Carve a Flame Finial
with Philip C. Lowe

Philip C. Lowe got his first taste of woodworking while serving in the Navy, and he's been a professional since 1968. Lowe owns and operates the Furniture Institute of Massachusetts.

To learn more about the author, watch our video Q&A with Lowe from his workshop. Watch it now

Videos in This Series

PART ONE: Make a Cabriole Leg Learn how to make this quintessential Queen Anne leg. This series covers turning a pad foot with minimal tooling. Rough out the leg shape. And fairing the leg to completion with hand tools.
	Watch it Now: Make a Story Stick Use a story stick for easy and accurate layout
	Watch it Now: Turn the Base Turn the urn-shaped base and rough out the flame finial shape.
	Watch it Now: Carve the Corkscrew Layout and carve a soft-serve like swirl. Use the lathe to hold the workpiece down.
	Watch it Now: Make an Indexing Wheel Get tips on making a shopmade indexing wheel for your lathe. Use it for laying out and carving projects like a flame finial or Sheraton-style leg.
MORE FROM THIS SERIES: Make a Cabriole Leg Learn how to turn and carve a cabriole leg. This series covers turning on the rough shape on the lathe, layout, and carving.
	WATCH IT NOW: Make a Cabriole Leg Learn how to make this quintessential Queen Anne leg. This series covers turning a pad foot with minimal tooling. Rough out the leg shape. And fairing the leg to completion with hand tools.
PART THREE: Make a Sheraton-Style Leg Learn how to turn and carve a Sheraton-style leg. This series covers turning on the rough shape on the lathe, layout, and carving.
	WATCH IT NOW: Make a Sheraton-Style Leg Watch how to make this classic Sheraton leg with reeding. Lowe shares tips for easy and accurate layout. He also uses a shopmade scratch stock for speedy reed carving with a simple scratch stock.
Each workshop contains more than an hour of how-to instruction with expert furniture makers Select a Workshop... Getting Started in Woodworking Getting Started in Woodworking: Season 2 Basic Box-Making Build an Arts and Crafts Dining Table Build a Bookcase Build a Box Build a Classic Cherry Bookcase Build an Elegant Dining Chair Build an Entertainment Center Build a Garden Bench Build a Guitar Build a Hanging Wall Cabinet Build a Mission-Style Bed Build a Monster Workbench Build a Morris Chair Build a Picture Frame Build a Roubo Workbench Build a Router Table Build a Small Cabinet Build a Step Stool Build a Tool Cabinet Build a Trestle Table Build a Walnut Entertainment Center Carve a Flame Finial Carve a Sheraton Leg Dovetail Techniques Elegant Side Table Make a Cabriole Leg Shaker Chimney Cupboard

Download a PDF plan of the flame finial for this series.

Download a PDF plan of the cabriole leg from this series.

Download a PDF plan of the Sheraton-style leg from this series.

MORE FURNITURE PROJECTS
iN THE PERIOD STYLE

Browse FineWoodworking.com's collection of articles, videos, and project plans, related to Period Furniture and Furniture Leg. Highlights include:

The High Art of the Lowboy
by Philip C. Lowe
Elevate your skills with a regal case piece

Porringer-Top Tea Table
by Dan Faia
Hand-shaped cabriole legs lend grace to a versatile period piece

Federal Card Table
by Steve Latta
A folding top, gate legs, and a curved apron distinguish this piece

Tilt-Top Tea Table
by Mario Rodriguez
Elegant project builds hand-tool and machine skills

SHOP THE STORE

Have you built period furniture that incorporates a cabriole leg, flame finial, or Sheraton-style leg? Post your photos in our online Readers Gallery.