Turning project: Architectural columns
I recently accepted a project to turn 3 columns for a house in Seattle that was more than 100-years old. The surviving column was of red cedar, and measured 5.5” by 5.5” by 60 inches long. Fortunately, my lathe can turn 24-inches by 66-inches long.
I contacted a local lumber dealer that specializes in red cedar and they agreed to cut some logs to the dimensions I needed…for $175.00.
I set the timber up on the lathe, located the exact center on both ends and marked the centers. On one end I screwed on a 4-inch diameter face plate using 8 screws, and used a center punch to mark the other end for a live center.
Silvia and I mounted the timber on the lathe between the spindle and the tailstock, adjusted the speed to 800 RPM (no vibration) and adjusted the tool rest.
Accuracy is critical because I am making a reproduction…so I transferred dimensions (distance and diameters) from the sample (old) column to the timber in increments . I go for one feature at a time, turning a band, bead or on ovulo as we go.
Because Cedar is a soft wood, I had to be very careful not to tear away any of the wood with an aggressive or uncontrolled cut. Even a sharp gouge left a very rough surface….arrgh!! So what to do? The best tool for this occasion was my 1 3/8” Alan Lacer skew.
Red Cedar is a very abrasive wood, which demanded frequent sharpening. Many many many checks with tape measure, 6-“ rule and calipers allowed me to create 3 reproduction columns in 9-hours.
Putting them side-by-side, any slight differences are negligible, and when installed 8-feet apart they look identical !!!
A demanding, and very satisfying project.
The customer was happy and I was happy for a difficult job that turned out well, keeping in mind that only one mistake means that the valuable wood was useless….we can’t put the wood back!!!
Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter to receive special member offers directly to your email.
Related Posts
Wood Sources and Preparation
How to fix a wood crack into a feature
412 comments
Bitcoin Recovery Testimonial
After falling victim to a cryptocurrency scam group, I lost $354,000 worth of USDT. I thought all hope was lost from the experience of losing my hard-earned money to scammers. I was devastated and believed there was no way to recover my funds. Fortunately, I started searching for help to recover my stolen funds and I came across a lot of testimonials online about Capital Crypto Recovery, an agent who helps in recovery of lost bitcoin funds, I contacted Capital Crypto Recover Service, and with their expertise, they successfully traced and recovered my stolen assets.
Their team was professional, kept me updated throughout the process, and demonstrated a deep understanding of blockchain transactions and recovery protocols. They are trusted and very reliable with a 100% successful rate record Recovery bitcoin, I’m grateful for their help and highly recommend their services to anyone seeking assistance with lost crypto.
Contact: Capitalcryptorecover@zohomail.com
Phone CALL/Text Number: +1 (336) 390-6684
Email: Recovercapital@cyberservices.com
Website: https://recovercapital.wixsite.com/capital-crypto-rec-1
Bitcoin Recovery Testimonial
After falling victim to a cryptocurrency scam group, I lost $354,000 worth of USDT. I thought all hope was lost from the experience of losing my hard-earned money to scammers. I was devastated and believed there was no way to recover my funds. Fortunately, I started searching for help to recover my stolen funds and I came across a lot of testimonials online about Capital Crypto Recovery, an agent who helps in recovery of lost bitcoin funds, I contacted Capital Crypto Recover Service, and with their expertise, they successfully traced and recovered my stolen assets.
Their team was professional, kept me updated throughout the process, and demonstrated a deep understanding of blockchain transactions and recovery protocols. They are trusted and very reliable with a 100% successful rate record Recovery bitcoin, I’m grateful for their help and highly recommend their services to anyone seeking assistance with lost crypto.
Contact: Capitalcryptorecover@zohomail.com
Phone CALL/Text Number: +1 (336) 390-6684
Email: Recovercapital@cyberservices.com
Website: https://recovercapital.wixsite.com/capital-crypto-rec-1
As a resident of California who endured the catastrophic repercussions of the recent wildfires, I was already grappling with the emotional and financial toll of losing my home and cherished belongings. The destruction left me feeling vulnerable and overwhelmed, struggling to find a pathway to rebuild my life. Amidst this turmoil, I received a text message that appeared to be a beacon of hope. It offered a “fire recovery grant” in cryptocurrency, specifically $60,000 in USDC, claiming that I could access funds to facilitate my recovery. All I needed to do was pay a nominal “processing fee.” Desperate for assistance, I felt compelled to act swiftly, believing this could be the lifeline I so desperately required. The offer seemed legitimate. The website linked in the text exuded professionalism, complete with polished graphics and persuasive language that instilled a sense of trust. I thought I had discovered a means to secure some much-needed financial support to help me regain my footing. However, after I paid the processing fee, I quickly realized that I had fallen victim to a scam. The promised funds never materialized, and my attempts to contact the website went unanswered. A wave of despair washed over me, exacerbated by the profound loss I was already experiencing. The betrayal stung deeply, leaving me feeling more isolated and despondent than ever. I turned to online cryptocurrency forums, hoping to find guidance and camaraderie from others who might have faced similar predicaments. It was there that I stumbled upon CHAINTRACE ASSET RECOVERY , a service specializing in cryptocurrency recovery. Intrigued and desperate, I reached out to them, sharing my harrowing ordeal and the details of the scam. To my astonishment, they were responsive and empathetic, assuring me that they possessed the expertise to help recover my lost funds.Within a mere two days, CHAINTRACE ASSET RECOVERY successfully reclaimed all of my $20,000 USDC. The relief I felt was indescribable; it was as if a tremendous weight had been lifted from my shoulders. The scam had left me feeling defeated and the recovery process rejuvenated my faith in the possibility of rebuilding my life. I now advocate for others to remain informed, sharing my story to help prevent similar misfortunes.
WEBSITE: https://chaintraceassetrecovery.com
WHATSAPP : +1 (581) 256‑1989
EMAIL: chaintraceasset@post.com
TELEGRAM: https://t.me/CHAINTRACE_ASSET_RECOVERY
Hello everyone, my name is Kiara Hahn from California. I want to share my story about a powerful spell caster named Dr. Jakuta. I was heartbroken when my fiancé left me without warning, and I spent the last month feeling confused, guilty, and devastated. Desperate for help, I searched online for relationship advice and found Dr. Jakuta, who has helped many people with their relationship problems. I reached out to him, and he promised to bring my fiancé back to me within 72 hours. After following his instructions, my fiancé surprisingly showed up at my doorstep, apologized, and now we’re living happily together again. If you’re having relationship issues, you can contact Dr. Jakuta at
Email: doctorjakutaspellcaster24@gmail.com
WhatsApp: +2349161779461
Hello everyone, my name is Kiara Hahn from California. I want to share my story about a powerful spell caster named Dr. Jakuta. I was heartbroken when my fiancé left me without warning, and I spent the last month feeling confused, guilty, and devastated. Desperate for help, I searched online for relationship advice and found Dr. Jakuta, who has helped many people with their relationship problems. I reached out to him, and he promised to bring my fiancé back to me within 72 hours. After following his instructions, my fiancé surprisingly showed up at my doorstep, apologized, and now we’re living happily together again. If you’re having relationship issues, you can contact Dr. Jakuta at
Email: doctorjakutaspellcaster24@gmail.com
WhatsApp: +2349161779461