How to make curly legs. Wooden carved legs Accessories for making chairs with cabriole legs

How to do curly legs cabinet, using only four tools and very simple tricks, while giving the legs of the cabinet an elegant shape.

You think that making curly cabriole legs is not available for beginners, but there is easy way making front legs bookcase. simple technology allows you to quickly make legs using only a band and hand saw, a rasp and a file, even without experience, you can and will learn how to make curly legs.

For best results, use a hard, dense wood such as cherry, walnut, or mahogany. After sawing out the shape of the leg on a band saw, for rough processing use a semi-circular rasp with notches made by hand, not by machine.

And although both rasps are equally good at removing material, the arbitrary arrangement of the teeth of the rasp self made leaves much more smooth surface on the parts, which in the future will require less effort during the final grinding. The notch teeth of this rasp vibrate less, removing material evenly and leaving the smoothest surface.

If this is your first time making curly legs, practice rounding the edges and processing shapes on a piece of similar wood and get the first skills in working with a rasp. By learning how to control the work of the rasp, you will be ready to make curly legs. To make the front leg F of the bookcase, prepare a glued wooden blank, from which you will make an elegant leg, following the advice.

Make a template and draw the shape of the leg

Step 1. Cut a piece of cardboard measuring 57 x 229 mm, from which you will then make a template for marking the shape of the leg. Draw the profile of the leg on paper and glue the drawing to the cardboard. With a sharp knife cut out the template along the outline of the pattern.

For right leg lay the cardboard template pattern side up on the side of the workpiece, aligning it with the edges and bottom of the thickened part, and trace around the outline with a pencil. Turn the workpiece with the front side up, turn the template over with the pattern down on the front edge of the thickened part of the workpiece and circle it again (photo 1).

For left leg put the template with the pattern up on the front thickened part of the workpiece, aligning it with the edges and the lower end of the future leg, and circle the contour with a pencil. Then turn the workpiece side up, place the cardboard template on it with the pattern down, aligning it, and trace the outline again.

Cut the leg in a simple sequence

Step 2 Set to band saw saw blade 6 mm wide and cut 1 along the side and then along the front side of the workpiece to remove material between the top and leg post.

Step 3 Make cut 2 along the side of the workpiece, removing material between the base and the top curve of the leg. Save the cut. Do not cut 2 on the front side until step 6 is completed!

Step 4 Cut 3 along the side of the workpiece, removing material between the top curve and the top of the leg. Save the cut again.

Step 5 Tape the scraps from steps 3 and 4 in place with double-sided tape.

Step 6 Repeat steps 3 and 4 on the front of the leg. Remove clippings.

Step 7 Mark on the end of the leg the place of the thrust bearing with a diameter of 25 mm, making two straight cuts: cut 4 4-5 mm long on the front and side sides of the leg.

Step 8 Lay the workpiece face up and cut 5 from the top corner of the base to the straight cut of the heel, removing the bottom of the base with inside. Then turn the workpiece side up and repeat the cut, removing the bottom of the base from the back side. Now make 6 cuts to remove the rest of the base. After making the first cut 6, stick the cut piece in place with double-sided tape to make the second cut 6. Remove the cut pieces.

Rasp, file and sanding paper give the leg a smooth and smooth shape .

Step 9 To prevent accidental damage to the upper part of the leg when working with a rasp and file, wrap the area adjacent to the curly part with several layers of masking tape. Then, on each of the four sides, draw a center line from the top of the curve to the top of the base.

Step 10 Clamp the leg in a vise. Working with the flat side of the semi-circular rasp, round off the sharp ribs between the marked center lines in an arcing motion, leading the rasp from the top of the stem to the base, where the shape goes from convex to concave. Round the edges to the center lines. If you accidentally delete one of the lines, draw it again. Don't worry about the rasp marks, they will disappear later.

Step 11 Now go to work with the semi-circular side of the rasp. Finish processing the ribs at the base of the leg by guiding the tool from bottom to top. Repeat steps 10 and 11 to round the remaining edges of the leg.

Step 12 In the center of the lower end of the leg, draw a circle with a diameter of 25 mm. To cut the corners of the base, make cuts 4-5 mm deep around the thrust bearing marked at the end of the leg with a fine-toothed hand saw. Try not to let the cuts reach the base of the leg. Then make cross cuts from the side of the corners of the base, removing triangular trims.

Step 13 Using a rectangular file, round off the edges of the heel.

Step 14 Take the rasp again and use the flat side to round off any remaining corners and edges between the center lines. Turn the base to a circle with a diameter of about 57 mm. You can check the correctness of the circle by setting the compass to the center of the thrust bearing.

Step 15 To complete the formation of the base, draw a line around it at a distance of 25 mm from the end of the thrust bearing.

Step 16 With the flat side of the rasp, round off all the corners of the base between the marked line and the heel, smoothing out any irregularities. smooth transitions to give the bottom of the base a rounded shape.

Step 17 To shape the top of the base, with the convex side of the rasp, smooth out any irregularities from the bottom curve to the line you drew, forming a clear border between the top and bottom of the base.

Step 18 Finally, check visually and to the touch for irregularities, edges or rough marks left by the rasp. Smooth out the surface of the leg with light strokes of the rasp. Then sand the leg. Start sanding with 80-grit sandpaper, which will quickly remove rasp marks, and then work successively with 120, 150, 180, and 220-grit sandpaper. Now paint the finished elegant masterpiece with stain and cover clear varnish by your own choice.

The stability and quality of manufacturing of fittings always determine the reliability furniture products, wooden legs for furniture are one such indicator. These fixtures are made from various types of wood, have a variety of designs and styles. To determine whether the selected product is reliable, you should study the types of elements in more detail.

In addition to supporting and aesthetic function, the legs can also be adjusted, thereby allowing the furniture to move around the room. They also give the furniture a finished look. Everything wooden poles can be classified according to 2 main features:

according to the method of manufacture;
in form and style.

It is worth considering the issue of the species diversity of the legs more carefully, so that in the future you can choose the option suitable for the house.

According to the manufacturing method

Depending on how furniture support elements are produced, they can be divided into the following classes:

turned fixtures;
milled options;
carved support devices for furniture.

For the manufacture of products, appropriate machines are used that give the tree a shape and endow it with decorative elements. Legs of different production methods are used in various types furniture.

Turned

Such devices are manufactured lathe by cutting blanks. The base for the support is fixed on the unit, which rotates around its axis with high speed, at the same time the device grinds a given shape out of it.

The master can give the product a figured silhouette with the help of special chisels that are connected to the machine. The lines in such products are smooth, curved. Turned type furniture legs are used to complete tables, chairs, stools, flower stands. Models have a number of advantages:

affordable price of products;
simplicity of form and ease of manufacture;
a variety of types: cone-shaped, in the form of a drop, cylindrical and spherical models make turned legs popular.

On the upholstered furniture such variations are practically not used: in order to see the beauty of the legs, it must be long, which is not acceptable for sofas and beds.

Production of products by milling

No less original supports are made using wood milling. Thanks to this technique, stylish and functional devices for furniture are obtained. The essence of the technology is as follows:

the material is installed on a special milling machine;
a drawing is entered into the CNC program, according to which cutting is carried out;
the machine processes the wood, making decor on it exactly according to the pattern.

Thus, one can get beautiful product, devoid of chips, unwanted holes. This method is beneficial in the case of the use of precious woods, when accuracy and precision are the main fundamentals of the work.

carved

The appearance of wooden legs for carved furniture is considered the most attractive. Previously, only manual labor was used to achieve such beauty. Today, it has been replaced by multi-axis milling machines, which make it possible to make a model in a short period of time.

Handwork has always been highly valued, therefore, carved legs made using hand-cut decor will have high cost. Such products are characterized by curls, complex ornaments and elegant forms. Carved legs are used for the following types of furniture:

chairs;
tables;
beds;
chests of drawers, cabinets;
banquettes.

Carved legs are always exclusive, they are more suitable for luxury classic interiors such as Rococo or Empire.

In form and style

Among the huge variety of geometric shapes and styles of models, the main ones that are popular today should be highlighted:

cabriole legs - they are distinguished by a double bend;
Empire products - characterized by the presence of antique motifs;
legs in style Victorian era – main feature in an elongated shape and the presence of a floral pattern;
various geometric shapes- the presence of an element of a certain geometry on the support;
combination of styles - a combination of strict figures with ornaments.

Let's look at each type in more detail. furniture supports.

Cabriole

Cabrioles are called legs with a double bend. In the manufacture of such models, there is one characteristic: the curved line of the leg first bends in one direction, and after a while the second, but in the other direction.

Such an elegant leg is made from solid wood by working on a machine. In addition, the product can be made by yourself using hand saw and related tools. It will take a lot of time to work, but the result will exceed all expectations.

The cabriole is characterized by rounded shapes, and the style itself is attributed to the 18th century, when furniture finished in this way was considered a sign of wealth.

Empire

Such models are represented by wooden blanks depicting sphinxes, griffins, lion heads and paws. Empire refers to ancient times, when the legs themselves were made in the form of the paws of revered animals. Today, the variety is represented by products with embossed ornaments that fit perfectly into the interior of a classic style.

The Empire style is characterized by the borrowing of ancient forms, so the tree for the products is chosen dense so that when working with it there are no chips. Here, beech, pine and ash have proven themselves well.

Victorian classic

Victorian-style carved legs are very popular among hobbyists. classic furniture. They are used for cabinets, chests of drawers, beds, miniature tables. The legs are characterized by the following features:

symmetry of the ornament;
elongated forms;
curved and straight lines;
massiveness;
the use of only valuable species of wood;
the use of gilding in the decoration of the legs.

Wooden supports with expensive decor are often used for furniture such as soft sofa, armchairs and chairs.

geometric shapes

These options are used in modern design furniture. They are represented by products in the form of a ball, cube, cone and others, geometrically correct figures. They well complement the furniture in the interior of minimalism, hi-tech and other modern styles.

The peculiarity of manufacturing lies in relative simplicity - there is no need to cut out ornaments, patterns, complex drawings. The highlight of the support is its unpretentiousness, therefore such models are produced on a large scale on furniture factories. They also have an affordable cost.

Combining styles

Another type of furniture supports is their design using a combination of several styles. Such a unison can be made up of models that externally have a shape with curved lines, but at the same time, an element in the form of a ball is placed in the center of the leg. In the assortment of ready-made variations, you can find carved legs with an ornament that is combined with the usual geometric shape.

Products can be made from wood with your own hands, for this you will need special cutters. You can process the blanks in special workshops, and then cut out the necessary pattern yourself. Thus, you will get stylish options individually designed, which perfectly complement the pieces of furniture.

Manufacturing materials

For the production of furniture supports today, not only valuable tree species are used, but also those that are used to make the corresponding furniture:

oak is a high-strength and technological material, which is why it is popular in furniture factories. It is not affected by temperature changes, humidity, it is not prone to putrefactive processes. The cost of products is rather big, in addition, special tools are used to carve such material;
walnut - refers to expensive types of raw materials. Walnut is easy to polish and does not absorb moisture;
ash - has a light structure, high strength and is not prone to cracking. The only negative is that the legs are processed special means against damage;
beech - not too resistant to moisture, but comparable in strength to oak, has a beautiful color;
wenge - refers to tropical wood and is resistant to mechanical damage;
Red tree - valuable species material that has high performance in any field. Mahogany supports are considered the most expensive and elite.

The furniture leg is one of essential elements products. When choosing the material and style of the model, pay attention to the quality of its execution, as well as the color, which should harmoniously match the existing furniture.

Recently, several bedside tables and a ladies' dressing table with crooked legs "Cabriol" were made. I thought that the reader would be interested in the manufacture of this element.

And so, on even bars, with a section of 40x40mm. (in the case of small legs) and a section of 50x50mm. (for large legs), we outline the outline of the leg according to the template, with a small allowance, about 1-2mm.I made the template from 6mm plywood. thickness, and the shape of the leg itself, for the manufacture of a template, was increased from the drawing - by printing in life size. We saw off the legs on a band saw.

Then, we mill the legs using pre-made templates. We used a special cutter that has many knives and a support bearing at the bottom. Resting the template in the bearing, we slowly guide the workpieces casually. For milling the legs, we used two templates - one for milling the concave sides, the other for the convex ones. The blanks are pressed tightly against the templates with special clamps.

Here, like this in a simple way we get four milled legs for bedside table. And quite quickly. Then the excess legs along the length are sawn off by trimming.

For the dressing table, the legs were made somewhat larger. Used templates over complex shape, but in general the legs were made according to a similar principle.

Then we saw off the excess legs along the length. Sawing large legs turned out to be more difficult, I had to press each workpiece with a clamp to the table in order to avoid skew.

OK it's all over Now. Our legs are ready. This method, of course, is not the best, but definitely the fastest, and if the shape of the legs is often repeated in your products, this method will save a lot of time. To clarify, we shot a small video of the milling process. Here it is.

Legs for furniture perform not only a practical supporting function, but also serve as an important decorative element. And probably the most beautiful quality material for the manufacture of furniture legs can be called natural wood. Special figured processing allows you to create exclusive carved wooden legs, thanks to which any furniture acquires a special elegance and originality.

Several options for wooden carved legs

Wooden legs for furniture are presented in large assortment, they differ in the method of manufacture, style, shape, size and type of wood. In many ways, these parameters determine the final price for finished goods. Also, when forming the cost, it matters whether the work will be standard or custom-made.

The most common are the following methods decorative processing furniture legs:

turning;
milling;
thread.

Turned furniture legs

The simplest and most inexpensive products are made by turning blanks on a lathe. The shape of the parts is given during the rotation of the fixed product on the machine.

Turned carved table legs

Basic tools used for turning curly surface on wooden legs - flat and semicircular chisels.

With the help of simple fixtures and without time-consuming work, you can make beautiful furniture legs with attractive smooth lines. processed wooden crafts can have a wide variety of geometric shapes. Most often these are cylindrical, cone-shaped, teardrop-shaped and spherical parts. Such products look very harmonious and at the same time their price is affordable for everyone.

Milled products

Original wooden legs for furniture are made by milling.

The process of manufacturing a milled leg

The basis for such products are already finished turned products. A chiseled part of a cylindrical, rectangular or other shape is additionally decorated with a variety of patterns, recesses, grooves and ornaments of a geometric type.

Works on the manufacture of decorative furniture legs are carried out on milling machines. Used as cutting tools a large number of various knives, cutters, disks and milling heads. Modern machines allow you to program products of any complexity. This allows you to significantly speed up productivity and reduce labor costs in the manufacture of parts.

Carved furniture legs

The most interesting and original are the carved legs. If earlier only manual labor was used for the manufacture of carved objects, now multi-axis milling machines are used. Although manual is still valued more. Unique furniture with carved legs compares favorably with other products and is considered an indicator of the special status of the owner.

Process hand made carved legs is very difficult and requires many tools and cutters of different configurations, as well as great experience and talent from the master.

If wooden carved legs made on expensive equipment, have a considerable cost, then handicrafts are sometimes valued on a par with works of art. The automated process of manufacturing carved legs involves the use of a copy-milling machine.