Mantel Top Progress
I slept more today than I worked on the mantel, but somehow still
managed to make some progress. The mantel top is 1 3/4" thick,
consisting of the plankI bought the other week at 2nd Use, laminated to
a 5/8" piece of plywood on the underside. Today I cut the trim
pieces that are attached around the edges, and glued thim in place
using yellow carpenter's glue, and several biscuits. Biscuits are
small tear shaped bits of thin plywood that fit into slots cut with a
biscuit joiner tool. They work pretty well for this type of
thing, mostly because they are completely hidden. Biscuits work
by expanding in place from the moisture of the glue, making a nice
strong joint.
In any event, the mantel top is set in place at the moment, and we're
enjoying looking at it. It needs more sanding, but then it will
be ready to be glued (and likely screwed, if I can figure out how to
hide the heads) to the mantel, and then Trissa can varnish the whole
thing. I can't wait!