Just Pat

"...all language about everything is analogical; we think in a series of metaphors. We can explain nothing in terms of itself, but only in terms of other things." (Dorothy Sayers, Mind of the Maker, 1941)

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Location: West Michigan

Monday, December 12, 2005

Construction Chronicles Part 26

This weekend I made a lot of headway. I started cutting my baseboard, which will go in the guest room, hallway, and half of my bedroom. The task was more difficult than I anticipated. You need the right tools. I have 7 1/2 inch baseboard and a compound mitre saw that isn't big enough to cut the whole piece. Never having been the whiz in geometry, I didn't get it that you can't just flip the board over and cut the rest - you can't get the same angle any other way. So the last two inches of every angle cut I did had to be cut by hand. While this task strengthened my mental connection with the original builder, it didn't help the baseboard any. I just don't have the strength or the stable workbench needed to make a good straight cut.
I also am exploring the joys of
coping corners. It makes a nice clean fit if you do it right. When making a 45 degree angle cut, the surface of the left piece matches the profile of the right piece. If you cut off the mitre carefully, it should make a perfect fit in the corner. Of course, this leaves the realm of hammer and nails and charges boldly into the world of sculpture. I've never done this before and am frankly frightened that I'll ruin $500.00 worth of trim, but what the heck - I'm giving it a go.
While all this was going on, I got my bedroom closet trimmed out, and my bedroom archway. The archway was fun. I have three different woods going on here: the original jambs and base blocks - possibly cedar or cypress; the header and left trim piece from the Habitat for Humanity Restore, taken from an old house in the area - wood type unknown; and a new poplar trim piece on the right that I had made.
I'm using two different colors of stains - one for the new poplar and another for the old trim. They're not exact, but pretty darned close.


4 Comments:

Blogger Captainwow said...

BYOOOOOOOOOTIFUL!!

5:17 PM  
Blogger Kevmo said...

Ooohh. I'm very impressed. Looks great.

12:23 PM  
Blogger Headless-in-GR said...

Sunrise...Dusk...Midnight...

Got it!

9:59 AM  
Blogger Jaden's Mom said...

I am constantly amazed by the progress I see every time I visit your page. I admire your skill, and your bravery in taking on the task of giving your house its very own extreme makeover. Beautiful!

8:31 PM  

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