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More column talk

Sphere | Posted in Photo Gallery on June 20, 2008 12:35pm

Basswood was showing his columns so I thought I’d show new base elements being made.  These are for an existing 100+ yr. old house.

Normally I use a octogan, but I felt like a hexagon this time..here is a blank being circled out with a pivot plug on the bandsaw

View Image

I penciled in the cut line so y’all can see it.

Freed from the blank, I am glad I kept the biscuts way back on the miters..BTDT with them showing

View Image

I used Kentucky Coffee tree for these parts and SYP for the next ring that has a cove, the KY tree is pretty rot resistant, and the SYP is sappy as well, after an epoxy coat and paint, they should out live me..here are the two stacked awaiting finish sanding, couldn’t help exposing the biscuits here, but the epoxy will reinforce the join.

View Image

The two rings sit on the square bases, and they inturn will sit on some Azek feet to allow air flow and raise the wood off the marble plinth block on site ( the one I had to reset and killed my back, 20×20,20 ” cube)

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The column it self was stripped and re-staved with TB3 glue, and is outside with the new primer drying, these are what the brandy new capitals look like, one of the existing was shot to hell and back, so I am replacing both so they match exactly ( Change order! Ka-ching!) not really expensive considering..it was about 800 for the pair.

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The necking on the new caps are shorter than the old, so I have to make up an 1.5″ in a few places..add a 1/4 here, add an 1/8th there..I still have to round out the abacus tonite and prime it all, then install.

Nothing fancy, but hey, it’s architectural woodwork, and most folks just drive by and never notice..oh, I could have maybe found new bases, but I like the ability to customize and I also like shop time Vs jsut slapping down some plastic parts..

More later, gotta eat.

Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

“We strive for conversion,we get lost in conversation, and wallow in consternation. “
Me.

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Replies

  1. MattSwanger | Jun 20, 2008 12:37am | #1

    NICE man,   very  cool

     

    Woods favorite carpenter

     

    1. User avater
      Sphere | Jun 20, 2008 12:41am | #2

      HEY Buddy!  Hope yer getting about!

      Thanks, they are fun little projects, and this particular town, has a Zillion to be replaced, I could do this for yrs and not be done. LOLSpheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

      Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

      "We strive for conversion,we get lost in conversation, and wallow in consternation. "Me.

  2. theslateman | Jun 20, 2008 12:42am | #3

    Very nice Duane!!!

    Show us lots of pictures please.

    1. User avater
      Sphere | Jun 20, 2008 12:52am | #4

      I'll get some of the install and PRAY TO GOD my math is right..LOL Adding an 1.5 over 6 elements can be confusing , can't just make everything fatter, it skews the proportions too much.

      And I ran out of column stretchers on the last job (G).Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

      Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

      "We strive for conversion,we get lost in conversation, and wallow in consternation. "Me.

  3. Henley | Jun 20, 2008 01:06am | #5

    I like the pivot plug.
    I've always centered a piece on the bottom face.
    Seams like less fussing around your way.

    1. User avater
      Sphere | Jun 20, 2008 01:20am | #7

      It's simple. I'm going back to octagons next time, getting that 30 degree dialed in was a PITA on the Bosch slider, at least 22.5 has a detent, but a 1/4 degree off 8 (16) times is worse than 1/4 degree off six times( 12 actually).

      Some might wonder why the segments, the old original parts all split and endgrain exploded from weather and age, making the segs. makes for a longer lasting part.  I have inspected some I did next door to this house, about 3 yrs ago, and VERY slight opening of the miters, and IIRC I used PL premium there. This is TB3 and I will epoxy coat all ( like a boat lay up) and then prime. I expect that to be a better method.

      The TB3 seems to absorb in the end grain a lot more than most poly glues, and I really don't care for Gorrilla, or Elmers Nano, but the PL brand of liquid poly is pretty good stuff, less foaming.

      I like to experiment with all the glues, and some jobs I may use 3 different adhesives in different locations for specific situations. Judging by the scraps and how well the joints hold, I imagine with the biscuits and TB3 ( poly won't swell biscuits) it'll be stout. The square bases are pocket screwed and PL liquid glue.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

      Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

      "We strive for conversion,we get lost in conversation, and wallow in consternation. "Me.

      1. Danno | Jun 20, 2008 02:53am | #11

        Column base looks good.

        About the glue and experimenting: I mixed epoxy with polyurethane glue once, thinking that as the poly expanded and foamed as it cured, it would help force the epoxy into the joint--but since I don't remember now where I tried it, I guess I won't know until and if it comes apart how well it worked! Seemed like a good idea at the time! So far as I know, nothing I have built recently has come apart where I glued it.

        (Lost a couple pieces of Strofoam on the dragon base, but I used Velcro so I could remove them if I needed access to drive screws into the post to hold it--turns out I could get the cordless drill in there without removing the foam, but the wind removed it for me anyway.)

        1. User avater
          Sphere | Jun 20, 2008 03:00am | #12

          I've accidently mixed TB and poly in the same joint..it worked.

          Also mix TB with Durhams Rock Hard Water Putty..that REALLY works.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

          Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

          "We strive for conversion,we get lost in conversation, and wallow in consternation. "Me.

  4. TomT226 | Jun 20, 2008 01:12am | #6

    Nice work.  The pivot sure makes cutting the circles easy.  What is a "Kencucky Coffee Tree?"  Looks kinda like Gum Bumelia that we have down here.

     

    1. User avater
      Sphere | Jun 20, 2008 01:23am | #8

      It's similar to Ash and Elm as far as I know, stringy, doesn't split easily. Ring porous. Glues and finishes well, stable with humid swings.

      David Doud sawed this particular hunk, I have more that was sawn last yr. setting in a barn drying. My wood of choice for my trim at home and furniture for our kitchen.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

      Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

      "We strive for conversion,we get lost in conversation, and wallow in consternation. "Me.

      1. stevent1 | Jun 20, 2008 02:28am | #9

        Duane,

        Nice work! Thanx for sharing.

        How many passes for the Round over?

         

        Chuck Slive, work, build, ...better with wood

        1. User avater
          Sphere | Jun 20, 2008 02:39am | #10

          Basically one, I dive in and cut reliefs for the blowout areas and then whack away at the islands left, the bit never gets changed from finish height..( hack)  LOL. That's a 3/4" Rad. Roundover.

          All the chatter will sand out.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

          Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

          "We strive for conversion,we get lost in conversation, and wallow in consternation. "Me.

    2. JLazaro317 | Jun 20, 2008 03:00am | #13

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky_coffeetreeJohn

      J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.

      Indianapolis, In.

       

  5. mathewson | Jun 20, 2008 03:58am | #14

    Looks great, hope to see some pics of the finished product.

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