Very clever but a bit scary!!!

[GrahamH]

I'm the same as HPL, when I went to college(London College of Furniture) we were all taught this method for doing tapers, again whilst this was about 20 years ago we had no problems.

After leaving college I've used many times when I've needed to taper legs and all you need to be able to do is count and remeber how many times you've passed that side over the planer. When you're doing 16 chairs it can get a little repetitive but it save ages in the finishing.

 

[Vormulac]

I see he describes his technique as 'interesting', presumably in the same way that being shot at is 'interesting'. Looks dangerous to me although I'm quite prepared to accept people do do this without losing a limb every time - more power to them, I'll stick to the 'cissy' methods thanks.

V.

 

[woodbloke]

I can't see the clip at the moment but assume that the job is being passed somehow over the top? The easiest way to do tapers is through the thicknessing table on a custom made jig where the leg foot is raised at an angle and a progressively longer cut is made until the desired taper has been cut. From what I can make out, it seems that a couple of huge cuts are made to achieve the taper, which is inherently bad news. There isn't a compromise on safety as far as machinery goes as they bite...and don't take prisoners. I don't often make tapers but when I do I just use the bandsaw and then hand plane to the finished dimension.
I think if Scrit were here you might get the definitive answer, chapter and verse - Rob

 

[Pete Howlett]

Woodbloke has the safest solution. Accidents do happen but today most machines are very safely built. You're also righ about his puny pushsticks. I still think it is a viable solution. Me, I'd bandsaw the taper and then send it through the thickneser on a false bed...

Good job we don't have French heads these days isn't it?

 

[OPJ]

I don't believe it - an American using TWO push sticks!!! :shock: :wink:

I'd rather do it with a blunt 1/4" chisel than use his method, personally.... :?

 

[danmcl]

Woodbloke has the safest solution. Accidents do happen but today most machines are very safely built. You're also righ about his puny pushsticks. I still think it is a viable solution. Me, I'd bandsaw the taper and then send it through the thickneser on a false bed...

Good job we don't have French heads these days isn't it?

What might I ask is a french head? is it one of these? http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/208613365/spiral_cutter_head.html?