-mill to carefully sculpt the twist based on your layout marks (figure H). The advantage to using a grinder like this is that it reduces the chance for chip-out since the ball-mill produces a grinding action rather than a cutting action.
- Tip: When hand-carving, it's necessary to always cut with the grain. But with a pneumatic grinder, you can sculpt in any direction without having to worry about chip-out
- Carefully stay between the lines as you sculpt to a depth of about 3/16-inch (figure I), avoiding carving through the pencil-lines. The motion used with the grinder is similar to erasing with a pencil.
- Once you're satisfied with the sculpting, use a pattern-maker's rasp to refine the inside of twist.
- Finally, smooth the inside of the twist using some 80-grit sandpaper attached to a dowel (figure J). Work your way through finer grades of sandpaper until you finish with 220-grit for a smooth surface.
The key to making a nice spiral-twist is to sculpt just a little at a time, and to take your time. Try to relax and enjoy the process. In the segment that follows, the pedestal-table is assembled.
Sponsored Resource
> Click here to order your tools and materials for this project from Woodcraft!
RESOURCES :
Fine Woodworking
A magazine devoted to high-quality craftsmanship in woodworking.
The Taunton Press Inc.
Website: www.taunton.com
The Small Wood Shop (The Best of Fine Woodworking)
Author: Helen Albert (Editor)
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 1561580619
Woodworking Techniques: Best Methods for Building Furniture from Fine Woodworking
Author: Editors of Fine Woodworking magazine
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 1561583456
Mastering Woodworking Machines (Fine Woodworking Book)
Author: Mark Duginske
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 0942391985
David Marks Website
David Marks, DIY's Wood Works host, is a master woodworker. For more information on cut sizes and project details, please contact him via his Website at www.djmarks.com
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