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The Woodworking Life

Segmented Turned Feet are Easier than You Think

Dennis Zongker, contributor

138 users recommend

1) Layout

2) Gluing

3) Clamp Up

4) Tap out

5) Set Up

6) Rubber Band Clamp

7) Roughing Cut

8) Marking for parting Knife, For depth cuts

9) Parting Cut

10) Smoothing out depth cuts

11) Tenon Cut

12) Finished Foot

1) Layout

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Here's an interesting way to spice up a conventional foot design. While it'll take a bit of time, it's well worth the effort. Keep in mind that segmented turning can open up a whole new avenue of creativity if you just give it a chance.

More Turning Tips & Tricks • Segmented Turning  • Introduction to Faceplate Turning  • Turn a Pad Foot Leg  • Period Furniture Details Video SeriesÂ

Each foot on this piece of furniture is composed of eight pieces of flame birch, and eight pieces of Macassar ebony. By making a template to glue up one foot at a time, the angle comes out to 22.5 degrees. After the initial glue-up of each segment, I clamp the entire unit together using nothing more than simple rubber bands-it really is amazing, how strong they are for clamping! Turning on the lathe-the best part of the process-was next. 

When I was younger, I was addicted to turning on a lathe. Now I think I'm addicted to all kinds of woodworking. At least it keeps me out of trouble. Thanks for looking, and happy woodworking

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Comments (9)

Randall456 writes: I love segmented turning. I just wish I was better at it.
Posted: 6:49 am on July 3rd

DennisZongker writes: Hi North49th, I should have put down the cutting angle, The angle for cutting is 22.5 degrees. So with 8 legs x 16 sides = 360 degrees. The template and the legs are booth cut at a 22.5 degrees.


Posted: 7:29 pm on March 28th

North49th writes: Beautiful work and a very creative idea to apply segmented turning to furniture legs. One question - is the correct angle 22.5 or 45°?
Posted: 5:00 pm on March 28th

DennisZongker writes: Thank you fellow woodworkers for the complements,

yoav_liberman, I would ask Ed Pirnik or Gina Eide on how to save it. They are the web editors and producers.

stikk, I should be done with the music box in about a month or so and will show the pictures. Thank you.
Posted: 6:52 pm on March 27th

stikk writes: Dennis beautiful peice of work could you please post a picture of the completed peice?

Thanks Kev!
Posted: 3:05 pm on March 27th

yoav_liberman writes: Who can I add this e-article to the saved content in my Favorite page?
Posted: 3:35 am on March 23rd

4545 writes: Amazing.
Posted: 11:50 am on March 20th

cwelte writes: I'm really impressed; great work!
Posted: 2:21 pm on March 18th

CMaxNavy writes: This is the type of superb craftsmanship that those of us who follow Dennis' work have come to know and expect. Dennis' uncanny ability to create simplicity out of the complex is noteworthy. Thanks for posting! Max
Posted: 9:40 am on March 18th

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