Period Furniture Details
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: Create Patterns for a Cabriole Leg Learn the history and anatomy of the cabriole leg, and get started producing the patterns for cutting and shaping.
	Watch it Now: Turn the Pad Foot We head to the lathe in this episode to go step by step through the process of turning the pad foot for a cabriole leg.
	Watch it Now: Rough Shape on the Bandsaw Use the plan and pattern templates to rough shape the curves of the cabriole leg on the bandsaw.
	Watch it Now: Fair the Rough Curves with Hand Tools Clean up the rough-sawn curves from the bandsaw with a spokeshave, scrapers, chisels, files, and rasps.
PART TWO: Make a Flame Finial Learn how to turn and carve a flame finial. This series covers turning on the rough shape on the lathe, layout, and carving.
	Watch it Now: Make a Flame Finial Watch a step-by-step demonstration on making this elegant swirl. Lowe simplifies the process by breaking down a complex-looking carving into a series of manageable steps.
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 designed by Lowe for the cabriole leg detailed in the first part of this video series..

Download a PDF plan of the flame finial from part two in this series.

Download a PDF plan of the Sheraton-style leg from part three in 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

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