I'm procrastinating with my carving. I spent Saturday with Chuck Bender at The Woodworking Show in Springfield, MA. Chuck had a lowboy there with carved knees. I never knew that the back side of the back two legs weren't necessarily carved. His copy didn't have knee blocks back there either. I've carved six sides of legs so now I feel like I should be done. Maybe I'll just leave the front right leg plain.
I need to jump more ropes at museums.
I finally had a chance to make the molding drawn by George Walker in the latest issue of Popular Woodworking. (edit: I assumed that the hash marks in George's drawing represent 1/8".) If you are interested in making this from a single piece keep reading. If you want to build it up, you can stop. This is how I did it.
I guess this is a good time to tell you that I don't cut all of my rabbets by hand.
I missed taking a picture of a step with another rabbet and the side round. A side round is used just like a rabbet with a gauge line: use your fingers as a fence for the first two passes then GO! You need to knock out the purple corner so it doesn't influence the side round as you start.
Rabbet followed by #2 hollow
Rabbet for the chamfer (not shown) followed by #8 hollow (left) and #6 hollow (right)
Depending on where you like it...
Mark it, Dude.
That's just gorgeous, Matt! This is why I love molding planes, though I haven't tried anything this complex myself yet.
ReplyDeleteReally cool. Keep the posts coming. I have some of your planes on my wish list.
ReplyDeleteMatt I was wondering and I hope I am not the only one, have you ever considered putting numbers to your drawings? I for one would really appreciate it until I can become more familar drawing and making moldings. Thanks in advance for your time. I truly appreciate your blog. John
ReplyDeleteJohn,
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean by numbering the drawings? Do you want measurements? Which measurements?
Matt I have seen drawings from others that have caliper points to transfer to your work. ( Larry's DVD's ) I tell you what I am so green at this it is really confusing. I have planes from # 2 to # 16 shaped and sharpened and 1 snipes bill ready, so I am eager to get started. I am taking the approach if I can make my old planes work I will order new ones from you. I hope this helped explain things. Thanks again. John
ReplyDeleteI have read comments elsewhere that consistency between pieces is quite difficult. In your experience are hand cut moldings best used on single pieces or can the trim for an entire room conceivably be cut by hand?
ReplyDeleteover the line smokey!
ReplyDeleteOut of curiosity, how do you cut rabbets when you're not doing it by hand?
ReplyDeleteJ. Andrew Yang,
ReplyDeleteMatching multiple lengths is definitely a showcase of skill, experience and attention to detail. My interests don't lead me into needing to do this. I work off a single piece.
The trim for an entire room can certainly be cut by hand. I have not done this.
Matt
Wilber,
ReplyDeleteI will often get them close on a table saw and bring to final depth/width with a rabbet.
The small rabbet in step 3 was done by hand. All the chamfers were done by hand. the final depths and widths are done by hand.
Matt