Replies

1. 
   boilerbay | Dec 06, 2008 01:06am | #1

   Very nice work. Finish trim work and built ins can sometimes be just as demanding as stand alone work. Well done.

   Boiler

1. 
   basswood | Dec 06, 2008 01:19am | #2

   Why, Thank You, Sir.I often have to drag an entire woodshop to work with me, and attempt to get shop quality work with portable contractor tools... that is a challenge.Here is an example of that:

   
2. 
   Eef | Dec 06, 2008 02:00am | #3

   bass,

   brother!  be a lurker, no more!

   for many years now i too have worn the hat of the cabinetmaker as well as the hat of the finish/trim carpenter.  to this day im often hired to do what you do.  there were many times when the cabinet work was dry that i had to seek finish work.  and i know what you mean about bringing the whole shop to the job site.  i spent many years working as a rough carpenter then gradually as i learned more, i got more and more finish type work.  always, however, there lurked in me the desire to do more and more cabinet work.

   thanks for posting pictures of your work, id bet easily that your skills are in high demand.

   eef

1. 
   basswood | Dec 06, 2008 02:12am | #4

   Thanks,I actually almost answered a "miter" question in another thread (though I provided the empirical approach rather than mathematical).Still staying busy.All the best,Bass

2. 
   basswood | Dec 06, 2008 10:59pm | #11

   Eef,Here are a few of my more interesting trim carpentry pics:

   
1. 
   Eef | Dec 07, 2008 02:12am | #12

   happy saturday bass,those images you've shared are best described as seriously high end work. you are not just a finish guy, that's pure art. did you custom grind/cut that spatula?
   looking at that wide crown molding reminds me of the first time i had to "hang" six inch sprung crown to the tune of sixteen feet, alone, me and my chopsaw, two finish nails and some nylon twine to hold it up and in place while i cut and fit and cut and fit and...nice work,
   eef

1. 
   dgreen | Dec 07, 2008 02:16am | #13

   I was wondering about that knife too. Sure shows the difference between a pro and a hack with a 5 gal. bucket of mud! 

    

   ................................................

   Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.~ Denis Diderot

1. 
   Eef | Dec 07, 2008 05:38am | #17

   d,

   when i was in trade school a few of my fellow students were given extensive shaper knife grinding lessons.  i, unfortunately, was not one of them.  bass's spatula reminded me of that.  of course this was in the days of six inch slick knives and their attendant horror stories, all a thing of the past now.

   eef

2. 
   dgreen | Dec 07, 2008 05:50am | #18

   It's a talent that eludes me. I cut and grind card scrapers to custom shapes and it always involves cursing. 

    

   ................................................

   Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.~ Denis Diderot

2. 
   basswood | Dec 07, 2008 02:23am | #14

   Thanks Eef,I've been doing the decidedly unglamorous task of repointing my foundation today (1850's basic colonial revival), so I'm looking forward to getting back to trim and shop work. Weekends like this make me appreciate my job.I just traced the crown profile onto an 8" drywall knife with a sharpie, rough cut it on a portaband and tuned it up on a bench grinder.For solo work, I cope all my inside corners and run the crown in reverse order so I can use the cope to hold one end of the next piece up for me.Cheers,Bass

3. 
   basswood | Dec 07, 2008 04:20am | #15

   Here is another option for solo crown:http://www.littlegreensucker.com/Crown_Molding.html

1. 
   Eef | Dec 07, 2008 05:29am | #16

   bass,

   where's that little green sucker when i needed it?!

   i like your cope one end to hold it in place trick, very cool.

   eef

3. 
   PeterDurand | Dec 06, 2008 02:47am | #5

   Nice work. I like the dog.

   Cheers,

   Peter

    

   Better life through Zoodles and poutine...

1. 
   basswood | Dec 06, 2008 02:56am | #6

   Thanks, I'm just glad the dog liked me. ;o)

4. 
   ted | Dec 06, 2008 03:29am | #7

   Having been a "trimmer" myself in a former life I know the challenges of making someone else's work look good. Now as a woodworker and an educator I've built all manner of projects out of wood and by my own experiences I can say the most complex thing I've ever built was a set of funky stairs that featured curved risers and treads shop-built and exposed from above and below.
   Some of the stuff in that Dewalt competition IMHO shouldn't even be in there. I know it's great to feel proud of something you've poured your heart over but come on, Besides Stan's work I haven't seen anything in there exemplifying extraordinary talent or that features work and craftsmanship beyond what most of the posters here could do.
   Stan Foster has the competition beat hands-down and sets the bar for what type of work should be in that contest.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 12/6/2008 11:34 am ET by ted

1. 
   basswood | Dec 06, 2008 04:31am | #8

   I started as an educator (science teacher, 7 yrs) and morphed into a carpenter.I get more shop work each year than the year before, so if the trend continues, I may need to spend more time in Knots.My current project is a bunch of fluted columns for a commercial job:

   
5. 
   philip | Dec 06, 2008 06:04am | #9

   Bass,
   Very good, I hope you keep posting pictures and discussing all and sundry.But for the love of the lord, don't talk about tools, especially hand tools, as this indicates that you are a waster, a pretender and have no interest or love of working wood-that is according to one or two tame goblins that we cultivate , just to maintain a balance on things , you understand.

   Philip Marcou
1. 
   basswood | Dec 06, 2008 02:20pm | #10

   Thank you,I may have run into one of the goblins already. ;o) Best to remain calm, I reckon, and not make any sudden moves. I'll try not to be a stranger and post when it might be of benefit.Regards,Bass

6. 
   gofigure57 | Dec 07, 2008 07:11pm | #19

   Basswood nice work,  Fellow trimmer here as well.  I like doing the trimming though I prefer being in the shop.  Hrers some pics I think you will like.

   
1. 
   basswood | Dec 07, 2008 09:02pm | #20

   That is some amazing work. My work is middle to high end in my small market (boonies of Minnesota), but I've not done much work as nice as you show in your pictures. There are a few old mansions here with some amazing craftsmanship in them. I'll see if I can find those pics (not my work, but inspirational).Regards,Bass

2. 
   Jfrostjr | Dec 08, 2008 06:23pm | #21

   You work is amazing - fine furniture on the walls and ceiling. Congratulations and welcome.Frosty"I sometimes think we consider the good fortune of the early bird and overlook the bad fortune of the early worm." FDR - 1922