I want to build that craftsman style (1910?) door/window trim. It is a simple flat 4.5″ wide trim butted around the opening, the head casing has a small bullnose between the side casings and the head casing. But ontop of that is a good size crown, about 2 1/4″ high on the houses I have looked at. How do you build this crown? I am attaching a picture of this style of trim. The part I am asking about specifically is the crown on top. I can’t buy anything off the shelf like this here in our town. Can this be built up? I looked in the Lee Valley catalogue, but they don’t make a single bit this big. Does anyone have suggestions for building this head crown trim?
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Forest,
The part you're asking about is called a door or window cap. The stuff I usually use is milled from nominal 2x3 and dresses down to 1-3/8" tall by 2-3/8" projection. There is a 1/4" x 3/4" rabbet so that the cap sits on the 1x6 head casing.
I'm not sure if you can find any knives to mill such a piece -- I just always get mine from the local lumber yards. Could you get someone to produce a custom run for you? I could probably send you a scan of the cross-section if you were interested.
Alternatively, you could build a similar look using a crown and a dust cap.
I just posted of picture of this one I recently made, can't find the post though. I used some pine to cut down on the amount of mahogany needed. Folks make these type of headcasings up from all kinds of shapes. It's a lot of work if you are doing a whole house. One of my hardwood suppliers stocks headcasing in oak and poplar, they will run any species on a special order. Many shops have molders that may also be a source for single piece moldings. Whether you assemble your own or have it made, you have to miter the returns on each end. The window picture is one piece.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match