I recently saw an article in “American Woodworker” (Feb) that illustrated various picture frame profiles achieved using combinations of ordinary router bits. Has anyone seen a similar article/book/guide that shows possible moulding options that can be routed by using a combination of bits?
I’ll likely do some experimenting but after seeing the article I can see the benefit of an illustrated guide (not to mention the $ savings on owning so many specialty profile bits.
mike
Replies
As to seeing a book on mixing and matching profiles of bits, No I have not. But I do it often when doing picture frames and it can be time consuming to get what you desire. But I have taken full scale catalog photos and cut them out and piece them together to see what I can get rather than experiment on lumber. The possibilities are endless and limited only to your imagination.
Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
I haven't seen an organized guide, either, but the potential combinations are almost infinite.
I think there is a certain Zen to the whole thing. Once you "become one" with your router bits, you'll start seeing their faces in the clouds. ;-)
at last years wood working show in STL, Freud had a bit set for Picture frames and a video that came with it. I cant remember it specifically but I was out of money and did not pursue it. It was a nice set and the combinations make some spectacular frames. I know there's a dude from freud that frequents this forum, maybe he will see and know what I was speaking of. Sorry, but I can't remember his name. Good luck.
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Mike
I have seen articles in Woodsmith on this: check their archives. Probably every woodworking magazine has done the same over the years.
There is a chapter on making your own profiles in the book "Making Picture Frames in Wood" by Manly Banister, Sterling Publishing. My copy is dated 1982 although I just bought it about 5 years ago. It is not well illustrated but should give you some ideas.
You can do a lot with basic router bits - straight, cove, round-over, etc. Eagle-America has some interesting profiles in a size proportionate to normal-sized frames.
I must admit that for me, it is hard enough to get one consistent routed edge, so I have come to avoid complicated profiles. I find that plain and simple works best for me to showcase the beauty of the wood.
I guess I should have mentioned that I made the props for this link. http://eagleamerica.com/picture-frame-and-mirror-bits/p/165-0105/r
The lumbers were curly maple, Honduras mahogany, walnut and cherry. Upon completion of the corners and carrying them back to work. I happened to stack them together and decided how interesting it would be to mix up the contrasting lumber strips and different profiles. Glue them together for a wider and more complex profiles.
It was a stroke of luck and weird imagination.
Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
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