Replies

1. 
   chamfer | Jul 05, 2009 05:39pm | #1

   Hi Nic,

   I had really hoped that a couple of others, here, might have replied by now. Since that hasn't happened, I guess I'll try to get the ball rolling. I take it that your client wants something of the look of traditional glazed furniture/cabinet doors, often denoted as "barred doors" or "traceried doors."

   In the interest of suggesting a few possible designs, I'm attaching an image of some English examples, as illustrated by Charles Hayward in his _English Period Furniture_. As I hope you can see, Hayward indicates the moulding was often a small astragal, which term was often used to indicate the moulding on these doors, even if of another profile. The size/visual-weight of the astragal could be scaled, somewhat, according to the size of the doors, but they're typically fairly small. Say, in the range of 3/8" +/- overall width for the astragal members.

   You may already know this, but the traditional method of construction for these barred doors is quite different from sash work. The members are constructed of two parts, the moulded front, or astragal, and the "bar" or "slat" which creates the rabbet to take the glass. Using a dimensioned flat panel for backing, with the tracery pattern drawn on it, full size, one can either install the astragal pieces or the slat pieces first. Each approach has its advocates.

   The slats are typically mortised into the rails and stiles (the exact configuration depending on which part is being installed first), but the remainder of the joinery often consists of miters. Though circumstances will sometimes call for, or allow, V-joints, half-laps, dovetailing, or veneer keys. These slat joints are often re-enforced with pieces of thin cotton or linen cloth (sometimes called scrim) or tape.

   In the better class of work, the astragal pieces have grooves run in their backs, to register them onto the slats. They are joined with miters, and, traditionally, miter templates and/or special miter shooting boards were employed in accomplishing this joinery.

   I could go into even more detail, but feel that would quickly become very tedious. If you need/want more detail, provide me with an e-mail address via a private message, and I'll be happy to forward some additional information.

   Hope this helps a little.

   Don McConnell
   Eureka Springs, AR