JLC Article Published

JLC published my article on Fast job site joinery using pocket screws and corrugated fasteners.
Look for it in the April 2010 Toolbox Thank you JLC!

Tip Article Published!

I recently wrote an article about a great tip I learned on JLC from Frank Caputo. I put it to use on a recent job. The Trick made for a great article. THISisCARPENTRY.com Published it over the weekend. Check it out here: Frank Screw Trick

Mantel finished...

Well Dad and I finished the mantel today. Such a smooth install! We build everything so we could transport it easy by building it all as take downable components. A really fun way to do it and was possible using pocket holes.
The design was perfect too. Not over sized or heavy on the moldings. Lots of details yet restrained profiles. Check out the whole process on my gallery:
Traditional Mantel Design & Install
Let me know what you think? Im always looking for new, different, and better designs.

Traditional Mantel Design

Currently, Im in the shop working on this mantel for our customer. The design was inspired by a picture in Get Your House Right. I also used a few other resourses to help me decide on the details. What I like most about this design is that all the moldings are restrained. Im used to using larger moldings for mantels but every picture I have seen recently in most of my books show mantels with smaller moldings..and over hanging emphasized mantel tops. I thought I would step out of my comfort zone on this one, and use some of the new things I have been learning. Of course none of this would be possible if I did not use Sketchup to see what my ideas would look like. Also to get my customers approval on my design.

Look for an update on progress shots soon!

Ive Been really BUSY!

Well Ive been really busy. Im sorry I havent been able to put much on the blog. So I thought i would give an update to any who are reading this...
This Year I Bought my first house. I have been working on it every chance i get. Even at night. LOL. But Im definitly creating a small master piece. I'm transforming my 1950s house into a 1908 Bungalow. Im extremely influenced by Greene & Greene Architects. Who built a bunch of custom homes in Pasadena CA, during the early 20th century...The Greene brothers defined the Arts & Crafts Movement in California. Most notable house is the Gamble House. I recently got to visit the Gamble house in Pasadena as well as see most of the other G&G houses in the nieghborhood. There too much to see...So Im planning another trip soon to do it again. I also drove up to Sacramento to see the John T. Greene house...as well as the Thorsen house in Berkeley. Its my goal to seek out these remaining homes and to see them in person. Most are all Privately owned.. so really I can only see the outside, from the streets. There are a ton books that show the insides..Im building my collection of them.

Anyways. Check out my Photo album of my house progress.

As well as my Gamble House Trip!


Thanks for your patience with me and my posts! I have some interesting stuff coming up sooner then later I promise!

Thanks for reading

How we install a 3 piece casing from WindsorONE

The Improper Use of Cyma Recta (Crown Molding)

I see lots of people misuse crown molding. There are 2 ways that people mess up. One major mess up, is that they install it upside down. The other way which is what I'm most intrigued by and guilty of myself is using crown molding in an improper way. Using the wrong crown for the job. These illustrations are from one of my Favorite books "Get Your House Right" This book really has helped me with my details. You will never design the same way after reading it.

There are 2 types of crown molding, Cyma Recta (self terminating) and Cyma Reversa (supportive). How can you tell which one is which? Start by examining the top of the molding. If it points OUT, then its a self terminating molding. If the profile points UP then its a supportive molding. Why is that important? When your designing millwork you want the details to feel like they belong. Drawing the eye upward and out.
The moldings in a build up should showcase that they are fluid and are uninterrupted all the way to the top and have a graceful finish. In this picture, notice how the Entablature on the top feels cut short or missing something. It also looks very odd and is lacking that finish or ending. Almost making it seem like there is no point. Trim work like this is very amateurish in nature, because there is no thought to the classical orders of architecture.

Now look at the Entablature on the bottom. It just feels right, and complete. Notice also on the lower one the bed molding has the chunk or meat at the top so it can look like its holding all the weight of the corona and terminating cyma on top. Look closely at the miter and see that it invites your eyes to continue looking up and out to see the weight and also the delicateness of the finishing fillet at the top. Very attractive!

Here is another example of using the wrong crown. The eye is seeing a heavy beam detail but with that delicate crown holding it up. That just doesn't work aesthetically, because of the smaller profiles and the outward direction the crown is pointing. It draws the eye out and away from the rest of the beam. The details are still going up so you want your molding to be pointing toward the next detail or where the finish line is..that is Up at the ceiling, or top of the entablature. The natural place the eye wants to go.



See this one is much better...The crown is supportive of the next part of the detail..The Beam. Also, at the top of the beam is a self terminating molding (Cyma Recta) which shows your eye the finish. Knowing when, where , and how to use these moldings appropriately is something that all quality finish carpenters should know. Especially if they claim to be attentive to the details. I have been installing moldings for the past 14 years only recently learned this. I have to admit its a humbling experience learning that details that you thought were correct...are actually Very Wrong architecturally speaking!....That is why its important to take the time and study the craft. I have always had an eye for the details and knowing what looks good. . But it wasn't until I read some books like the one I mentioned that explained the reasoning behind the design. There is a reason why something looks good. It really makes a HUGE difference in the end result. You cant just throw moldings together expecting them to look as good as those from the past.

The main Goal for me is to always try to be architecturally correct when I design. For me that means getting the little details right. Granted most people probably wouldn't even care or think about the details like i would. But I feel that in order to be a better finish carpenter, you need to study the craft. Putting together Millwork that looks and feels good requires that you know the reason why you put those moldings together. Look at Historic and classical architecture to get the details right. Its always something I'm working on..and it can be frustrating at times..but the sense of satisfaction I get from caring about the details is truly rewarding...