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Products / Turned parts and legs

Custom Turned Wood Parts Made on Automatic and CNC Lathes

Table and chair legs, spindles, balusters, handles, knobs and dowels turned on automatic or CNC lathes. Send a drawing with diameters, lengths and the tenon or hardware end.

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Turned wood legs on a light wooden stool

Turned parts are any wood part with a round profile cut on a lathe: furniture legs, stretchers and spindles, stair balusters, tool and broom handles, knobs, pulls and dowels. Many legs combine a turned section with square blocks left for the joinery, and some get flutes, flats or holes added on a CNC machine after turning.

Two kinds of lathe do most of the work. Automatic copy or knife lathes run long batches of one profile quickly once the knife is set. CNC lathes take a program instead of a knife, so they suit shorter runs and more complex profiles. Ask which kind the plant would use for your part, because it changes the setup cost, the minimum and the surface you get before sanding.

What this covers

  • Table, chair, sofa and cabinet legs
  • Spindles, stretchers and back posts
  • Stair balusters and newel post parts
  • Tool, broom and utensil handles
  • Knobs, pulls and finials
  • Dowels, pegs and round rods
  • Bed posts and lamp bases
Turned parts and legsAt a glance
Species
Beech, Hard maple, Rubberwood, Ash, White oak, Yellow birch, Black walnut, Poplar
Processes
Kiln drying, Rough milling, Finger jointing and edge gluing, Wood turning, CNC routing, Sanding and finishing, Inspection and packing
Order size
Automatic lathes pay off on long runs of one profile, so expect a minimum per profile and a lower unit price on repeat orders that reuse the same knife. CNC lathes take shorter runs and more profiles per order, at a higher unit price.
Rules
  • EUDR due diligence for wood placed on the EU market
  • Lacey Act: wood imported into the US must be legally sourced, and many product codes need a plant product declaration. Confirm with your customs broker.
  • Children's product rules (US CPSIA, EU toy safety rules) if parts go into toys or nursery furniture. Confirm with the brand which apply.

Turned parts and legs by product line

Each line has its own page with typical specs, species, construction options and the RFQ checklist factories quote from.

Furniture legs

Sofa legs, bun feet, coffee table, dining table and cabinet legs, turned or tapered to your drawing, fitted with hanger bolts or plates and packed in matched sets.

Wood dowels

Fluted, spiral and smooth dowel pins for furniture assembly, long dowel rods and craft dowels, cut to diameter and length and packed in bulk by count.

How it is built

  • Solid turnedTurned from one square blank. Best grain match and the usual choice for visible legs in stain grade.
  • Laminated blanksTwo or more pieces glued into a thicker blank before turning. Used for large diameters, where a solid blank would be hard to dry without checking. Glue lines show on the surface.
  • Finger-jointed blanksShort pieces joined end to end for long dowels, rods and handles. Usually paint grade, since the joints show.
  • Turned and machinedTurned first, then fluted, flattened, drilled or tapped on a CNC machine for hardware or joinery.

What to send for a quote

  1. A drawing with the diameter at each change in profile, the overall length and tolerances
  2. The end detail: tenon diameter and length, hanger bolt, threaded insert or plain cut
  3. Species, grade and whether laminated or finger-jointed blanks are allowed
  4. Straightness tolerance for long or thin parts
  5. Sanding grit and finish, or unfinished
  6. Quantity per profile and per order

Where orders go wrong

  • Bow in long thin partsSpindles and dowels can bow after turning as stress in the wood is released. Give a straightness tolerance and ask how the plant checks it.
  • Loose or tight tenonsA tenon turned to size at the wrong moisture content swells or shrinks in the joint. Give the tenon tolerance and the hole it must fit, and ask for moisture checks before turning.
  • Torn grain at transitionsEnd grain at coves and beads tears out and shows under stain. Ask for a stained sample, not only a raw one.
  • Checking in thick solid blanksLarge square blanks are slow to dry and can check from the center. For big legs, consider laminated blanks or ask for the drying schedule.
Send an RFQ for turned parts and legs

Questions about turned parts and legs

Related guides:

  • Wood Turning Manufacturer Guide: Legs, Spindles and Handles at Volume
  • Rubberwood vs Birch vs Beech: Choosing a Species for Wood Parts
What tolerance can a factory hold on turned diameters?

A typical range is about ±0.2 to ±0.5 mm on diameters, with tighter limits on tenons that must fit a drilled hole. Wood swells and shrinks after turning, so state the moisture content at which sizes are checked. Ask how the plant measures parts during the run, not only at final inspection.

Is a new profile expensive to set up?

On an automatic lathe each profile needs its own knife, so expect a one-time knife or tooling charge. On a CNC lathe the cost is mainly programming and a first-part check. Ask whether tooling is quoted separately, who keeps the knife and whether a repeat order reuses it.

Which species turn cleanly?

Beech, hard maple and birch have a fine, even grain that holds crisp beads and coves. Ash and oak turn well but their open grain can tear at end grain transitions, so ask for a stained sample. Rubberwood is a lower cost choice for painted and stained parts.

Do I deal with the turning factory directly?

Yes. We send your RFQ to up to three manufacturers that turn parts of your size and volume. Each one quotes you directly, and samples, price and payment terms are agreed between you and the factory you choose.

Other product types

One RFQ, up to 3 factories that make turned parts and legs

Free for buyers. We reply within 24 business hours with matched factories or a clear no.

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