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6K views 24 replies 15 participants last post by  LeeJ 
#1 ·
Fireplace upgrade

When my step daughter wanted to upgrade the fireplace mantle in her family room, we worked from a picture in a magazine she had, to come up with a design that was similar but would work in her room. We also added some crown molding and then repainted the room.

Since all work was to be painted, we were able to fill screw holes and the saw kerfs we used to curve the crown molding. For filler we used Bondo, which while designed for the automotive industry, it is a great product for woodworkers to use. It's easy to work with, tough, and permanent.

I'll try to get some more pictures showing the finished mantle from a closer position. I keep forgetting to get them.














Making the mitered pilasters, using blue painters' tape. This is an excellent way to make long miter joints easily. This is surprisingly effective, and very dependable in getting perfect results.













When laying out the flutes try to use odd numbers of flutes. The same holds true for many woodworking designs, including building entertainment centers, an odd number of components looks best, carving shells and much more. I used to know why that holds true, but at the moment, I can't recall. I'll probably wake up at two in the morning with the reason.










Dry fitting the upper mantle is a good idea as it allows you to make changes as you work. If you don't like something about how it's starting to look, you still have the opportunity to make changes without too much trouble.










Notice the saw kerfs on the crown molding. The molding was cut almost completely through to allow for bending. This was done with a chop saw and thin kerf blade. All of the kerfs were easy to hide with the bondo.














Hope you enjoyed this post.

Lee
 
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#2 ·
Boy!

What an astounding upgrade, you turned a plain looking room into what's now fit for a palace.

Thanks for the reminder on using Bondo. I always makes me think auto body work.

Are you sure you have enough clamps? ;o)
 
#13 ·
What a transformation of that room! Very impressive.

I think the reason that an odd number is best is because its more pleasing to have something in the center. Our eyes and brains can pick that out. This is also a good guideline for balusters in a stair railing or balcony.
 
#15 ·
Ah Bondo to the rescue. I've filled many a chip and knot hole in something to be painted.

The room looks fantastic Lee. Great job.
 
#16 ·
Great stuff Lee. I have used Bondo to repair saddle trees and fill knot holes and who knows what all else. Wouldn't be without it. I think if I remember right, the odd number is to keep the eye from trying to divide the piece. I just know it holds true in a lot of areas.
 
#19 ·
I use bondo in most of my habitats for birds. I have even used it on decoys. Check out my pintail in my projects gallery. The whole rump area is holding the tail on this duck with bondo. The habitat in the Black-necked Stilt shore bird, is all done with bondo. I tell about it there. Good stuff to work with. Your work is fantastic.
HAVE A GREAT ONE…. HAPPY EASTER!!!
 
#22 ·
Son of a gun bud you are the man!

Odd number to recover mesuring errors, kerfed moldings , bondo.

Where did you learn all that stuff and how the heck did you get such a good result?
I do the odd bit of this stuff but not to the extent you have taken it so I can really appreciate your skill.

Good on you Lee.

Bob
 
#23 ·
Hi Bob;

Thank you.

For one, working with an incredible designer, who was very much into design and proportion, and authenticity. I renovated and worked on many historic buildings in Philadelphia, I got to see how it was done in the 18th century. Although bondo wasn't approved by the Philadelphia Historic Commission, we could use a particular brand of two part epoxy for any repairing of rotted wood, (like window sills).

Moldings on arched doorways and windows were kerfed in the same manner, but with a much finer blade whick required little or no filler.

Lee
 
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