Turning spindle legs without a lathe?

[atgcpaul]

I want to build a Danish style lounge chair that has turned spindle legs. The
legs have a slight bulge in the middle and taper down to the ends. I don't
own a lathe but have a router jig in mind that could accomplish this. I
could have sworn I've seen this before in a magazine and refuse to believe
that I am so ingenious to have thought of this myself.

What I envision is a jig that holds a length of wood between two spindle
centers like on a lathe. The wood and spindle blocks are attached to a
hardboard template that has the same profile as the desired finished leg.

I'd ride the jig against a straight bearing bit in my router table. After each
pass, I'd rotate the wood between the blocks to a fresh section of wood until
my shape is roughed out. I'd then remove the wood from the jig and sand it
smooth.

Pretty simple, huh? Firstly, have you seen this in a magazine before? Which
one? If not, is what I am planning to do safe? It seems to be if I can figure
out a way to keep the wood immobile as I make each pass.

I've seen template jigs for the bandsaw, too, that use a single point fence.
Maybe I can rough out the leg on the same jig at the bandsaw first, then
bring it to the router table?

Thanks,
Paul

[lago]

Not sure if Sears still sells it but it sounds like you are thinking of a Craftsman RouterCrafter.

Lago

[Hoakie]

I actually just scanned an article from WOOD December 2002 that shows how to do it with a router table

pm me if you are interested

[Jrs591]

I actually just scanned an article from WOOD December 2002 that shows how to do it with a router table

pm me if you are interested

I am interested in this article if you still have it.

Thanks John