Pattern for ball and claw legs

Re: Pattern for ball and claw legs

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>Somebody has some somewhere. I remember on Badger Pond somebody posted plans. I'll dig around and see what I can find.

Re: Pattern for ball and claw legs *LINK*

GolfSteve in Calgary

>The Woodworking Australia Forum has a good thread in it's carving section on Ball and Claw feet. There's no patterns, but there is a link to an article and a good picture of three different legs.


Aussie Ball and Claw Legs

Re: Pattern for ball and claw legs

Todd from San Jose

>Scott,

Thanks, I would really appreciate it if you find something. I browsed BP and couldn't find anything.

Todd

Re: Pattern for ball and claw legs

Todd from San Jose

>Thanks for the link down under, Steve. Looks like there are some great pieces being crafted there.

Todd

Re: Pattern for ball and claw legs

Tony - Memphis

>There are many patterns in the 18th century furniture books. I think there have been a few in FWW. Check the chippendale stool article by Randall Odonnel (spell?). Most of what you will find will be the pattern for the rough blank. I have a print from the class I took with Phil, but it is really for a stool. Phil sells plans,so you might get something there too. Another source is the SAPFM web site. I'm a big fan of that sort of stuff (Not a good executor yet though!), so if there is a specific source I can help you with, just holler. I think Jeff Green's book may have some patterns too. Carlyle Lynch's plans probably have a plan for a couple of B&C's included with some of them. They are available online.

Tony

Re: Pattern for ball and claw legs

Todd from San Jose

>Thanks for the heads up on Phil's plans, I didn't know he sold them. I'm thinking about ordering the Chippendale Tea Table plan, as it looks like it has ball and claw legs about the same size as the Lowboy I'm making. I'm sure I can scale it a bit as necessary.

Todd

Re: Pattern for ball and claw legs

Vic P

>Taunton's Complete Illistrated Guide to Period Furniture Detail (availabel on line at Taunton.com) see pages page 47-49. Nice pictures and explanations. Or you could do what Norm does... order some from a buddy in the business..;>)

Re: Pattern for ball and claw legs

William Duffield on the Cohansey

>Tea tables, whose legs are often made from 10/4 stock, usually have smaller claws than dressing tables and chests on frame, whose legs are usually carved from 12/4 stock. Chair claws are often even a little larger than chest claws. If you were building a writing table or a dining table, then you might even use 16/4 stock for the legs, with even larger claws.

Then there is the issue of the style of claw and ball you want to replicate. There are immediately recognizable stylistic differences between Philadelphia, Newport, New York, Connecticut and Boston feet, not to mention feet carved in England and Ireland.

Re: Pattern for ball and claw legs

Todd from San Jose

>Thanks for the heads up on the tea table's claws being the wrong size for my lowboy.

I am going to try Philidelphia style, because it appears simpler for the beginner than some of the others (at least I think it's Philidelphia, it's the one that is carved in Phil Lowe's video).

I finally decided to design my own, using Phil's video as a rough guideline. I've already bandsawed some basswood into the rough shape, and I'm ready to start spokeshaving, rasping and then carving. If I get confident enough, I'll graduate to african mahogany and make the actual legs for the lowboy. But while I practice on the basswood, I'm keeping my eyes open for the right template for my furniture.

-Todd

Re: Pattern for ball and claw legs *LINK*

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>You may also want to view the Mack Headley video from Colonial Williamsburg, called "The Cabinetmaker".


Headley video

Why the Headley video?

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>Oh, yeah, might help if I mentioned why. In his video he explains the proportions, which are primarily 17th century architectural. The leg would be 8 equal portions high, the smallest thickness is 2 segments from the foot, etc. Plans? We don't need no stinking plans.... :)

Pam