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Roger Ballou writes:
I have a sofa table which is missing the molding on both ends. Each of them
is 15/16" in diameter by 17". It appears that the original was turned on a
lathe, cut about every 1 1/2" with a cutoff tool to a depth of about 1/8"
then ripped in half.
I can turn the pieces from square stock or a dowel and make the decorative
cuts with a cutoff tool. But I don't know how to cut it down the middle.
I'd make a mess of it if I tried to slice it with my cheap little Delta
bandsaw so I'm left to do it with my Ridgid contractor table saw.
I considered turning it from square stock leaving a square at each end and
in the middle separating the two 17" pieces so I could guide the square
section against the fence but my lathe will only accommodate 36" and I'd
need at least 40" (2+17+2+17+2=40).
So I guess I'm left with fabricating a jig to hold the turned pieces while
guiding it along the table saw fence.
Is that what I should do? If so, what should be the design of the jig?
Roger Ballou
Arlington, Texas
Many thanks for all your suggestions. I decided to use the split turning
method. I cut a blank about 1 1/2" square and ripped it down the middle.
The yellow glued the pieces back together separated by a strip from a brown
kraft paper bag and clamped over night.
Next day I ripped the edges to make it square again, determined the center
on each end and drilled a pilot hole so the lathe would not tend to split my
blank.
I turned it to 15/16" checking with an open end wrench, marked in pencil
where the decorative cuts would be then made the cuts with my parting tool.
Next I carefully separated the pieces by tapping a chisel down along the
glue line and it slowly separated.
The result is two pieces just the way I wanted them. Now I have to trim and
fit, and finish to match.
Many thanks for your excellent suggestions. I've attached an image of the
completed turnings.
Roger Ballou
Arlington, TX
