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In my planning for a Shaker Table to be made at the Mason Dixon Woodworking workshop, I wanted to make one out of some maple burl that I had collected.

The log was at the sawmill in Feb 2007 I posted a blog on getting that wood in a blog here.

I wanted all 4 legs to be bookmatched on the outer face side. I had never seen it done so I sat down with some wood and attempted it, to see if it could be done.

I started out with a 5 X 7" piece from the center of the log Picture 2. I cut it into a 4 X 4" square and 30" long. I then ripped it on the bandsaw into 4 - 2 X 2" legs. Picture 3. I labeled all of the bookmatched faces with an A, B, C, D notification. When I opened up the cuts you can see the bookmatched faces min pictures 4 and 6.

So it now became the puzzle as to how to move the pieces around so that the outside faces would be the bookmatch and not the inside faces that you see in pictures 4 and 5..

So here is the scheme that I came up with and it works.

Rules
1) You must start out with one piece of wood that will allow you to cut all 4 legs at one time, not flat boards that you glue together.

2) you must label the boards to have the same letter on all matching faces A-D. This will allow you to put them back together in a case where they get all mixed up.

3) I also marked a bulls eye in the center four corners where they are all matched up. (My pictures don't show the bulls eye but the paper drawing does.)

4) Holding all four legs as they originally were in the board, take the first leg and flip it so the identification is on the opposite end and the portion of the bulls eye is the outside corner. Do the same for all four legs.

5) When you turn it around so you are looking at the identification again the four portions of the bulls eye should be the outside corners and all 4 face edges are book matched.

Paper Drawing


The results.





It works. Give it a try. I'll show the table in another post.

The table is here.

Gallery

Comments

· In Loving Memory
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Great blog on how to make an excellent looking leg.
Thanks for the info.
 

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wow…I thought this post was going to be about the building you were going to make with carved roman columns out of all those logs…yet…despite my incorrect assumption…I am once again impressed with the shared knowledge…
 

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... so much to learn… and trust me … I saw his table parts and it was some really great looking wood. This is what I was teasing about in my shaker table post… Karson just couldn't do poplar like the rest of us.

I know bookmatched panels… but I would never think bookmatched legs.

Great post Karson.
 

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Ohh those burls Im crying they would have made great turnings,lol
 

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Priceless blog Karson, the wood selection should make for a stunning piece of furniture. Can't wait to see the table enjoy the journey and thanks for the post…Blkcherry
 

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Looks great, can't wait to see the final table. Love that wood too, would love a piece to chuck up on the lathe.
 

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Thanks for the lesson, Karson!

Lew
 

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I sure appreciate the information and lesson.This site has been very helpful to me with guys like you, sharing information to us "Rookies".
 

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This is going to be a beauty!
 

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love it
 

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great job carson
 

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I want some of that wood! What a great top or front it would make!
 

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That's going to be one heck of a table.
 

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Thanks, Karson. This is a pretty interesting technique.
 

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Very useful blog post! Re: the trees! Some people would only see firewood…LJs see gold! thanks.
 

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I've never worked with burls, but is there any concern about the legs bowing does to uneven grain as the humidity changes?

That is some beautiful stuff!
 

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Great information.
 

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HokieMojo: The one problem that I've seen with figured wood is that the grain structure go all directions. So where a nice straight grained leg has lots of strength in the cross section. Figured grain might be cross grain in the long run and is susceptible to breaking off.

I'm hoping that the burl is stronger than tiger maple. Because tiger maple is so rhythmic that it's strength is compromised because so many fibers follow the same pattern. Burls on the other hand don't have any pattern.

I made some spindles for a cradle from tiger maple and they were quite fragile. The tenons kept breaking off. I had to drill them out and put in dowels.
 

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Great project, and that is seriously gorgeous wood, Karson!
 
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