Guild Forum

Vol.2 No.2
5 February 2003

• Method for making reeds/flutes on a chair & Making card table hinges - Julian Biggers
• Finding Good Quality Wood - George Hoffman

Method for making reeds/flutes on a chair & Making card table hinges

By Julian Biggers

Q. A few months ago Julian Biggers mentioned a method for making the reeds on a Duncan Phyfe chair. I am now making such a chair, and would like to have his method. Also, what is the way to make the hinges that are used on the edges of a folding top card table? These were used to avoid having regular hinges interfere with the playing surface. I'd appreciate any help on this double-barreled request. jrf

A. Fluting/Reeding (See Drawing bottom of Answers)
After turning the leg, I put it in a jig that is like the lathe ends, but with an index attachment. A drill press with the appropriate cutter (burr) then is used in conjunction with the jig to route the flutes or basic reeding. Have to use a small file to complete the reeding shape.

The Jig
You can use scrape wood at least 1/2" thick. Cut two pieces 1" x 2", and
one piece 1" x 3"(maybe 4"). Tape the two similar pieces together, square
at bottom and one side. Drill through the two pieces with a bit the size
(diameter) of a 1 1/2" nail. The nail should be a press fit in the holes. Glue the two pieces at each end of the 3"piece. One nail file the end to a round point for a “tail stock". Leave the other nail with the regular point (head stock).

Indexing disk
Use 1/16"plywood, plastic, anything stiff, to make up the index card about 1" in diameter. Draw the index you desire, 8th, 10th, 12th. Glue it to the card. Drill center for the head stock nail. Insert nail to end and super glue in place. Slide nail into its end of the jig. Add a small nail under the indexing disk to align the turning of the index when in use.

Use
Place the leg turning between the two nails aligned as it was in the lathe. Press the nails into the leg. Turn the index disk to make sure in works freely.

Drill Press Set-up
Place the jig on the drill press table. Raise or lower table until cutter/burr aligns with the nail point in the tail or head stock. This puts the cutter on the centerline of the leg. I use a small (about 1/16"th dia.) Bearing 45* cutter/bur for the fluting. For Reeding I use a small (1/16"th dia) Wheel cutter for the original cutting. After taking the leg from the jig, I use a "knife or V" file to round out the reeds to shape.

Use
Place jig with leg on the drill press table (assume the cutter has already been set at correct height). Turn on the drill press and by hand slide the jig with leg to the cutter. Move the jig right or left to the desired spot for flute/reed to stop. Turn the index one space and repeat process until up come back to start. The cutter/burr will, itself, control the depth of cut.

Suggest you make a spare leg for practice. It only takes a light touch to make the cutter work well, but you have to get used to the feel.

A. Hinges for card table (See Drawing below answers)
The hinge is known as a "knife"hinge because it opens and closes like a pocketknife. Ron Stetkewicz made 3-4 different types and sizes of knife hinges. One caution: the hinges are of very thin brass for photo etching and will take only limited use.

RonStetkewicz
HCR 1, Box 61B
Cairo, NY 12413

If the top is going to have heavy use (opening and closing) I make a "link" hinge to use on the card tables. It will hold up to all but the most extreme abuse. If interested, send in another question.