Wood NetWork

You are not logged in. [ Login ] Why log in
(NOTE: Login is not required to post)

creating spiral rope design in columns

12/30/12       
gene solyntjes

Hello,

I have 10 fir logs, 12 foot long, to be used for pergola columns. I wish to create the "rope" spiral design I have seen here in New Mexico on these logs. Those who do this work will not share their secrets. Is there anybody on this site who knows precisely how to create these spiral , rope like, designs?

12/31/12       #2: creating spiral rope design in colu ...
David R Sochar Member

Website: http://www.acornwoodworks.com

I have made many spiral turnings on a special lathe. The machine would be too small to use on your columns. Historically, these were always carved by hand. As such, they were the highest expression of a carver's art, whether in stone or wood.

Layout is done with a long roll of paper, wrapping the shaft in a spiral fashion and marking the shaft with the resulting spiral.

Carving a cove, or a v-groove or a deep u shape will result in cove, rope or Barley twists. Set up a shaft horizontally at the correct height, layout the spiral you like (determined by width of paper roll, cut on a bandsaw), and try a few basic cuts. The Rope is the easiest.

I assume you have basic carving skills and tools so you can visualize from there....

12/31/12       #3: creating spiral rope design in colu ...
gene solyntjes

Thanks for this advice which gives me some very basic ideas as to the layout of the spiral patterns. This is a start, and I do not have the tools or skills, YET!

1/1/13       #4: creating spiral rope design in colu ...
David R Sochar Member

Website: http://www.acornwoodworks.com

Check out the video from Legacy Machines. Google may have more.

Too small for logs, but the machine operation is the same for large or small.

Get in there and start cutting, just realize it will all be hand tools. I hope you are working green Pine....

1/9/13       #5: creating spiral rope design in colu ...
Jim Baldwin  Member

Website: http://www.handrailer.com

Precise instructions in a few paragraphs and you without tools, machinery or skills?

OK here goes...

Logs are first sent to a sawmill where they are cut into square timbers or a log-lathe to be turned round. Square timbers are then turned round on a lathe. (Without benefit of a lathe you'll need to "hew" them round as shipwrights have done more than 500 years ago.)

Round or tapered/round shafts are then laid-out with grid lines taken from the plan (ring and longitudinal lines). The intersection of these lines establish points along the spirals. Small nails are driven into these points and a chalk-line is wrapped round the shaft and snapped as you go (either that or a bendable straight-edge).

With all the spiral lines on the shaft, a hand or skill saw is used to make the initial cuts. These are made to depth along the spiral lines. (This is done on the lathe or between centers while the shaft is rotated.) Further cuts can be made to leave a spiral "V" notch. A hand saw can be fixed with a depth gauge or an antique stair saw could be used.

Now you're ready to carve, rasp and sand the loops of the rope. This is also done on the lathe. The shaft is rotated as you work but must also be solidly fixed as you carve. This is time consuming but not difficult. All the carving is done "downhill" of the grain. You'll need to work from opposite sides of the lathe, or left/right hand positions.

That's it.

I don't know what you're seeing in New Mexico but twist turnings are classified by style: rope, barley, Jacobean, open, etc. These all require different layouts but the execution of the work is the same.

Today twist turning are done on special CNC lathes like the Hapo 7000. Home-built lathes can be set-up like the old (Sears) router-crafter toy.

2/2/15       #6: creating spiral rope design in colu ...
Mark Records  Member

Website: http://www.recordscabinets.com

I use the Legacy mill to make rope columns, but anything over 8' long has to be segmented. The diameter is limited, too. I think mine will only do about 12" in diameter.

You might want to look into finding someone with a CNC lathe with a large enough capacity to process the logs.


Post a Response
  • Notify me of responses to this thread
  • Subscribe to email updates on this Forum
  • To receive email notification of additions to this forum thread,
    enter your name and email address, and then click the
    "Keep Me Posted" button below.

    Please Note: If you have posted a message or response,
    do not submit this request ... you are already signed up
    to receive notification!

    Your Name:
    E-Mail Address:
    Enter the correct numbers into the field below:
     

    Date of your Birth:



    Return to top of page

    Buy & Sell Exchanges | Forums | Galleries | Site Map

    FORUM GUIDELINES: Please review the guidelines below before posting at WOODWEB's Interactive Message Boards (return to top)

  • WOODWEB is a professional industrial woodworking site. Hobbyist and homeowner woodworking questions are inappropriate.
  • Messages should be kept reasonably short and on topic, relating to the focus of the forum. Responses should relate to the original question.
  • A valid email return address must be included with each message.
  • Advertising is inappropriate. The only exceptions are the Classified Ads Exchange, Machinery Exchange, Lumber Exchange, and Job Opportunities and Services Exchange. When posting listings in these areas, review the posting instructions carefully.
  • Subject lines may be edited for length and clarity.
  • "Cross posting" is not permitted. Choose the best forum for your question, and post your question at one forum only.
  • Messages requesting private responses will be removed - Forums are designed to provide information and assistance for all of our visitors. Private response requests are appropriate at WOODWEB's Exchanges and Job Opportunities and Services.
  • Messages that accuse businesses or individuals of alleged negative actions or behavior are inappropriate since WOODWEB is unable to verify or substantiate the claims.
  • Posts with the intent of soliciting answers to surveys are not appropriate. Contact WOODWEB for more information on initiating a survey.
  • Excessive forum participation by an individual upsets the balance of a healthy forum atmosphere. Individuals who excessively post responses containing marginal content will be considered repeat forum abusers.
  • Responses that initiate or support inappropriate and off-topic discussion of general politics detract from the professional woodworking focus of WOODWEB, and will be removed.
  • Participants are encouraged to use their real name when posting. Intentionally using another persons name is prohibited, and posts of this nature will be removed at WOODWEB's discretion.
  • Comments, questions, or criticisms regarding Forum policies should be directed to WOODWEB's Systems Administrator
    (return to top).

    Carefully review your message before clicking on the "Send Message" button - you will not be able to revise the message once it has been sent.

    You will be notified of responses to the message(s) you posted via email. Be sure to enter your email address correctly.

    WOODWEB's forums are a highly regarded resource for professional woodworkers. Messages and responses that are crafted in a professional and civil manner strengthen this resource. Messages that do not reflect a professional tone reduce the value of our forums.

    Messages are inappropriate when their content: is deemed libelous in nature or is based on rumor, fails to meet basic standards of decorum, contains blatant advertising or inappropriate emphasis on self promotion (return to top).

    Libel:   Posts which defame an individual or organization, or employ a tone which can be viewed as malicious in nature. Words, pictures, or cartoons which expose a person or organization to public hatred, shame, disgrace, or ridicule, or induce an ill opinion of a person or organization, are libelous.

    Improper Decorum:   Posts which are profane, inciting, disrespectful or uncivil in tone, or maliciously worded. This also includes the venting of unsubstantiated opinions. Such messages do little to illuminate a given topic, and often have the opposite effect. Constructive criticism is acceptable (return to top).

    Advertising:   The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not an advertising venue. Companies participating in a Forum discussion should provide specific answers to posted questions. WOODWEB suggests that businesses include an appropriately crafted signature in order to identify their company. A well meaning post that seems to be on-topic but contains a product reference may do your business more harm than good in the Forum environment. Forum users may perceive your references to specific products as unsolicited advertising (spam) and consciously avoid your web site or services. A well-crafted signature is an appropriate way to advertise your services that will not offend potential customers. Signatures should be limited to 4-6 lines, and may contain information that identifies the type of business you're in, your URL and email address (return to top).

    Repeated Forum Abuse: Forum participants who repeatedly fail to follow WOODWEB's Forum Guidelines may encounter difficulty when attempting to post messages.

    There are often situations when the original message asks for opinions: "What is the best widget for my type of shop?". To a certain extent, the person posting the message is responsible for including specific questions within the message. An open ended question (like the one above) invites responses that may read as sales pitches. WOODWEB suggests that companies responding to such a question provide detailed and substantive replies rather than responses that read as a one-sided product promotion. It has been WOODWEB's experience that substantive responses are held in higher regard by our readers (return to top).

    The staff of WOODWEB assume no responsibility for the accuracy, content, or outcome of any posting transmitted at WOODWEB's Message Boards. Participants should undertake the use of machinery, materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB's Message Boards after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages it deems inappropriate. (return to top)


  • Forum Posting Help
    Your Name The name you enter in this field will be the name that appears with your post or response (return to form).
    Your Website Personal or business website links must point to the author's website. Inappropriate links will be removed without notice, and at WOODWEB's sole discretion. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    E-Mail Address Your e-mail address will not be publicly viewable. Forum participants will be able to contact you using a contact link (included with your post) that is substituted for your actual address. You must include a valid email address in this field. (return to form)
    Subject Subject may be edited for length and clarity. Subject lines should provide an indication of the content of your post. (return to form)
    Thread Related Link and Image Guidelines Thread Related Links posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should point to locations that provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related Link that directs visitors to an area with inappropriate content will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Thread Related File Uploads Thread Related Files posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. Video Files: acceptable video formats are: .MOV .AVI .WMV .MPEG .MPG .MP4 (Image Upload Tips)   If you encounter any difficulty when uploading video files, E-mail WOODWEB for assistance. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related File that contains inappropriate content will be removed, and uploaded files that are not directly related to the message thread will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links, files, or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Excel Wood Products