Texture on a furniture leg.
Wood is often textured for use on decorative furniture parts. Textures are created by many different techniques. One effective technique is to use turning tools and a lathe. Table legs are a good example of wood that has been textured with turning tools. Cross hatching, grooves, diamonds and other textures can be created by using turning tools. A good way to learn to texture wood is to experiment with different turning tools on small projects. Once you have mastered the basics, you will be ready to make a larger beautiful woodworking project with textured wood surfaces.
Instructions
1. Draw the basic outlines of the texture that you would like to create with a pencil on the piece of wood. A simple texture such as a series of grooves is a good way to start out. Once you have a feel for creating texture with turning tools you can draw more complex designs.
2. Lock the piece of wood into the lathe. Start the lathe off at a moderate speed. Begin to create the texture by gently placing a medium sized V-gouge against the surface of the wood at one of the pencil lines. Continue with the rest of the lines to create the beginning of the texture.
3. Refine the texture further by using a fine V-gouge. You can create as much detail or as little as you would like. Feel free to stray from your initial pencil lines if you feel inspired to change or add to the original plan for the texture. Once you are satisfied with the overall texture, you can stop the lathe and remove the wood piece.
4. Sand the wood piece with 120-grit sandpaper. Apply a wood finish of your choice. Allow the finish to dry thoroughly before handling. Refer to the finish instructions for specific drying times.
