Replies

1. 
   Jamie_Buxton | Sep 07, 2004 03:40am | #1

   There was a pretty good article in FWW #156.

1. 
   Michaeljay | Sep 07, 2004 04:19pm | #4

   Jamie,

   I have it page 74.  Thanks for the direction.  I have also been looking at the tombstone door writeup in "Shaping Wood" also by Lonnie Bird.  Have you made tombstone doors?  What pit falls should I watch out for? 

   MKabes 

1. 
   Jamie_Buxton | Sep 07, 2004 05:57pm | #5

   They're pretty similar to any other arch-top door, except for the hand work necessary to make the inside corners on the panel.  Doing that, and sanding cleanly into that inside corner, are challenging.   Unless you're doing an exact reproduction piece, you might consider an arch-top which you can make without the hand-work.

1. 
   Michaeljay | Sep 09, 2004 06:52am | #7

   Jamie,

   Thanks again for the added info.  It's nice to know there are fellow craftspeople that are willing to share experience.

   MKabes

2. 
   joinerswork | Sep 07, 2004 05:29am | #2

   BJ,

   Look at as many old examples as you can find.  Wallace Nutting's "Furniture Treasury" is one good place, for starters.  There are several variations of the basic design.  You may have the arch a semi-circle, at either the edge of the field or the edge of the frame.  If you make the frame a semi-circle, the field will either be more than half circle, or will have a short straight section before the "shoulders".  Alternatively you may want the arch to be something less than a full half circle.  I recommend drawing it out full size, at least the top 1/3 of the door.

   Just went thru the Biltmore mansion in Asheville, NC.  Fantastic woodwork there, all kinds of variations on raised panelling, both in the furniture, and on the walls.  Incredible place.

   Regards,

   Ray

1. 
   Michaeljay | Sep 07, 2004 04:10pm | #3

   Ray,

   Thanks for the response.  I have been looking at examples.  But more than seeing what tombstone doors look like and what style is attractive to me, I am seeking construction techniques and problems that will arise and how to avoid them. 

   MKabes

1. 
   joinerswork | Sep 07, 2004 09:02pm | #6

   BJ,

   Construction is the same as a square paneled door.  Mortise and tenon.  I line the mortises up with the groove for the panel, size the groove to suit the mortise; I like 5/16" for 7/8"stock.  If you have a stuck mold around the inside of the frame, you can cope together, or miter the molding; I prefer to chop the cope.

   I run the mold first on the stiles, and the bottom rails.

   Then mortise the stiles, locating the mortises from the edge of the stuck mold. Cut tenons to suit, on bottom and top rails.  I like tenons at least 1" long.

   Next cut the groove for the panel on the stiles and bottom rails.

    Finally, to catch up the top rails, cut the arch,run the mold, cut the groove (I do this running against collars, on the shaper). Match the set up to what's already done.  I chop the cope last. 

   To make the panel, I cut the top from a pattern generated by the full size drawing.  Raise the three straight sides, on the shaper, with raised panel cutter.  I'm not comfortable running a cutter that big against collars.  I then cut the top to match, by routing the edge of the panel (part that fits in the groove) with a straight bit, also the edge of the field.  Then carve the raised area between the two by hand.  The worst part is the inside corner, right at the shoulder.  You have to carve it from the corner out on the arched side.  A skewed carver's chisel helps with this.

   Others will doubtless have different methods.  This is what works for me, usually I'm building them two at a time, if you are doing a bunch probably would want to avoid the hand work.

   Regards,

   Ray

1. 
   Michaeljay | Sep 09, 2004 06:54am | #8

   Ray,

   Thank you also for giving additional info.  It means alot to hear from craftspeople that are willing to share experience both good and bad. 

   MKabes