Custom Architectural Millwork at WOODWEB's Knowledge Base

Try our Knowledge Base Micro-Search: enter a keyword (or phrase) in the search box below, and the Micro-Search will produce results from the article list on this page.

Radius Cabinet Job - Project Review

October 27, 2003

Mitering Radius Moulding to Straight Moulding

Here's help visualizing and laying out the miter cuts where a curved piece of moulding meets a straight piece with the same profile. April 24, 2014

Thicknessing Stock for Arched Moulding Production

Advice on achieving thickness tolerances in thin rips for gluing up arched moulding blanks. October 19, 2013

Four Case Histories for Smart Specifying

December 4, 2001

Milling Wood Flooring on a Shaper

Extensive advice on how to make hardwood strip flooring on a cabinet-shop shaper. April 19, 2006

Why is Wood Flooring Kerfed on the Bottom Face?

Speculation, theories, and facts about why wood flooring and some door jamb stock is usually milled with grooves in the underside or back side. October 13, 2008

AWI certification

Is membership or certfication with AWI worth your while?July 29, 2003

Elliptical Moulding Jigs and Tricks

Simple curves are hard: elliptical shapes require a high degree of skill and experience. Here's a long discussion with photos from some seasoned old hands. April 12, 2013

Eliminating Wood Problems -- An Industry Review: 10 Ways of Eliminating Wood Problems

Gene Wengert explains why eliminating wood problems begins and ends with monitoring and controlling the moisture content (MC) in wood -March 18, 2000

Aluminum Delaminating from Wood Substrate

A decorative aluminum element separates from its wood backing — probably because they move differently. November 29, 2014

Entry-Level Tooling for Moulding Manufacture

A finish carpenter and cabinetmaker/installer gets advice on the gear he needs to make his own mouldings (and stock for sale). February 15, 2015

Are bone-dry biscuits necessary?

Questions about the dryness and size of biscuits. April 24, 2002

Troubleshooting Moulder Tear-Out

Tweaks to the knives, the feed rate, the drive belt set-up, or the bed board may help eliminate moulder chatter and tear-out. August 29, 2005

Custom Architectural Woodwork on the CNC

A request for ideas for making some custom quarter-round mouldings turns into an extended discussion of custom techniques and the value of hand labor versus computerized production. February 19, 2008

Seeking Lightweight Materials for an Oversize Moulding

Pros suggest alternatives to wood for a 15-inch-wide cove moulding installation. October 28, 2014

Assembling and Gluing Staved Columns

Here's a boatload of advice and ideas about how to put together and glue octagonal columns made with staves. October 23, 2007

Fabricating Radius and Curved Mouldings

Here's a detailed discussion comparing two approaches to creating curved and arched mouldings: the CNC route, or the dedicated moulder and shaper setup (which may involve templates). July 13, 2010

Safety and Burn-Free Flutes

A long discussion about how to make flutes without burn marks at the end, and without injury. February 16, 2006

Moulding prices

Pricing product in a small, start-up moulding manufacturing operation. October 9, 2002

Laminating Stock for Arched Casings

Here's a wide-ranging discussion of gluing and clamping processes for laying up arched casings using multiple thin laminations. November 26, 2007

Straight-line vs. gang rip

Which is better suited to this moderate operation? June 24, 2002

Troubleshooting problems when moulding MDF

A detailed discussion of challenges in getting a smooth finish when putting profiles on MDF material. February 13, 2001

Durable Wood for a Screen Door

A craftsman's question about screen door materials kicks off a long discussion about the qualities of various wood species, old growth and second growth. October 4, 2005

Entry Level Equipment for Making Mouldings

A woodworker ponders what to buy for a first foray into producing small runs of custom mouldings. February 10, 2009

Router Table Add-ons

With a router lift, precision fence, and some customizing, a router table can "kinda-sorta" stand in as a poor man's shaper. November 26, 2006

Custom Fabricating Louvered Shutters

A long and chatty thread about whether, why, and how to build your own louvered wood exterior window shutters. April 24, 2006

Scroll Cutting Rafter Tails

Cutting a scroll detail on the end of big, heavy rafters requires some tooling ingenuity. February 25, 2009

Routing a Large Radius with a Low-Power Router

Advice on how to sneak up on a radius corner rout using a great big bit in a smaller router. Tips on speed control, custom router plates, jigs, and roughing out the piece by hand. February 18, 2007

Moulding on a Curved Wall

Installing trim work along a curved staricase. February 28, 2004

Bleaching, Pickling and Antiquing -- Hardwood Flooring and Millwork

Customized hardwood finishes offer new decorative dimension. December 3, 2001

Shaper and Moulder Choices

Observations on the relative capabilities of shapers and moulders. January 9, 2006

Gluing and Clamping a Curved Laminated Stair Rail

A discussion of the fine points of glue choice, glue mixing, clamping methods, and allowing for springback. March 18, 2006

Compound Curves: Circle Applied to a Cylinder

Problem: Create a curved molding shaped like a Frisbee wrapped around a drum. May 23, 2011

Vacuum Bag Glue-Ups with the Form Outside the Bag

For large, bulky curved laminations, keeping the form outside the vacuum bag simplifies the process. September 19, 2009

Designing a Raised-Panel Wall

A design discussion of full-wall-height raised-panel wainscot delves into issues of ideal proportioning versus matching existing elements. March 20, 2007

Flattening a Long Plank: Planer Versus CNC

CNC wins the argument, but we have fun getting there. December 6, 2012

Ways to Machine Radiused Casings

Woodworkers discuss various methods of making curved mouldings, including CNC and moulder techniques as well as ways to join segments. December 2, 2006

Square Hole Production

Woodworkers brainstorm about how to machine decorative square holes in a wood faceplate. May 8, 2012

Making Fluted Pilasters

Detailed tips on efficient fluting, including images of a shop-made jig. October 5, 2004

Multimedia Installations -- Hardwoods and Tile, Stone, Marble, Metals and Glass

Complementary materials enhance hardwood installations. December 4, 2001

Accurate Miter Cuts on Very Large Beams

A wide-ranging set of suggestions for making fine miter cuts in 6-inch deep members. July 12, 2012

Profile Grinding Bent Wood

The developer of an innovative method for extreme-bending hardwood explores options for profiling his bent pieces using abrasive wheels. March 12, 2014

Materials Options for Exterior Gingerbread Trim

Here's an extended discussion of various natural wood, synthetic, and composite materials and how they hold up in outdoor exposures. November 24, 2007

Making Arched Window Casing Trim

Steam bending is impractical — laminating small strips into an arch shape for moulding stock is the way to go. April 24, 2009

Ellipse jig

Making your own jig for ellipse-based arcs. (From WOODWEB's Cabinetmaking Forum) March 5, 2003

Is Making Custom Moulding a Viable Business?

Can you make money doing short runs of custom mouldings? Experienced shop owners share business tips. March 26, 2009

Bending 3/16 Solid Wood

Methods for bending wood to fit an arch. October 5, 2004

Math Question: Dimensioning Angles

Cabinetmakers chime in on methods for determining the size of an angled plane. February 8, 2005

What's Involved in Starting Up a Moulding Supply Business?

Here are some business issues to think about if you're considering starting to both manufacture and install large volumes of custom trim. April 20, 2007

Mitering Curved to Straight Mouldings

When an arc joins a straight line, some thinking and fussing are required to get a close match. Here, finish pros discuss the fine points. August 24, 2005

Laminating a Curved Exterior Beam

Here's a detailed discussion of adhesive selection and clamping methods for a large, curved, laminated beam for an outdoor structure. March 12, 2014

Radius Shoe Molding

Determining radius of cabinets in order to match molding. July 20, 2004

Medieval Woodworking, Architecture, Social Power, Space Shuttles, and Hand-Carved Wood Waffle Irons

Excellent adventure or bogus journey? You had to be there. March 20, 2012

Arched Door Casing Against a Curved Wall

Pros discuss a complex trim problem: The intersecting circular arcs resolve to an ellipse, but that doesn't make it easy. October 4, 2005

Competing with Site-Built Builtins

Can a shop get simple built-ins done for the cost field crews can build them at on site? April 24, 2006

Large-Dimension Ipe Exterior Woodwork

A woodworker puzzles over some troubling issues with a 12-inch by 3-inch Ipe rail cap detail. July 30, 2009

Wood Gate Lumber and Joinery Choices

Pros discuss lumber choices and joinery details for fancy custom garden gates. September 7, 2011

Delamination of Bending Plywood

Construction methods don't appear to be the problem in this example. More likely is a manufacturing quality issue. February 13, 2013

Moulder Tearout Problems with Hickory

Hickory is notoriously difficult to machine. Here's a discussion on how to deal with tearout while making hickory crown moulding. February 19, 2006

Producing Stable Part Stock

With little time and no system in place, can this shop produce parts that won't move over time? October 20, 2004

Machining Knotty Alder

Rustic alder mouldings are in demand because of energetic marketing. But the material is extremely rough on knives, machines badly, and has a high waste factor. July 3, 2006

Planing on edge

Processing stock through planer to define parts' widths. January 3, 2003

Floating Bookshelves Without Brackets

Creative ideas for supporting shelves. February 28, 2004

Curved Stair Railings 101

A first-timer seeks advice from the old hands on fabricating and installing a curved banister. October 4, 2005

Curved Staircase and Rail Discussion

The Furniture-Making Forum takes on an architectural question: bending and laminating wood for curved stair projects. July 25, 2005

Archway Casing Size Esthetics

A discussion with photo examples of trim proportioning for arched windows and doors. March 26, 2010

Layout Software for Wainscoting

There may not be a software application out there dedicated to wainscoting layout, but several cabinet design programs can readily accomplish it. November 8, 2008

Eliminating springback problems

Determining the radius to aim for when creating a curve with vac-laminated plywood. September 23, 2003

Choosing Wood for Exterior Turned Details

Woodworkers debate the pros and cons of various wood species as compared to plastic or modified wood. December 28, 2014

Radius countertop edge

Making a radiused wood edge without resorting to segments. January 3, 2003

Machining Custom Crown from Synthetic Trim Material

Advice and feedback about making custom crown molding out of plastic trim materials, to match old trim for a curved porch restoration job. March 20, 2007

Routing Circular Mouldings for a Plinth

Advice on router table jigs for creating a round moulding at the base of a column. March 26, 2010

Running Tight Radius Trim on a Moulder

Short-radius curved mouldings are tricky to run on a moulder (a CNC or lathe works better). It can be done, though — here are photos and advice. May 17, 2011

Jigs for Elliptical Moulder Work

Aftermarket jigs let you do complex curved work on the moulder, especially if given additional shop modifications. May 21, 2007

Bending Douglas Fir Dry

After asking for advice, a woodworker successfully laminates a curved 5-inch by 7-inch beam on a tight radius by laying up and bending 3/4-inch-thick plies. October 17, 2012

Tooling Up to Run Mouldings

Pros give advice on how to choose and use equipment for producing mouldings.

Machining Humongous Crown

Thoughts on the problematic practicalities of milling and installing 16-inch-wide crown moulding. September 19, 2009

Multiple cut crown molding

Handling such installations with accuracy. April 3, 2002

Choices for Sanding Moulding

Hand-sanding mouldings is tedious and time-consuming. Here's a set of suggestions for mechanizing the process. July 23, 2005

Warping, Bowing and Cupping of Moulding Batches

Expert input on what could make fresh runs of moulding move in unwanted ways. October 2, 2005

Shaping with a Table Saw

Lacking the machinery to run a large moulding, a woodworker spends a few hours using his table saw to cut the curve. May 28, 2010

Short Run Patch and Match Pieces for Custom Crown Moulding

Suggestions for ways to match the look of old existing crown in a few small areas. August 15, 2011

Lathe and Shaper Setups for Fluting and Reeding Columns

Jigs and rigs for fluting and reeding columns or posts using a lathe, shaper, or router. April 24, 2006

Tallying Moldings

Suppliers round off piece lengths in different ways. Are you getting the quantities you ordered? May 29, 2005

New turn on rosettes

Could cutting rosettes on a lathe reduce tearout problems? July 22, 2003

Pulling Surface Joints Tight

Links to gadgets that can make this sometmes-frustrating issue a breeze. February 8, 2005

Fluted Round Wood Columns

Round, fluted wood columns are easy to buy. But if you want to make your own, here's some advice. May 21, 2007

Curved and Tapered Column Capitals

Woodworkers discuss ways to fabricate a custom curved column capital detail. Suggestions include vacuum-bagged veneer and sawn wood options. October 16, 2013

Staircase Standards

Standard heights and dimensions for stair parts. January 24, 2005

Allowing for Springback in Laminated Railings

Pre-bent railings "uncoil" after unclamping. What's the solution? May 4, 2005

Strip Laminating Teak

Advice on adhesives and techniques for gluing up Teak strips to make rough stock for a curved moulding profile. June 26, 2009

Finger-Jointing Moulding Stock

A discussion with pictures of using finger-jointing equipment to make long stock for running mouldings. November 19, 2008

Dadoing techniques

Using a router to make dados. June 24, 2002

Creating Custom Curved Moulding Profiles with a CNC Router

Any good CNC router can create mouldings, using either a ball-end cutter or a custom-ground bit. In this thread, pros provide a few pointers on the process. November 25, 2005

Managing Quality Control and Defect Cutting

How can a millwork shop achieve good defect grading on various jobs with different specifications and standards? April 4, 2011

Can Large Solid-Wood Panels be Stable?

A high-end customer asks for enormous solid wood glued-up panels. But is there any practical way to avoid major warping? November 28, 2011

Bar Top Wood Movement Issues Explained

Yet another discussion of the reasons that large table or bar-top glue-ups tend to self-destruct. August 22, 2014

Whether to Rip and Re-Glue Window Stool Stock

For a 6.5-inch-wide window stool, how should stock be handled to minimize cupping of the piece in service? May 6, 2009

Machining Curved Crown Moulding

Pros describe how they manufacture small runs of crown moulding to curve around outside corners. November 8, 2008

Routing Flutes Across a Board: CNC Versus Jig Rig

This thread has some practical suggestions for routing flutes across the width of a board, and some good arguments for farming the job out to a shop with a CNC. August 5, 2010

Machining MDF with High Speed Steel Knives

The adhesive in MDF is rough on tooling, but for short runs of custom MDF moulding it may be worth using HSS knives. June 26, 2009

Trimming real wood edgeband

Tricks for avoiding tears. April 17, 2002

Curved Stairway Trim Job

Where chair rail meets moulding. February 28, 2004

Flexboard for architectural panels

Stability and strength of flexboard and similar materials. November 24, 2002

- Spreadsheet Calculation Program -- for Curves, Angles, Compound Miters and Springback

Free downloadable program(s) in both Excel and MS Works, including illustrations that support the formulas.. August 6, 2002

Routing Aluminum

You can rout aluminum with the right bits if you're careful, but the wise course may be to bring this work to a specialty shop. December 28, 2014

Radius Bead

A craftsman asks for advice on cutting a bead profile into an arched bookcase front, and hears the details of several alternative methods. October 4, 2005

Bending Large Pieces

Experienced hands offer tips on bending a thick piece of cherry for a curved rail. June 12, 2005

Making Templates from Existing Mouldings

Moulding shop pros discuss how to scan and import profiles of existing mouldings in order to make exact drawings or manufacture new knives. November 10, 2006

Casing a Double-Curved Door Arch

How do you make and install moldings for an arched doorway set into a curved wall? Very, very carefully. April 24, 2006

Raised panel wainscot

Making wainscot onsite. November 24, 2002

Veneering a Half Cone

A woodworker gets help with the problem of constructing and applying veneer to a architectural cone shape. February 12, 2010

Radius Limitations when Machining Curved Mouldings

Very tight curves introduce shape distortions in moulding profiles. March 4, 2006

Making Curved Baseboard Cap Moulding

Popular vote winner: rip it into thin strips and re-laminate it on the curve you want. June 26, 2009

Flush-Trimming a Curved Corbel

Following the curves on this piece is a challenge. Here, architectural trim pros discuss router and belt-sander techniques for working on curved edges. December 14, 2005

Variable Angle Chamfers in a Production Job

Shaper? Router? Table saw? A woodworker wants to know the best equipment choice for machining large quantities of beveled flat stock at various angles with high accuracy and ease of adjustment. June 4, 2012

Mahogany Bar Top Advice

Thoughts on how to build and finish a bar top made of three-inch-thick Mahogany. November 30, 2009

Live Edge Fireplace Mantel Advice

Practical details for making a large-dimension rustic mantelpiece with a natural log edge. January 18, 2011

Steam Bending Leopardwood and Lacewood

An informative thread on steam bending versus lamination of curved pieces, and on the different properties of Leopardwood and Lacewood. April 4, 2011

Eliminating Burn Marks when Routing Flutes

Tips on router techniques to prevent burning at the end of flutes, and on tools and methods for removing burn marks when they do happen. December 28, 2005

How to Draw an Oval

Pros share methods for laying out elliptical shapes. May 4, 2005

Machining Small Radius Molding

The problem: holding a small, curved piece of brittle wood fixed while machining a small moulding profile into it. Here, pros offer various solutions. December 20, 2005

Repairing Defects in Solid Walnut Slabs

If you can't make your patches disappear, do 'em up in style and make 'em look good. January 26, 2008

Crafting a Curved Range Hood

Buying is easier than building if you want a curved range hood. But here are some tips on building it anyway.August 16, 2012

Joinery for a Complex Victorian Barge Truss

Advice on pegging the mortise and tenon joints on a heavy decorative gable assembly. March 3, 2010

A Wood Mantle for an Existing Stone Fireplace

A discussion of design values and installation issues for a new wood mantle to be installed onto an existing cobblestone fireplace chimney. October 3, 2011

Milling Rosettes

Information on rosette cutters, and other advice on techniques for machining rosettes. June 23, 2006

Fireplace Surrounds in Perspective

General advice on building and/or installing fireplace surrounds for a first-timer. It's nice work if you can get it. February 18, 2007

Sourcing Dry-Erase Materials

A look at product choices for making dry-erase fixtures, furniture, and accessories. April 29, 2010

Tapered Stop Flutes

The search for a simple, efficient method. December 26, 2004

Crafting a Curved Exterior Porch Railing

Advice on bending, lamination, wood choice, and details for a curved porch rail. October 13, 2009

A multi-faceted challenge

An architectural woodworker gets ideas for making a too-wide handrail intersect gracefully with an octagon-shaped newel cap. December 17, 2003

Profile Knife Grinders for Replicating Mouldings

A discussion of knife grinding equipment and techniques for a woodworker who wants to reproduce historic mouldings for custom work. January 28, 2013

Climb Cutting with a Moulder

A shop owner considers the pros and cons of climb-cutting cedar and redwood on a moulder. May 28, 2006

Trimming Defects in Moulding

Stock manufacturers describe how they control quality in runs of moulding and how they keep track of productivity. April 15, 2013

Moisture Issues with a White Oak Lay-Up

Woodworkers consider the potential problems with moisture movement of panels made with oak resawn to 1/8-inch thickness and laminated onto 1/2-inch solid oak cores. September 23, 2008

How I cut a 5-sided beam

Fully illustrated details. October 30, 2002

A Small Power Feeder for a Router?

It can improve control and precision, especially for climb-cutting. February 25, 2005

Shaper Heads on CNC Machines

A "shaper aggregate" offers a whole new way to do curved mouldings. Here's some introductory info on the technology. August 14, 2007

Machining Curved Base and Crown for Applying Over Bullnose Cornerbead

Shaper operation tips for making a challenging custom moulding. December 2, 2006

Charging for Short Runs of Custom Moulding

Thoughts on how to price custom short moulder runs when the customer supplies the rough stock. June 24, 2007

Compound Angles for Wood Range Hood

Joinery for a wood range hood gets into some tricky geometry. February 12, 2009

Making Molds and Taking Impressions

A discussion of materials used to make molds of existing mouldings in order to duplicate a unique original. December 26, 2006

Constructing a Curved Pedestal Base

Advice on how to construct a complex curved pedestal. February 17, 2011

How to Make an Arched Casing

Tips on laying up a segmented or laminated blank for routing into an arched casing. June 24, 2007

Milling Radius Crown Moulding

Advice on how to run pieces of radius crown moulding using a tilting head shaper. January 22, 2006

CNC-Carved Trim Details

Woodworkers discuss how to find or make detailed decorative carvings for pilaster capitals and other trim elements. June 15, 2009

Mixing Rock Maple & Soft Maple

Their colors will blend and match, if you're careful. October 1, 2005

Tooling for Cope-and-Stick Doors

Pros describe machinery and cutterheads for coped mortise and tenon door part machining. August 23, 2005

Selling small quantity custom profiles

Dealing with customers who don't comprehend the work and cost involved in the manufacture of custom knives. June 6, 2001

Double Doors, Flush Bolts, and Door Seals

The quest for a double door bottom which incorporates a flush bolt and door seal that aren't visible when the door is closed. May 15, 2014

Cutting a Bead on a Curved Backband Moulding

Tips on fine-tuning an elliptical shaper jig so that it will profile a bead correctly on the inside edge of a curved piece. June 24, 2007

Thin Louvered Closet Doors

Ideas for an unusual door project. February 16, 2006

Crown moulding on a radius

Upside down, backwards, and bent; lots of ideas for making crown flow sexily around an inside curve.

Tablesaw Techniques for Short, Thin Rips

Pros discuss power-feeder setups and push-stick refinements for tricky rips of small pieces. June 23, 2006

Corner Joints for Rope Molding

Cuts won't match up, unless you have left-hand and right-hand versions. May 4, 2005

Cutting Clear Acrylic

Advice on blades, bits, and procedures for cutting sheet acrylic. January 12, 2009

Laminating Curved Stock for Stain-Grade Mouldings

Tips on sawing and sanding thin laminations, and advice on clamping forms and cauls. November 26, 2007

Fabricating Round Half-Columns

Woodworkers describe ways to stave-build, lay up with veneer, or turn columns using solid wood. November 10, 2006

Fastening Trim to Metal Framing

For commercial build-out in a coffee shop, a woodworker asks for tips on installing trim. November 19, 2008

Curved Raised Panels

Woodworkers discuss ways to fabricate curved raised panels for the interior of an archway, with photo examples. December 2, 2006

Large Raised-Panel Assemblies

Woodworkers discuss materials, joints and methods for constructing large cope-and-stick panel assemblies (not for doors). November 10, 2005

Split Log Fireplace Mantels

Tips and techniques for log peeling, seasoning, and installing for a split-log mantelpiece. February 17, 2006

Moulding Calculator Spreadsheet Program

A free downloadable Excel spreadsheet that calculates the price per foot to charge for mouldings. December 16, 2000

Machining Lock Miters on Large Pieces

A millwork fabricator gets advice on how to cut lock-miter profiles into the long edge of very long and wide MDF panels. November 10, 2006

Fence Construction: Spindles Penetrating a Rail

Thoughts and drawings on constructing a tricky picket and rail wood fence detail involving some complex joinery and assembly. July 13, 2010

Bending MDF

Woodworkers discuss steam, kerfing, strip laminating, and other methods for bending MDF mouldings and panels. July 30, 2009

Curved Closet Poles

Ideas for fabricating curved closet poles from wood or metal. May 28, 2010

Building interior room doors

Pros share their methods for constructing custom interior doors. June 6, 2001

Passage and entry door construction

Step-by-step descriptions and photos of the process. August 9, 2001

Fabricating an Elliptical Arch

What's involved in creating an elliptical archway trim package? June 23, 2006

Wide Belt Sander Tracking Marks

Troubleshooting wavy, snakelike sanding marks left by a wide belt sander. December 21, 2010

Focusing a Moulding Business

Shop owners discuss whether custom small-volume runs or large stock moulding jobs are the preferred path to profitability. June 12, 2005

Fabricating Radius Jambs

An architectural millwork pro outlines his process for making radius-curve door jambs. December 26, 2006

Mimicking the Appearance of Circle-Sawn Lumber

How to add "faux" saw marks to wood. May 5, 2007

Cedar Wood for Closets

Rumors versus fact about the bug repellency of the traditional cedar-lined closet. May 20, 2011

Steam Bending Bloodwood

Bloodwood is a tough wood to bend. Bent laminations might be a more practical method. January 20, 2011

Wainscot for Stairs and Landings

A discussion of how to handle the tricky transitions brought on by stairway elevation changes. February 16, 2006

Flexible Crown Molding

Pros discuss product choices and finishing methods. May 4, 2005

Radius of an arc

Formulas for determining the radius of an arc, or "eyebrow"

Design Drafting for a Tudor Arch

Looking like a flattened Gothic arch, a Tudor arch involves a complex interaction of four radius centers. Here's some help with designing one. October 11, 2007

Making Box Beams Look Hand-Hewed

It's hard to duplicate the look of an authentic hand-hewn beam, but here are some suggestions. August 24, 2005

Portable Bandsaw

Pros discuss options for detail cuts on heavy timbers. May 4, 2005

Pronouncing Exotic Wood Names

Does "Wenge" rhyme with "Ben-Gay"? Well, that depends on who you ask. November 23, 2012

Bit Balance and Tool Speed — Routers Versus Shapers

A custom shaping knife for a router has to be carefully balanced, because routers spin faster than shapers. November 19, 2005

Blanks for Curved Mouldings

Two ways to make curved blanks for machining into radiused moulding. May 5, 2007

Making Curved Casings from MDF

MDF is rough on knives, which makes custom moulding runs costly. January 12, 2009

Grain standards for radius mouldings

Standards methods for joinery of radius mouldings, with exposure of end-grain in mind. June 6, 2001

Vacuum Bag Versus Clamp Jig for Curved Moldings

For a small molding laid up from laminated plies, keep it simple: a curved jig and clamps works as well as vacuum baggin, or better. June 23, 2006

Mantle and Fireplace Surround Minimum Clearances

Advice on how to check whether woodwork around a fireplace meets fire codes. October 4, 2005

Equipment for Square Turnings

Certain old-style lathes can some make square turned posts easily, but some complex designs (such as pictured here) are only achievable on a CNC. May 20, 2011

Milling Ipe with a Router

Ipe wood is hard, stubborn and toxic. Wear a respirator and use carbide tooling. June 23, 2006

Veneer Thickness for Laminating Curves

Advice on determining the fattest thickness of Oak veneer that can manage a 24-inch radius bend. August 18, 2009

Constructing Wood Grilles for Floor Vents

Advice on custom-crafting wood grilles for heating supply and return vent openings. November 23, 2012

Marketing for a New Custom Mouldings Business

How to reach customers who want custom runs of moulding. January 22, 2006

Glue Choice for Laminating Cedar

Polyurethane adhesives are reported to work well for exterior laminated cedar glue-ups. March 4, 2006

Joinery for Wrapping Columns

Quick suggestions for corner joinery for wrapping columns with a Shaker frame. May 6, 2014

Window Shutter Dimensions and Angles

Thoughts on the the spacing and angling of louvers in traditional window shutters. June 4, 2012

A Lap Joint for Curved Members

Ideas for tools and jigs to dado out for half-lap joinery where two curved pieces meet. December 7, 2007

Carving Machines

Here's a quick introduction to some of the high-tech, high-volume carving and duplication machinery that is now available. September 20, 2008

Machining Alder

Tips on hook angle, feed speed, and more. February 19, 2006

Custom Mouldings for Arched Window Tops

Manufactured windows may not have regular, true, or consistent dimensions. The safest bet is to make a template from the actual window. October 13, 2005

Outside Corner Details for Commercial Wall Panels

Tips on turning the corner with wall paneling in a public space. December 20, 2005

Bending Plastic Pipe

Here's information on bending PVC or ABS pipe for use as a curved moulding form. Hot sand does the trick for softening these thermoplastic materials. July 3, 2006

Joints for Large Window Casing

Trim installers discuss ways to reinforce the corner miters when casing out a window with wide material. May 6, 2007

Fire Resistant Coatings for Millwork

Alternatives for treating wood mouldings in commercial applications where fire codes apply. June 23, 2006

Making Tapered Stopped Flutes

Woodworkers explain how they prefer to machine tapered stopped flutes, and why. July 9, 2007

Filling holes in pre-finished moulding

What to use for filling nail holes after pre-finished trim in installed. June 6, 2001

Fastening Bamboo Plywood Panels

When attaching architectural bamboo panels, splitting is a concern. Drilling, screwing and plugging is a practical solution. December 20, 2005

Single-Blade Moulder

Advice on running a moulder with just one knife, for the sake of economy on short custom runs. February 12, 2009

Elliptical Jig Q&A

Before buying, a shop owner gets info on how the device actually works. July 14, 2005

The Look of Hand-Hewn with Power Tools

A curved power-planer or planer knife can approximate the look, but for the real thing you need the hand tool (an adze). December 15, 2005

Machinery for Making Rosettes

Specialized equipment works better than a standard drill press for cutting rosettes. September 27, 2008

Built-up Crown Molding Configuration

Achieving unique looks with standard crown profiles. May 8, 2004

Making Base Moulding from Engineered Flooring

Suggestions for fabricating baseboard moulding out of engineered flooring, even though the face and core are different materials. October 3, 2011

Machining "Chicago Bar Moulding"

Advice on making a curved bar arm-rest moulding. December 24, 2009

Quartersawn mahogany, or is it?

An architectural woodworker seeks specifications and industry guidelines for what constitutes truly quartersawn mahogany. March 5, 2000.

Floating Glass Shelves

Thoughts on a tricky glass shelving challenge. April 10, 2009

Steel-Rod Reinforced Brace for an Outdoor Gate

Advice on the joinery for burying a steel reinforcing rod within the curved wooden brace in a custom outdoor wooden gate. July 11, 2013

Laying Up a Giant Corbel

One craftsman's suggestion for building up a huge mahogany corbel out of multiple solid wood pieces. February 8, 2008

"Pickwick" Beadboard Cutterhead Info

How to find router or shaper knives to make the decorative "Pickwick" pattern on the tongue side of wood paneling. June 23, 2006

Metal Edging for Wall Panels

Suggestions for a satin-finished aluminum panel edge detail. June 23, 2006

Quartering a Turned Column

A trick for quartering a column after turning: Paper in the joint. March 26, 2010

Boxing Out Columns

Quick tips on wrapping columns with a four-sided hardwood box. November 28, 2011

Heating and Bending PVC Trim

PVC trim softens at relatively low temperatures. Here are a couple of ideas for how to heat and bend it. June 23, 2006

Bleeding Sap from Spanish Cedar

Tips for dealing with sap that seeps from cedar. November 10, 2005

Octagon Columns

Determining the width of staves. January 24, 2005

Wood Medallion Accuracy Tip

Here's a slick trick for making all the angle cuts work out on a multi-piece medallion. November 28, 2006

Drawing and Cutting Ellipses

Drawing ellipses without strings or formulas, making a jig to cut an ellipse, and cutting an ellipse with a router and jig. January 28, 2007

Who Are You? Thumbnail Biographies of Forum Members

Ever wonder who you're interacting with on WOODWEB? In this thread, forum posters give a brief history of their lives in the woodworking trade. June 16, 2014

Are Small Moulders Practical for Small Runs?

Here's an extensive and informative run on the hows and whys of buying and using a small moulder to make short runs of custom profiles. October 19, 2013

Refer a Friend || Read This Important Information || Site Map || Privacy Policy || Site User Agreement

Letters, questions or comments? E-Mail us and let us know what you think. Be sure to review our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Contact us to discuss advertising or to report problems with this site.

To report a problem, send an e-mail to our Webmaster

Copyright © 1996-2020 - WOODWEB ® Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without permission of the Editor.
Review WOODWEB's Copyright Policy.

The editors, writers, and staff at WOODWEB try to promote safe practices. What is safe for one woodworker under certain conditions may not be safe for others in different circumstances. Readers should undertake the use of materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk.

WOODWEB, Inc.
335 Bedell Road
Montrose, PA 18801

Contact WOODWEB