Therming or square turning
When the Editor suggested I should take a look at therming, I knew exactly what I would make. From time to time I am asked if I can make replacement stair spindles that are ‘square turned’. I have often thought I could give therming a go, but generally turn the work away as I don’t feel I can invest the time into the necessary research and learning curve that would allow me to do it properly. For many years these spindles have been made commercially using rotary knife lathes but this article gives me the perfect opportunity to see if therming could be an option next time someone approaches me with a potential commission.
THE THEORY
This project is going to involve making a jig. The jig involves two wooden faceplates which fix to each end of a group of spindles, forming a kind of drum. The jig means that a set of spindles are all turned at once, fixed to the outer edge of the wooden faceplates, meaning that each spindle will appear to have a flat face, although it does in fact have a slight curve which matches the diameter of the jig. I suspect this project could be one of my biggest challenges yet, with no part of this complex process appearing particularly simple or straightforward, but we shall see!
THE PLAN
I need to do some research. I’ve seen pictures of therming, both of the jigs and the end results, but have never seen it done in real life. There are a few options available to me as far as the
