Sculptural Wood Joints

⚙️ SHOW NOTES - EPISODE #190: After recently seeing the works of Sam Maloof and Wharton Esherick up close, I am inspired to explore the art and structure of sculptural wood joints. In this episode I share my best methods and techniques while we make a contoured wood joint, an element that just might generate fresh ideas for an upcoming project.

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LIVE EVENTS are filmed in the shop of Tom McLaughlin, host of TV's Classic Woodworking and Shop Night Live. Tom loves to pass on the craft of woodworking by creating projects to present in live video form backed by his over 30-years of experience making fine custom furniture.
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[musamor]

There are some very handy tips here, and good advice.
@30:50 you advocate finishing the rounding by sanding. I'm not sure I agree. Sure enough, you can "rough out" with a flat chisel- why not. I would seek a much more precise line with the flat chisel. Next, the rasp. Fine. Then, the card scraper (we call them cabinet scrapers in England). You must surely know that they can be shaped (I have about thirty, with plenty of different shapes). In this instance I would certainly use a hollow scraper. You can approach the finished shape to more than 90%. Also I use shaped and corked lined sanding cauls (blocks). This is the proper way to get a flowing curve. Freehand is bumpy and messy. I have never been an advocate of shaping by sanding (just look at violin makers: the soundboard, and the bottom- all done by gouges, planes, then scrapers, often going across the grain). I believe in wood being CUT to shape, not SANDED to shape.
I would like to say that I really appreciated your thorough and convincing explanation of grain choice, and the pitfalls of "short grain". Very well illustrated.
There will only ever be one Sam Maloof, and even beginning to understand his philosophy and approach is a mighty task. His work was both organic and ethereal. NOT easy to just copy. It was all about balance, and flowing lines. The centre of gravity on his rocking chairs was SO masterfully executed, that once put into motion it would rock for minutes! This is consummate mastery at its very finest hour.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.
Greetings from France.

[johngalanes]

I must say how much I appreciate it when the camera lady turns down the volume on the machine noise but doesn't totally mute it out

[mikel.]

Using the upper method diagramed at 35:44, run the tenon deep enough to catch about 50% of the long grain in the vertical member. That way, the short grain section is reinforced internally by the cross grain tenon, and the shear load is transferred deeper into the vertical long grain.

[lorettacrabtree]

Hi thank you for sharing this 👌I used it in a footstool with pairs of legs

[victoryak]

Hey Tom, I’ve been recently going through the shop stool course and had this idea in the back of my head to try and implement some flowing joints as described and demonstrated here. Fortunately I came across this demonstration again(I saw it when u first did it). So glad I did before starting because I was ready to do the “short grain technique” more than shaping the legs for those curves. I’m hoping to try it anyway😄. Thx again.

[MrWS]

Another educational session and good to see you back in the Shop. Mahalo

[tomjordan]

Been meaning to commend you on your bandsaw work. You make it look so easy staying close to the line.

[jasonzodda]

Thank you for this video. So inspiring. Makes me want to push the boundaries of design.

[jerrystark]

Another excellent shop session. Thanks!!

[TeufelHunden-od]

Maloof would facet the heck out of his pieces with his bandsaw, saving himself time and dust.
I know you know that.

[dpmeyer]

could one uses branches for the stool?

[mstreich]

Instead of cutting into the “long grain” piece, you could also build it up by gluing an additional long grain piece, and then sculpting that. Might save wood.