A question relative to fluted columns. I have been making a built-in book case and have planned on fluted columns for it. Have you written an article in Fine Woodworking for this which explains the best methods to make the flutes in a consistent manner? Is there a preferred router bit? And should it be done on the router table or with a router and guide system?
- Don M.
Flagstaff , AZ
Our Expert
Fluted columns and pilasters are one of my favorite decorative features. They are easy to make and can be used to add detail to a room in your home, a bookcase, a piece of fine furniture (such as my recently completed corner cupboard in the photo), or even the stiles on kitchen cabinets. Flutes for columns and pilasters can easily be cut with a router. You can use a specialized bit, such as Amana Tool no.54215 or you can choose to use a core box bit such as Amana Tool no. 45910. Amana makes a broad selection of core box bits which can be found on page 37 of their latest catalog.
To cut the flutes you can use a hand-held router and guide but unless the workpiece is extremely large, such as an architectural pilaster, I prefer to use a table-mounted router.
Before I begin cutting I draw the flutes full-size to determine the flute radius. I like to look at previous work for inspiration. For example, fluted columns and pilasters can be traced back to ancient Greek and Roman Architecture, and centuries later, to Colonial American furniture and architecture. If you look closely at most old examples, you'll see that the space between each flute is smaller than the flute itself. By making a drawing of the pilaster I'm easily able to choose the flute size, spacing and number that pleases me.
Setting up the router table to cut flutes is actually quite easy. I use a set up piece in poplar and test each cut before making the actual cut on the workpiece. This way I can make minor adjustments to the flute spacing if necessary. Also, I begin by making the flutes in the center of a pilaster and then work outward toward the edges. If there are an odd number of flutes I cut the center flute first. This way, minor variations in spacing will be located toward the outer edge where it will not be noticed. Also, because the flutes are symmetrical, each set-up can be used twice.
The flutes can be cut the entire length of the workpiece or you can stop them at each end. To stop the flutes you can clamp stop blocks on the infeed and outfeed fences or you can feed the work to a mark on the fence.
