 |
Related Showrooms
• Chadsworth's - Columns, Pillars, Pilasters & Balustrades
• KnobsandHardware.com - Decorative Hardware for your Home
The framing and plastering is completed in the basement of the Executive Mansion and Ryley and Bob meet up with Judson, one of the restoration carpenters, to discuss trimming out one of the mansion's 80 to 100 doorways. Poplar wood has been chosen because it's free of knots, stable, and holds paint well.
The carpenters have utilized a few design tricks to incorporate authentic details into the restoration work to preserve the look of circa 1812 craftsmanship. The door casing has been milled off-site and each trim section is comprised of two pieces. The inside piece has a rounded inside edge, known as a bead. The gracefully milled outside piece, or back band, slips neatly over the inside trim for a beautiful look. Unlike traditional trim that meets in the corners at a 45 degree angle, in this application the beads meet in a 45 degree angle but the header trim extends past the bead and meets the side trim in a butt joint, which is a more complicated cutting job.
Judson runs through the steps to complete a doorway with Bob and Ryley there to lend a hand. The short point on the inset bead is marked to make the initial 45 degree cut; this helps to make an even reveal all the way down. After making the initial cut with the miter saw, Judson clamps the casing in place and marks the header piece for cutting. He does a portion of the cutting with the miter saw and then finishes it up with the hand saw— giving it a little back cut (which puts a little bit of angle into the cut away from the forward surface), so that only the face is seen. Next, he removes the bead on the table saw and then cleans up the cut by hand with an utility knife clearing away meat left that may be in the way.
Rather than doing the two vertical pieces first followed by the header, Judson prefers to work his way around the doorway from joint to joint as he feels it allows a little more room for adjustment. Holding the header in place, he again marks the short point, and the cutting process is repeated. Initially he leave the end of the header long while he make sure that the joint matches up just right. Lastly he marks the excess and cuts it off. As the back band cover the outside end, this cut is not as crucial.
Once cut, it's time to attach the trim. Even though this is restoration work, it is still commercial, so pneumatic nailers are in use moving the process along at a quick pace. Plus, this eliminates all those accidental dings that can happen with a hammer.
Finally, Judson applies wood glue to the trim pieces and nails them in place. This trim job is more time consuming than it would have been with traditional 45 degree angle cuts, but the effect achieved is well worth the effort.
|
© 2001 BobVila.com
- Add To:
-
 Del.icio.us
-
 Digg
-
 Google
-
 Y! MyWeb
-
 Reddit
-
 Technorati
|
|
|
Executive Mansion - 
Related Articles
Related Tips
Related Videos
