Step By Step Procedure Of Making A Tapered Table Legs
Tapered legs are mostly used by the woodworkers to build tables, chairs as well as for various other projects. Making tapers on table legs is simple that only needs a table saw and a plywood jig. The step by step procedure of making tapered table legs is shown below:
Step 1: Buying Table Leg
Although the thinner widths of the table leg stock can be easily glued up and then can be used to make a 2-inch thick leg, grain considerations, as well as color, will often be problematic. It is the best option to buy the thicker lumber and then mill it down to the needed size. When buying the material for the table legs, it is highly advisable to always check the ends of the boards for any cracks which usually occur during the milling or simply trim the ends if required.
Step 2: Square One Edge
Square one edge of the table leg either with the help of a hand plane or by simply aligning it with the fence on a table saw. With a carpenter’s square, continue cutting each side of the table leg until a leg gets the length desired. The final result of the dimensions for the table leg must be a 1-3/4 inch squared piece of the lumber, which is approximately 30 inches long.
Step 3: Cut The Taper
- With the help of a table saw, cut out a piece of the 3/4-inch-thick plywood which must be 4 inches wider and 2 inches longer than the leg.
- Position the leg on the plywood & it must be flush with the top, one inch from right side, the grain of the plywood should be parallel with the leg. Slide-in the bottom of the leg at 1-inch to the left in a way so that the leg is properly angled from top to the bottom. Trace all around the left side and also the bottom of the leg with the help of a pencil.
- Cut the traced section out with the help of a bandsaw to make a tilted, backward L shape that is facing to the left.
- Now position the plywood over the table saw. keep the leg in the plywood jig. The bottom of the leg must rest over the bottom of the L shape. Gently the user needs to tap the fence on the table saw from the left or to the right, also moving the plywood jig as well as a leg with it, keep moving until the top left corner of the leg will be aligned with the blade that is on the saw. Raise up the blade on the saw about 1/2-inch higher than the leg thickness.
- Turn on the saw. Gently push the leg and the jig in the forward direction together slowly, holding the leg as well as the jig together and tight against the fence with the help of both hands. The blade will start cutting in the outside, of the top left corner of the leg. Continue to push it in the forward direction slowly, use the jig to push on. The saw blade will continue to cut out a taper on the leg. Cut all the way onto the bottom of the leg as well as the outside edge of the backward. Finally push the jig as well as the leg past the blade. Stop pushing once the leg and the jig are at least 6 inches about past the blade.