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This project starts in a few days. It is for the same customer here in MI that I did the mantel for last year.
This one:
As a reminder, he is restoring a 1913 craftsman of a little over 3,000 sf. Amazingly all of the original woodwork and floors survived. That constitutes a challenge for the next mantel because, although we went with QSWO for the library and used a red dye to get the color closer to the red oak used in the original trim, (I know the pictures look like there is a huge difference but in person they appear much closer) the living room must come much closer as I will be duplicating details that already exist. To my eye this is all red oak and a good portion of it is quarter sawn. The most notable exception being the tall baseboard which appears to be flatsawn.
Here are the drawings for the Living Room mantel
Although the drawings don't show it very well both the upper and lower columns are tapered on both sides and the lower columns also taper inward.
And here is the setting
I had initially thought I would build the bulk of the project with plywood and pocket holes and applied moldings. Kind of like a kitchen cabinet. As I got a bit deeper into the design it became clear there was a better way. Now I plan on making the entire project using a matched rail and stile router bit set and 1/2" rabbeted plywood panels. The inspiration for this change came from a close inspection of the pillars and newel post that I needed to match.
You will also note a slight Greene and Greene influence in the proud finger joints at the corners of the mantel shelf, the cloud lift detail of the mirror frame, and, of course, the ebony plugs. I wonder what Gustav would say.
I found the exact profile for the bit at MLCS. Fortunately Menards has the crown profile in red oak available special order. The baseboard cap and shoe molding I am sure I can fabricate in the shop. My local lumber supplier has QSRO available and I found a source for quarter/riff sawn red oak plywood - at $100 a sheet.
It all begins in just a few days with the demo of the existing shelf!
This one:
As a reminder, he is restoring a 1913 craftsman of a little over 3,000 sf. Amazingly all of the original woodwork and floors survived. That constitutes a challenge for the next mantel because, although we went with QSWO for the library and used a red dye to get the color closer to the red oak used in the original trim, (I know the pictures look like there is a huge difference but in person they appear much closer) the living room must come much closer as I will be duplicating details that already exist. To my eye this is all red oak and a good portion of it is quarter sawn. The most notable exception being the tall baseboard which appears to be flatsawn.
Here are the drawings for the Living Room mantel
Although the drawings don't show it very well both the upper and lower columns are tapered on both sides and the lower columns also taper inward.
And here is the setting
I had initially thought I would build the bulk of the project with plywood and pocket holes and applied moldings. Kind of like a kitchen cabinet. As I got a bit deeper into the design it became clear there was a better way. Now I plan on making the entire project using a matched rail and stile router bit set and 1/2" rabbeted plywood panels. The inspiration for this change came from a close inspection of the pillars and newel post that I needed to match.
You will also note a slight Greene and Greene influence in the proud finger joints at the corners of the mantel shelf, the cloud lift detail of the mirror frame, and, of course, the ebony plugs. I wonder what Gustav would say.
I found the exact profile for the bit at MLCS. Fortunately Menards has the crown profile in red oak available special order. The baseboard cap and shoe molding I am sure I can fabricate in the shop. My local lumber supplier has QSRO available and I found a source for quarter/riff sawn red oak plywood - at $100 a sheet.
It all begins in just a few days with the demo of the existing shelf!