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WOODWORDS ONTHE BRANDYWINEVolume 26 Issue 4April 2013Carving a Ball & Claw foot with Charles BenderWOODWORKERSGUILD OFFICERS FOR2013President: Tim SaboVP: Peter LeavensTreasurer: Jeremy NoblittNewsletter Editor:Tim SaboLibrarian: OpenRaffle Manager: OpenWebmaster:Richard DellProgram Committee:Jim StevensCharles GivenPell ShermanJim KirkbrideWayne ScholzJohn McCormickDavid WebberLast month we were privileged to have Charles Bender as the feature presenter at our meeting. Charlesis a period furniture maker and contributing author to Popular Woodworking magazine. He has been a professional cabinet and chair maker for over 30 years. As a member of the Society of American PeriodWoodworkers he has consulted and worked with organizations like the Winterthur museum. He currently resides in the Pottstown area where he is owner/lead instructor at Acanthus Workshop, LLC.Charles was a delight to have. He was very forthcomingwith antidotes and stories about some of his experiences.His desire to be a woodworker extends back to shopclass in high school. The way he learned to carve Ball &Claw legs was from an article written in Fine Woodworkingmagazine by A. W. Marlow, Spring 1978, pg 58, “Ball &Claw feet—How to carve them”. Even after carving thousands of them he still follows these same instructions.So what’s the history behind Ball & Claw feet? The styleoriginates back to ancient China and Japan. Early versionscoming out of the East have a dragon’s claw grasping acrystal ball. Others substitute a lion’s paw for thedragon claw. It was a mythological symbol depicting a motif guarding goodness, purity, integrity and wisdom from evil demons. During the Middle Ages Chinese art was highly influential in European life. The Ball& Claw foot became popular with English furniture makers. We currently associate it with the Chippendalestyle. In truth, by the time Thomas Chippendale was in business, 1750 onward, the Ball & Claw was out ofstyle in Europe. Throughout his career Chippendale published 3 catalogues of furniture he designed. Noneof the pieces featured had this design.The American colonies trailed Europe in their taste for style and art by about 20 years. Here the Ball &Claw design was incorporated into many pieces currently labeled as Federal furniture. Variations on thedesign are found between the different regions of the country. The Philadelphia design differed from NewYork, Boston and Newport designs. This actually helps antique dealers/appraisers determine area of originand date for many pieces of furniture. The Philadelphia style typically has a ball that looks compressedwhile a Boston piece will be more round. And then the New York style has an elongated ball. There arealso differences with the claws, such as, the Boston style will undercut the talon to make it look more independent of the ball. There are other differences which if you’re interested can be explored either throughsearching the internet or any of the many books on Federal style furniture.Charles’ demonstration consisted of basically 7 steps. It starts with obtaining a rectangular block of wood.Then bandsaw the cabriole leg out of the block. Layout the ball and claw location with marking tools. Cutaway material for the claws. Shape the ball. Shape the leg using spokeshaves. And finally sand. Charlesmade it look very simple, however, he’s done thousands. He does recommend starting off using poplar,basswood or some other softer wood before venturing into the more expensive, harder woods.
Page 2WOODWORDS ON THE BRANDYWINEScenes from Charles’ Demonstration
Volume 26 Issue 4Page 3Show & TellRich LiberaJohn McCormickGeorge Hoffman
Page 42013 Meeting ScheduleGuild meetings are held on the thirdWednesday of each month.All interested persons are invited.Our upcoming meeting is:April 17thTechniques in sawing by Matt Givens7:00 PMWoodcraft166 South DuPont HighwayNew Castle, DE 19720WOODWORDS ON THE BRANDYWINETreasurer’s Report04/2013The guild’s financial information will be not bepublished in the newsletter, but will be available for review during the monthly meetings.Please see either the Treasurer, Vice President or President to obtain this information.2013 Dues are now being collected — see Jeremy for paymentRaffle WinnerJim Kirkbride won the raffle prize(Swiss Made gauge chissel)Rich Libera won the 50/50He donated the winnings to the Arbor Day fundAnyone who received an Irwin Marples saw bladeplease remember to complete their online surveyArbor Day Project—UpdateOne of our guild’s functions is to participate in a community serving project each year. Typically this is done bydonating time, talents or objects we’ve made so that the proceeds benefit those in need. During the Februarymeeting we discussed taking on an Arbor Day project. This seems like an appropriate thing for the guild to be involved in because Arbor Day is a day to celebrate conservation and the importance of our forest and trees. Here’san opportunity to plant a tree in honor to the wood we use throughout the year.Arbor Day in Delaware is celebrated April 27th, the last Friday of the month. The details of the project will befinalized during our next group meeting in March. Open for discussion will be: Do we donate funds to the Arbor Day Foundation? Do we plant a tree on private property? Do we partner with a local community by donating a tree for them to plant and care for? FundingDiscussions with Middletown’s Public Relations Officer, Kristen Krenzer, was very encouraging. She said the townactively participates with groups like ours on various types of projects. And a donated tree from us would be valued. She shared the results from recent audit of their public open space which showed they are lacking shadetrees. Improving their canopy shade is a major objective for them. They have identified where and how many treesare needed. They know which types have sustainability and are most attractive. They work with a local nurseryand care for their trees all year round. She estimated our cost to be between 50 and 100.Last month we voted to designated the proceeds from March & April’s 50/50 towards the Arbor Day project.Where the remaining balance comes from will be determined at next month’s meeting.Please consider our options and be ready to discuss at the next meeting so that we can finalize the details and commit to getting it done.1
Page 5WOODWORDS ON THE BRANDYWINEClassifiedsThe classified section is open to any paid member. Have your classified information to Tim Sabo by thefirst of the month to be included in that month’s newsletter. Email your information to:TSabo@Dow.comJohn McCormick has the following for sale: call (302) 836-1916Dewalt #788 Scroll SawExcellent shape! Type #1 printed on motor, lamp is attack as well as the easy lift installed to hold the arm up. Stand is included.Asking 350.00Jim Stevens has the following for sale: call (302) 545-6937Rockler Clamp Storage RackAsking 75.00Woodcarvers of Delaware clubThe “Woodcarvers of Delaware” club meets every Monday night (6:30-8:30), while school is in session. We meet atMcKean High School in the old woodworking room. The meetings are informal. People bring and work on theirprojects at the meetings. Experienced woodcarvers are available to help you master the art of woodcarving. If youwould like to add a new dimension to your wood working skills, come and check this club out. For additional information contact Roger Earley (president) at 302-998-4855.Tony Knisley has the following for sale: email sknisley@comcast.net or aknisley@ci.willmington.de.usCast iron scroll saw missing the treadleWill take best offerLervad 610 Danish made hardwood woodworkers bench, like new. 500.00 OBO (new 1050.00)Delta 2 stage portable 3/4 horse dust collector, 50.00 OBOShop Smith Mark 5, Complete with some extras. 500.00 OBO100 bdft S2S walnut planed 15/16 thick 400.00 OBO100 bdft S2S cherry planed 15/16 thick 300.00 OBOContact: Pete Gill teachslair@comcast.net 302-593-5564
Page 6Recently cut walnut tree in the Middletown area available.The largest log is 20” in diameter.For more information call:Chuck Mulholland(302) 376-4216WOODWORDS ON THE BRANDYWINE
Woodworkers Guild of Delaware38 Jay DriveNew Castle, DE. 19720WE’RE ON THE WEBwww.delawarewoodworkers.orgOpen to all woodworkers novice to expertsWoodworkers Guild of DelawareBenefactors of the GuildPlease keep these friends in mind when you make purchases:Woodcraftwww.woodcraft.comLee Valleywww.leevalley.comVeritaswww.veritastools.com
Lervad 610 Danish made hardwood woodworkers bench, like new. 500.00 OBO (new 1050.00) Delta 2 stage portable 3/4 horse dust collector, 50.00 OBO Shop Smith Mark 5, Complete with some extras. 500.00 OBO 100 bdft S2S walnut planed 15/16 thick 400.00 OBO 100 bdft S2S cherry planed 15/16 thick 300.00 OBO
