Just curious about “thumbnail” profiles. I’ve seen them mentioned in reference to rule joints, but at least today seems most of the rule joints are actually using quarter-circle roundover patterns.
A few years ago for a tabletop edge I looked for “thumbnail” router bits but only found roundover patterns.
Obviously shop made molding planes could have a more elongated roundover pattern.
Anyone care to discourse on what might be traditional thumbnail patterns, their history and use? Any related info on thumbnail vs roundover would be interesting as well. Thanks.
Replies
Don:
I bought this thumbnail bit from Lee Valley last year, I purchased the smaller one of the two listed. Here are a couple of pictures of a small chest of one drawer I made for my wife's mother, the drawer front was profiled with the thumbnail bit, they recently moved into a seniors complex and her new night table was to short for her to see here clock while she was in bed, so I was asked to build a box for her to set her clock on, but I thought this would be more functional.
Mike
Nice box. Made you Moma happy I bet.I read a tip in a "Wooden Boat" magazine use the nearest quarter round then a few passes with ####shoulder plane to adjust the radius/ovoid shape.I have done this and it works fairly slick.
Thank you Mr. Shoemaker, yes she was pleased.
I bet that would work slick.
Mike
Don,
In my experience, "thumbnail" is sort of a generic term for either an ovolo or quarter round molding, with a fillet or "step" on one side. Usually used to describe the molding worked on the edge of a table top, or a lipped drawer.
Ovolo-- 1/4 of an ellipse, where quarter round is obviously, 1/4 of a circle.
Ray
That would explain why "thumbnail" moldings in pictures never looked alike, but similar.
I've done "thumb-nail" edges on several projects. and found them easily done with ordinary smoothing planes and a bit of sanding.
Tom Higby
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled