Fluting old columns with a router
I am repairing square wooden columns on my 100-yr old house. As was typical, they were fluted on a moulding cutter, meaning the ends of the flutes are tapered from 3/4″ wide at 1/4″ depth to about 1/4” wide at 0″ depth in 1″ length. I read an article in FHB a few years back about using a ramp under a router to achieve this taper, but I cannot find the article in the archives. I calculated the ramp rise & run for my router at 1/4″ rise over 1″ run, but this results in a flute end pointed like a dull pencil instead of the rounded end “used crayon” profile needed. Any thoughts or can someone point me to the right FHB issue to re-read the article?.
Replies
Mid
Take a look over at garymkatz.com, I think he might have done what you are looking for.
Katz on cutting flutes
https://www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/departments/master-carpenter/router-jig-for-cutting-tapered-flutes.aspx
I suspect you need a curved ramp.