Moulding for the base

 Most of this rail is achieved with plough, rebate and hollow moulding planes.

It helps to sketch out the profile.

Then with a marking gauge, pull the main lines along the rails. Or just set the plough plane, according to the sketch, and use that to define the widths and levels of the moulding.

 

A rebate plane will fashion the triangle, and a hollow moulder for the cove. Then a straight chisel to separate the triangle into a long row of hipped roofs. Chop out the background and then punch highlights.

Another moulding to run on the very short front feet.

Chop some tenons and mortices and a trial assembly.

Oak window

 Just fitted this oak window for Joachim. 

Natural oak on the inside. White on the outside.

Gaps packed with lime mortar-soaked oakum. Outside.

And inside.

And topped off with lime mortar (NHL 3.5/sand). This is the best method for sealing between the window frame and masonry, and the window frame and oak lintel. It creates a weatherseal, while allowing the window frame to breathe.

The mortar is covered with wet hessian to slow down the curing.

Arcading for the back stiles.

 

Today has involved cutting the frame for the back wall of the livery cupboard, and carving the arcading. There are four of these, two on each stile, one for each level of the cupboard. The carving is pretty much all that will be seen of the stiles, so any tearout on this one will be hidden by the drawer and drawer sides on the mid-level. 

The top rail will be inside the cupboard, and the bottom and middle will be completely hidden from view by the middle and bottom shelf. It was common on joined furniture of this period (i.e. Tudor and 17th century) for unseen surfaces to be left rough; all visible surfaces get the best treatment, and the rest can whistle for their supper!

We were up in Dorset this week, surveying a muntin screen and related ceiling framing, with a view to restoring both.

While there, a visit to a few local houses, revealed a few little treasures.

Ooops, someone has cut through the rails, stiles and muntin to make the front of this 4 panel chest into a cupboard with doors. Tsk tsk!