| Project by Tom Adamski | posted 186 days ago | 330 views | 1 time favorited | 13 comments |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Hello all. I just spent the last day (ok, two if you consider design time) making a mantle. A friend who owns a fireplace store needed a custom mantel for a job right away. It is 60 inches tall, 82 inches wide and 10 inches deep at the top. It is in unfinished cherry, both timber and B2 plywood. The main body is a plywood structure with the mantel (top) fastened with pocket screws and the pilasters (legs) being mitered and splined.
Half the mouldings are out of the bin from OWL Hardwood, including the crown with rope trim. The fluted trim was custom, using my Woodpecker Quicklift, Incra router fence & a Freud 1/2 round nose bit. This is my 3rd mantel to date and it was a lot of fun to experiment with all the different mouldings that are available. Construction costs approx. $250
The customer will have it finished after installation. I’ll update with pictures when I get them.
-- Anybody can become a woodworker, but only a Craftsman can hide his mistakes.
Your Online Shop - Your Support Is Greatly Appreciated - Your Woodworking Showcase - 3 Ways To Help, Financially - Your Woodworking Community
13 comments so far
trifern
home | projects | blog
3414 posts in 218 days
posted 186 days ago
Nice job on the details.
-- Depend on the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember it didn't work for the rabbit.
GaryK
home | projects | blog
8411 posts in 439 days
posted 186 days ago
Looks pretty good. I like the trim.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
motthunter
home | projects | blog
1172 posts in 250 days
posted 186 days ago
looks great
-- making sawdust....
Scott Bryan
home | projects | blog
8577 posts in 273 days
posted 186 days ago
Hi Tom.
I had to look at this one quickly. I promised a mantle some time ago but simply have not gotten around to it. Whenever my wife sees one she is quick to remind me of my “unfaithfulness”.
I really like the mantle. Your use of rope crown and echoing the flutes add nice details to the piece. It is nice to have the rope crown available as shelf item. If I wanted anything like this I would have to go to Ebay.
Thanks for the post.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
Robb
home | projects | blog
309 posts in 385 days
posted 185 days ago
Is it extra-tricky to cut the rope crown so that the rope part looks right when you’re done? Great looking mantle! I’d love to be able to build something like that in a day! Whew!!
-- Robb
Tom Adamski
home | projects | blog
215 posts in 222 days
posted 185 days ago
Thank you all for the kind words… It was a fun project. Using the Kreg pocket screws to join the body made it a snap to assemble.
Scott, You can do it! Just think of the returns on the investment with your wife…
Robb, The rope moulding is a p.i.t.a. (pain in the a$$) to cut properly. I spent an our on it alone. Turns out, you cut it as close as you can and use a pattern makers rasp & sandpaper to shape the edge as best you can.
Tom
-- Anybody can become a woodworker, but only a Craftsman can hide his mistakes.
Bill
home | projects | blog
2512 posts in 612 days
posted 185 days ago
Nice work Tom. I am about to make a mantel as well, so it is nice to see what you did.
-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com
Chris
home | projects | blog
1164 posts in 442 days
posted 183 days ago
Awesome work there Tom. I would love to see it once the Cherry has had a chance to darken with age.
-- Chris
rikkor
home | projects | blog
7197 posts in 325 days
posted 182 days ago
Nice work in a rather compressed time frame.
-- Maplewood, MN
cajunpen
home | projects | blog
5352 posts in 517 days
posted 173 days ago
Nice work Tom.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
mrtrim
home | projects | blog
1524 posts in 331 days
posted 173 days ago
nice looking mantle tom , i use a lot of that rope moulding and your right on target with the pain ! lol
-- if you aint the lead dog the scenery never changes
ND2ELK
home | projects | blog
2270 posts in 225 days
posted 160 days ago
Great looking mantle. You did a beautiful job on it. Thanks for posting.
God Bless
tom
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
teenagewoodworker
home | projects | blog
1950 posts in 219 days
posted 160 days ago
great job. i love the look of cherry. finished or unfinished. thanks for the post.