Loyal readers,
First of all, I'm not even going to try to get that bottom piece of moulding. I think a standard quarter round at the bottom will be sufficient enough. The real showpiece in this baseboard configuration is the top cap.
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Please observe "that bottom piece of moulding" |
Well, take a look the west wall before the headboard bump-out below:
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Dummy baseboard thrown up there, take a look at that tape |
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it just gets worse as we move to the left |
It turns that that there is a about 1" of gap before the actual finish floor starts. Crap. I thought this might be a problem in this one spot, but installing the baseboard was a long ways off (I'm into like 8 months here!). In the olden days, there were true 1x's, so things where a little thicker. Also, they had a four piece baseboard originally in this house.
Well, guess who's
still going to have a four piece baseboard?
So, I pulled out the router and rummaged through the bits that I had. I'm not really a router guy, so my router bits consist of a bunch of straight cutting bits to cut rabbits and dadoes. Re-creating this base shoe is going to be difficult. I don't really feel like going out and buying some special bit for this operation. Let's see what we have here:
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Quick pass on a piece of Azec I have laying around. Router riding on the upright (top) side of board |
The above actually looks half decent. If you refer to the top picture, its not that close... but its not that far off either. In the end, I actually think this might look better that the original stuff
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The hashed part is the keeper. 1 5/8" tall by 1/2" deep |
My friend Mat will come over tomorrow to help me route and rip these boards. 16 footers are no joke, so I will need some assistance.
Anyway, let's move on to today's install. I started in the back of the room, as mention in
this previous post. Unfortunately, the baseboard was a little proud of my radiator cabinet when i put it up for install
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You can't really see it here, but trust me. Its about 1/8" proud of the cabinet. |
Now, you know I spent some time in Vermont when I pull out a framing chisel to pare down the back of the trim in order to fit the piece
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This thing cuts through wood like a hot knife through butter |
I can't say enough good things about
that chisel. I've built some amazing things with it. But, what could be more amazing than a 13" piece of baseboard in back corner of a bedroom in a crappy South Philly row home?
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A serious improvement. So serious that the camera has no idea. |
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dead nuts |
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Installed. Man that east wall is hammered! Notice that piece of drywall I glued to the wall as a spacer. Absolutely filthy. |
Continuing to the left in the room with the first piece of the baseboard
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North wall, radiator cabinet in the bottom right corner |
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Rounding the corner |
Making some progress. Tomorrow will be a big day as I will be custom milling some pieces of trim. After that it should be full speed ahead, god willing.
Late night on the occupy site, followed by an early rise tomorrow. I have about five back posts to make. Hopefully I can squeeze a few in this week. Time to hit the sack.