Project - "Making the Grandfather's Clock - Making the Top Frame"

    Two weeks ago, Beth had bookmatched and glued up some figured walnut burl. In the interim, we have been French polishing to see how high a gloss we could get. It is looking good. We will probably do all the veneered panels this way.

wpe1E1.jpg (15541 bytes)
wpe1E2.jpg (13249 bytes)

    Each of the veneer panels will be shaped and the edges raised. That will come later, right now it is time to continue with the frames.

    Beth starts the top frame section. She notes that the drawings call for 1 1/2" square stock or to glue up three pieces of 1/2" stock. The 1 1/2" square stock is then rabbeted to give the 1/2" sides.
   We looked at this for some time and decided that it we were very careful, we could use 1/2" pieces and use the locking miter joint to give us the nice crisp corner.

wpe1E3.jpg (13082 bytes)
wpe1E4.jpg (9623 bytes)

  Beth has seen the locking miter bit used but has not used it herself. I said that the joint is great and easy to do if you follow the basic set-up rules.

     She is using the bent wrench to install the bit in the router. She has already put the fence insert in place for this bit.
   I have cut an insert for this bit. One side on the insert is with the bit centered on 1/2" stock, and the other side is for it centered on 3/4" stock. The custom insert will give Beth a smoother cut and is better for dust collection.

wpe1E5.jpg (14458 bytes)
wpe1E6.jpg (13426 bytes)

   She sets the height of the bit to be approximately at the 1/2 point of the stock. With this, she runs two pieces of stock. One is marked "A" and the other "B". She runs the "A" side up and the "B" side down.

   She places the two cut pieces together. She was lucky. The two lined up perfectly. She is ready to make the cuts.

wpe1E7.jpg (10048 bytes)
wpe1E8.jpg (13530 bytes)

   On each of the corners, she selects one piece to be run flat on the table.

   She runs the mating piece against the fence. The walnut mills very well. While the fence was set to make the final cut in one pass, she makes a second pass just to "clean out" the cut.

wpe1E9.jpg (12290 bytes)
wpe1EA.jpg (14281 bytes)

   Beth inspects her corner pieces. They fit together perfectly and give a sharp, square outside corner. What's best is that the sides are already the 1/2" stock, so they can now be routed with the rail and stile cutters to fit the rest of the frame section.

Main Menu                 Previous  Page                     Next Page