Matching Specific Moulding

At this stage we all know that hollows and round are, despite their simple curves, extraordinarily complex. With a single pair you are able to make scores of mouldings. With a series of pairs you are able, and encouraged, to create something grand.

I am often presented with the same concept: "I want to make a small amount of moulding to match something specific."

Hollows and rounds allow you to make this same moulding. In fact, they encourage you to make this small amount of moulding. These tools embolden you to make a specific profile that cannot be bought, produced with routers or shapers, and are difficult to carve or scrape along a great length.

......

I was recently sent an example of a moulding. My best guess at the traced moulding is as follows.

I don't know if this is accurate because I was looking at a literal tracing of a very specific profile. But this is how I'd make the above:

Rabbet plane:

Again, rabbet plane. I would include these rabbets in the process above. I just want to acknowledge the rabbets that  separate the various curves to those that guide that rounds.

Rabbet plane to create chamfers to guide the hollows:

#7 Round:

#14 Round:

#12 Round

#8 Hollow

#18 Hollow 

To the original point: If you tell me that you want to create a very specific profile, I will likely send you an envelope of plane cutoffs. Find out which planes most accurately match the curves. 

The closest fit is likely ideal, but we can get closer still. I just need your help.

And if you tell me that the person who hung my crown moulding did it upside down, you're in the majority. Tell me that they weren't able to cope, I agree. Tell me that it's worth my time to change, I'll tell you that I wouldn't have written this blog otherwise.

That's nice quartersawn beech, right? it wasn't always like that, but stay tuned...