Statue bases – day 2
My plan for today was to get the profiles cut out for the three-layer base trim, for the boxes. My next project will be a reception desk that will have the same type of trim, so I am running extra pieces, while the router is set up. Only problem with that is that the desk will be 8′ long. In order to run trim that long, on my router table, I will need at least 16′ for infeed and outfeed. My shop is getting crowded, and it is getting harder and harder to get a long clear run like that. As you can see, I had to get creative…
Getting tight in here
The first piece of trim, that I am routing, is a 6-3/4″ tall piece. My blue “Kreg” feather board won’t fit in the track, so I clamped down a home-made feather board to keep pressure on the board to hold it against the fence.
Setting up the router table
The first layer of trim is 3/4″ thick with a full 3/4″ round-over.
Running the 3/4″ round-over
Running the second piece
The second set of profiles to be cut is a standard base trim on some 1/2″ thick boards.
Cut pretty clean
Ripping my off-cuts down for base cap
The last profile is the base cap. For that, I need a bunch of 1-1/4″ wide strips. I picked through my off-cut pile to get most of them. I hate to waste the off-cuts.
Running the base cap profile
Molding profiles complete
With all the base profiles cut, I set aside the trim needed for the desk, and moved on to cutting everything down to size for the statue bases.
Marking all the trim pieces about 24.5″
Since the large base piece, with the round-over will be the widest and most visible piece at the very bottom of the bases, I picked the clearest 8′ boards I could find. I divided them up and marked them every 24.5″.
Cutting all the trim pieces down
After cutting them down, I marked the backs, so I could place them around the base in the same order. Hopefully, this will make the grain appear to wrap continuously around the box, after it is mitered and attached.
Marking where the grain matches for assembly
Setting the depth of the first layer of trim
I flipped those pieces over and marked 1-1/2″ down from the top. I applied glue, making sure that I stayed at least 1/4″ away from the edge so no glue would squeeze out onto the face.
Applying glue
I lined up the second layer of trim, and attached it with some 3/4″ brads.
Nailing on the first layer
I repeated the process for the third layer as well.
Repeating for the second layer
Just so you can see what the lay-up will look like, I grabbed a piece of base cap and laid it next to the whole assembly.
Final lay-up with base cap
All eight sides of the base bottoms are done and drying.
All base pieces complete
Tomorrow, I hope to miter and attach them to the boxes and you will see why I chose to assemble these in this manner, instead of assembling them, one at a time, on the box.
Midnight Woodworking 