Folks…
I am beginning a copy of a federal mantlepiece and fireplace surround that is a copy of one in an 1811 Virginia home. In the process of designing my approach, I wondered why Moulding is applied the way it is in contemporary techniques.
Is there a structural component to the application of moulding, for example, on the end grain of a piece of lumber being used for the mantlepiece? This, as opposed to simply cutting the moulding with a router or shaper into the piece of lumber being used for the mantlepiece and shortcut the joinery involved? Does the capping of end grain with moulding prevent problems such as paint absorption or lumber checking?
I understand the reasons for joining the short pieces of moulding on the pilaster or vertical pieces of the surround but on larger, longer pieces such as the sub-mantle moulding, would it not be as easy to cut the lumber edges into the moulding form?
For example, in the sub-mantle of this surround there is a piece of lumber that is two inches thick, cut into a bullet shaped moulding that extends the length of the mantle. Since I have to make the bullet shaped moulding from scratch anyway, why not just make it on the edges of the two inch plank?
The surround will be painted!
Thanks for your input!
Kindest regards, Jerry
Replies
Jerry
I wouldn't just route the profile on the edge of a plank.
I think you can get a nice look if your willing to put the effort into it (sanding the end grain so that it is as smooth as the face of the board, ....) but I would probably stick with the old tried and true method.
looks so much better, and is easier then trying to dress end grain. You'd probably get some blow out on the end grain that will negate any time or savings that you think you'd have by routing the plank.
Doug
The dissadvantage of shaping three sides of a big chunk of wood is not knowing if it will shrink, expand (usually bouth of those), cup, twist, bow, or split.
Wraping moldind around three sides of something stable, like plywood or MDF gives less movement.
I've laminated MDF together into a big chunk then shaped the three sides, also laminating several pieces of 4/4 poplar would be stable.
Have you tried the "Knotts" forum?
One of my pet peeves is window aprons that were just clipped off at an angle instead of having proper returns put on....
That said, in general it's an issue of end grain showing, on stained wood....so, if what you are building is painted, and you can rout the profile all the way around 3 sides, why not....
(but one of the other posters is correct that MDF with applied mouldings on the sides will be more stable...
"I understand the reasons for joining the short pieces of moulding on the pilaster or"
blah blah blah ...
No you don't.
Jeff
'
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Short pcs of molding attached over endgrain are there for a reason. If this mantle is stain-grade, the endgrain absorbs for more stain,looking darker while short pcs look the same as the long ones.