Hi,
This is my first attempt at Blogging.
I’ve been planning on building a fireplace mantel for quite a few years now. So late this fall I started on this project. The cold weather got an early start this year , so I couldn’t finish it, so I brought it to town to work on it this winter.
My sweetheart has been snapping pics. of my progress. They turned out pretty good, so I’d like to share some with you.
The shelf is made of 3/4” Birch plywood, with a Black Ash fascia board. I like Black Ash for carving. It looks similar to Oak , but is softer, almost the same as Basswood.
This is one of the patterns transfered to the board. Their will be a total of about 5 separate relief carvings on this project. I scaled these patterns down from patterns shown in Wood Carving Illustrated magazine, by Lora S. Irish. You can also download patterns from her website. www.CarvingPatterns.com. She also is a moderator on www.woodcarvingillustrated.com
If you wish, you can view my Gallery at http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/3627
There will be a slight delay before I get to working on this again, because I’m in the process of reorganizing my workshop. I’ll add some more pics. when I start working on it again.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1






















5 comments so far
Thor
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64 posts in 1173 days
posted 1108 days ago
Hi Dick,
This will be fun to watch. That black ash looks like it has a lot of grain in it and will make a beautiful finish when you’re done.
I couldn’t help but notice your outdoor workshop area and the cool log benches you made for yourself. True rustic going on there.
Christina
pat sherman
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466 posts in 1269 days
posted 1107 days ago
dick. nice mantel.
i like the view from your work area. nice.
i bet you hate to leave that to go back to town. iwould.
looking forward to watching the carving progress.
-- pat,ohio...http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/patshwigar/
Dick, & Barb Cain
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7041 posts in 1196 days
posted 1106 days ago
Thanks Pat,
You got me thinking, & I changed the spelling of (mantle) to mantel. Some sellers ads use it both ways, but mantel is the architectural spelling of it.
Although when you say the word, it sounds the same.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
Obi
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2191 posts in 1134 days
posted 1026 days ago
I was hired to build a Mantel for a friend of mine and he wanted it to look like one giant beam, so I 45’d all the joints. I’ll post it when I’m finished. It looks a lot like yours without the carving.
-- http://ye-olde-cabinet-shoppe.com/
MsDebbieP
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14162 posts in 1057 days
posted 1025 days ago
I love watching the projects in progress!! It’s kinda like being involved in the birth of a baby.
Thank you so much for taking the time to blog this and thanks to your special lady for taking the photos!!
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)