BIG lathe required for this paying job!

[Carpenter]

The architect sent me some drawings of two Tuscan columns needed for the entry of a house I'm working on. The finished length is 2480mm, diameter is 500mm at the base, & he's not too keen on having it done in two pieces because of the subtle nature of the curve. Its a paint finish so maybe a lamination will be OK, & because of the size a timber species that will not weight too much. Sydney region. So, who's got a big lathe they want to fire up?

[Gra]

, someone is calling

[DavidG]

. Someone is calling you..:roll:

[Gra]

. Someone is calling you..:roll:
too slow david...

[journeyman Mick]

It would just about have to be a lamination (hollow is a possibility). Finding a couple of 2.5M long x .5M diameter seasoned blanks might be a bit hard. (and bloody heavy) Maybe would be interested.

Mick

[bitingmidge]

Tell him from one architect to another.. what a crock!

In Tuscany, from whence I understand Tuscan columns emanate, the column would have been built from stone, hence the resultant dimension.

I'd get a bit of pipe and render it to the required dimension and curve, but if it MUST be timber, then here's a bit of the geometry required to build one in bits,
http://www.messing-about.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4328
http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/03/r/articles/birdsmouth/mast.htm

You'll need a bigger section than can be achieved with these bits, but you'll get the idea: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=45160&cat=1,46168

It's easy to get a subtle curve by simply curving one side of each stave. I've done bulging tapers and tubes which run from oval to circular to oval in the other axis, admittedly on a much smaller scale.

It really wouldn't be hard to do a sixteen sider, say with a two inch wall thickness, and plane it very close to perfectly round before letting the plasterers in. The trouble with timber is that it will move. It WILL move.

Forget everything I've said. Get some steel stud and lathe and a plasterer.

(Or a new architect! :D )

Cheers,

P

[Carpenter]

Tell him from one architect to another.. what a crock!

In Tuscany, from whence I understand Tuscan columns emanate, the column would have been built from stone, hence the resultant dimension.

I'd get a bit of pipe and render it to the required dimension and curve, but if it MUST be timber, then here's a bit of the geometry required to build one in bits,
http://www.messing-about.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4328
http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/03/r/articles/birdsmouth/mast.htm

You'll need a bigger section than can be achieved with these bits, but you'll get the idea: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=45160&cat=1,46168

It's easy to get a subtle curve by simply curving one side of each stave. I've done bulging tapers and tubes which run from oval to circular to oval in the other axis, admittedly on a much smaller scale.

It really wouldn't be hard to do a sixteen sider, say with a two inch wall thickness, and plane it very close to perfectly round before letting the plasterers in. The trouble with timber is that it will move. It WILL move.

Forget everything I've said. Get some steel stud and lathe and a plasterer.

(Or a new architect! :D )

Cheers,

P

Mmmmm.....thanks for the responses. Thanks Midge for that comprehensive little educational tour!:2tsup: The thing is, when I look at the time it would take for me to put together a column out of staves, then multiply that by my hourly rate followed by the turning job, I'm getting a bit concerned. As for the plasterers, I dont see how they factor into the job:? . It would be a lot of fun for me, but I cant see the client & Architect going for that. Still, this is not something I know anything about & thats why I'm asking you blokes. Oh, & who's ? He sounds like the missing link....no offense intended. The client's coming to the job tommorrow, so once he see's my plywood template & I tell him how much trouble this will be, I'll see how bad he wants these columns. Keep the ideas coming boys, & I'd like to here from if anyone knows him. Thanks again.....Matt

[bitingmidge]

(http://www.woodworkforums.com/member.php?u=84)
's big job (http://www.ubeaut.com.au/.htm)

Cheers,

P (in very reverend tones :cool: )

[tashammer]

ermm, reverential maybe?

[Hickory]

I know its not woodworking but..... In my Sister's area in Florida, the most common architectural feature is the column. Her house has them inside & out and they are made from hollow concrete blocks and stucco to appear, as you discribe, "Tuscan" .

[lubbing5cherubs]

YEP I agree . I try sending him a PM
Toni

[ubeaut]

He aint here right now. He be off galavantig in the motor home somewhere. Should be back soon. :)

[lubbing5cherubs]

He aint here right now. He be off galavantig in the motor home somewhere. Should be back soon. :)


Half his luck. but when he comes home he might need a big fix. So you might be in luck..:2tsup:
Toni

[Iain]

Julies got his mobile, I tried to call him last night to no avail but SWMBO ran up my mobile bill talking to Julie :((
Back in his office tomorrow and I may drop in on my way to work, I'll let him know if I have time.

[Carpenter]

I chased up some more leads today & found a mob in the
sydney region who reckon they do this sort of thing pretty often. They suggested a lamination of pine because it's for an internal situation & provides a good smooth finish ready for paint. I'll keep you posted on the progress, maybe even some pics.

[Timbre Surfer]

Carpenter

could you let us know how you have progressed with that. The reason i am interested is my retired grandfather (ex-boily) has made a couple of custom longbed lathes to suit this kind of Job. Now that he is retired he does potter around with this kind of thing. It also has a removable section close to the chuck to do large diameter turning jobs. He has done quite a few of the type of job that you metion for my uncle who is/was a chippy in brisbane for the centre of spiral staircases and the like.

Cheers

[Carpenter]

No worries Timbre, it's in the hands of the Architect now so I'll put up some pics when something happens.