Cutting cabriole legs without bandsaw?

[Justin Green]

Ok, I've done some searching, but haven't seen a clear solution yet. How were cabriole legs cut before bandsaws?

I can look at the wood removed and imagine bow saw (giving me an excuse to hunt for one), but wanted to check if someone has experience with this and the recommended tools. My next project will include an attempt (four or more attempts, lol) at cabriole legs, and was curious.

I could imaging other ways to arrive at the curves, but would require a large amount of clean up.

[Fidel Fernandez]

This is one way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m67JNG3rASg

[Zach Dillinger]

Mack Headley shows one historic method using hand saws in the Colonial Williamsburg video entitled "The Cabinetmaker".

[Warren Mickley]

Yes, we use a turning saw to cut these curves.

Here is a cabriole leg that was made in Philadelphia in the 18th century.
willing leg.jpg

[Justin Green]

Fidel,

That is what I had considered doing given all my tools are geared for straight work. I had seen that done on a smaller scale for a lamb's tongue. More clean up than a bow saw it seems.

[Steve Voigt]

Mack Headley shows one historic method using hand saws in the Colonial Williamsburg video entitled "The Cabinetmaker".

Zach, I'm not finding a listing for that. Is the full title "The art and mystery of a cabinetmaker crafting a card table"?

I remember Bob R. talking about seeing the guys at Williamsburg do most of the work with a chisel, bevel down.

The kerfing method in the video looks awfully slow to me.

[Justin Green]

Will be searching for turning saw recommendations. I wonder if the 12" bow saw is large enough to cut curves in 12/4 stock?

[Tony Wilkins]

Look up Logan's Cabinet Shop on Youtube (or his blog) and you'll find him doing Cabrio legs on the Porriger (sp?) tea table series. Pretty good straight forward explanation.

[george wilson]

Real men chop them out with hatchets.

[Jessica Pierce-LaRose]

Look up Logan's Cabinet Shop on Youtube (or his blog) and you'll find him doing Cabrio legs on the Porriger (sp?) tea table series. Pretty good straight forward explanation.

This video particularly picks up on the leg shaping after dressing the stock and cutting the mortises:

http://youtu.be/whOisUSxGhc

I haven't made a cabriole leg, but my initial instinct was that in-cannel gouges working cross-grain would be the quickest, but I may just be trying to justify the larger ones I purchased.

[Zach Dillinger]

Zach, I'm not finding a listing for that. Is the full title "The art and mystery of a cabinetmaker crafting a card table"?

I remember Bob R. talking about seeing the guys at Williamsburg do most of the work with a chisel, bevel down.

The kerfing method in the video looks awfully slow to me.

Thats the one.

[Justin Green]

Real men chop them out with hatchets.

Mr. Wilson, I half expected to find a video of Saint Underhill chopping some cabriole legs with some form of farm implement. But, I did not find a video of him making any cabriole legs. I have seen a video where he cut a set of dovetails with a dull garden hoe, however.

[Jim Matthews]

Rusty, sturdy and dull hatchets.

[Justin Green]

Look up Logan's Cabinet Shop on Youtube (or his blog) and you'll find him doing Cabrio legs on the Porriger (sp?) tea table series. Pretty good straight forward explanation.

Thanks, Tony! Just what I was needing!

[Winton Applegate]

Some times a home shop woodworker has got to do what a home shop woodworker has got to do.

Real men chop them out with hatchets.

ha, ha
Some lumber jacks might use this.
Go at least half way in the video to the Whaler and then the Lumber Jack. This tool is my latest passion.
George did you carry one of these when you were in Alaska ?

Justin,
For you I'm picturing some rig you could make up as a spring pole bow saw (yes larger than 12")

Better yet explain to your wife how you are going to sell the car and buy a Laguna bandsaw.
You won't regret it. (getting the Laguna that is) (after you get out of traction resulting from your wife's response to your declaration). It is TOTALLY worth doing what ever you need to do to get the bandsaw.
No pain
no gain
I'm pulling for ya
We are all in this together.