Design Decision - need YOUR help

I’m partial to the long and slender, per your presentation.

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

I agree with Tom. Much nicer look. I might even extend it down to match the bottom cross member. Very nice Sketchup work John and great videos. Top notch productions.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

I agree the long one looks smoother on the leg.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Me too, I like the longer one.

-- Dan in Central Oklahoma, Able to turn good wood into saw dust in the blink of an eye!

I like the long one, but would want it a bit thicker to be more in proportion to the massive leg. Probably the same thickness as the stretchers?

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

I’m with Dorje, on both points.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

I vote for he long and slim version – looks more proportional.

-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com

I like the short stumpy corbel but would make it match the upper stretcher so that it almost looks like a through tenon.
Maybe include a lower one to match the lower stretcher.
I think the long curve detracts from the rectangular pieces between the stretchers.

-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.

What’cha really need is something that will guarantee that you win! Like maybe a hidden club!
But in my opinion the long corbel looks best.

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

long and slender copies the look of a pool cue.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Functionality, is there a difference in structural integrity with either one. If so its a no brainer. Otherwise go with the long one, is my vote. jockmike

-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com

I like the longer looking one, but it seems too long. Are you trying to make it look like it was part of the apron going through the wood, or just an add on feature? It it is an add on, then the longer one looks better to me.

Maybe the short one would look better with the sweeping curve from edge to edge, rather than the square cuts on each end? That might be a good compromise as well.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

THIS IS WHAT I LOVE ABOUT LUMBERJOCKS!!

I love the fact that you all chimed in and gave your opinion with honesty. THANK YOU!
It sounds like the overwhelming majority say to go for the longer one. I am going to go take a picture of the pattern that I made and see what you guys think. Be back in few…

-- John Nixon - Buffalo, NY - www.EagleLakeWoodworking.com

I want to like the long one better, it makes for a more elegant design. I think Dorje nailed it – needs to be a little beefier to look right at that proportion.

The stubby one looks better at this scale, I like Sawdust’s notice that it almost looks like a through tenon… so maybe the long one should some down a tad more to “cover” the lower rail? In the end, the long one should look much nicer.

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

I stuck on the pattern and snapped a shot:

I would definitely make either corbel the thickness of the stretchers. My wife votes for the short one (figures she would be among the minority).

The long one seems a bit over the top for me. I don’t know.

There’s some great feedback going on here…thanks to all.

-- John Nixon - Buffalo, NY - www.EagleLakeWoodworking.com

How about this compromise - a medium sized corbel – not so decorative

I think I may like this one the best…

Let me know what you think!

-- John Nixon - Buffalo, NY - www.EagleLakeWoodworking.com

I like the medium too (better than the short), but think that it ends too sharply at the bottom – what about giving the medium the same round treatment at the bottom as you had for the long?

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

I didn’t think I’d like the medium until I saw it. I usually like things that don’t divide evenly… but seeing it, It looks just right to me proportionwise.

Thankfully my wife and I have met in the middle on lots of design/decoration desicions around the home, and are both happier because of it – The granite counters, paint colors – especially paint colors…)

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

Just looked at the pix again – the long one seems out of place/scale to me now that I’ve seen the medium. I think you’ve nailed it.

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

You’ve just demonstrated one of the most important aspects of Sketchup for woodworkers. Design flexibility/creativity. The ease of sharing/collaborating design ideas with colleagues and clients is one of the principle reasons I think everyone should be using it.

Oh…and by the way…I agree the medium looks the best but as Dorje said I’d adjust the bottom to be beefier.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

Seeing it on the leg I would make it end about 1/3rd of the distance between the stretchers with a rounded end so that it would complement the curve of the lower stretecher

-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.

Anything but the short one works for me.

-- Jesus is Lord!

Well since you made a pattern. make one for the middle one so we can see it as actually created.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Karson, I was able to get in the shop today and make the corbels (about 60%) finished (I still have to veneer them).

I’ll go down and snap a picture and post back in a few miniutes…

-- John Nixon - Buffalo, NY - www.EagleLakeWoodworking.com

Here we go…
After considering long and hard all the opinions and advice given here (thank you all for your input). I went ahead with the medium height slender corbels. I think they look nice.

The corbels have a tongue on their backside that will slide into a groove mortised in the legs.

I still have to veneer them, but here’s some PIP of the corbels…

Let me know if you like them (or even if you don’t, I’d like to know that too (I can take it)).

-- John Nixon - Buffalo, NY - www.EagleLakeWoodworking.com

2/3rds is nice, too.

-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.

Here’s an update on how the corbels came out (the video on this should be out this weekend):

-- John Nixon - Buffalo, NY - www.EagleLakeWoodworking.com

Looks like you found the happy meeting point John. I can not wait to see the finished project.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

Thanks Bill! I’m happy with the way they came out. I too can’t wait to see the finished project!

-- John Nixon - Buffalo, NY - www.EagleLakeWoodworking.com