fire place mantels

[solodan]

Chris, it is a saddle notch that consists of two straight cuts. Basically a v cut into the bottom of the mantle and then the supports get two flat spots to make a point. Then I feather out the point just past the contact of the two pieces. This makes a very tight fit and the illusion that  one of the pieces is scribed to the natural contour of the other log. Even upon close examination it is hard to tell that it is just two straight cuts. If you are working with bigger logs, you could make this three flat and straight cuts, basically a v again but with a flat bottom.

[WDH]

Solodan,

I re-read this thread, and I went to your gallery to see the mantles that Larry referenced.  They were outstanding .  You should have posted some of those pics...(maybe you did but I did not see them).

Here are a couple of mantles that I made.  The walnut one is in my house, and it is the plain-jane model.  The ash mantle was one I made for Dodgy Loner's Aunt JT.

 

 

Getting a big chunk of wood without splits and checks can be challenging .

[Dodgy Loner]

I seem to remember you having a few more of those walnut mantle pieces laying around, WDH!  I think when I build a house, I'll cut a knotty redcedar mantle about 3" thick with a live edge.  The straight edges look better in a more formal house than what I intend to build.

[WDH]

Yes, I have 3 more blanks that are 4" by 12" by 10 '.  I also have daughters, so you can guess what that means .

The little log cabin might need a nice cedar mantle when you add on to it .

[ladylake]

I wouldn't say I was an expert, I just make alot of them.   I kind of already do what everyone else is saying, I custom saw each one. But I think there is a need for precut ones as well, cause sometimes I feel I give the customer to many options, and most of them don't really know what they want. What I really like is when they just tell me to make whatever I want. If it is for yourself, well now , I guess you can do it however you want. 

How dry do you get the mantels before installing them?    Steve

[solodan]

ladylake,

I just got back from your neck of the woods today. I was out visiting my wife's family in Minnisota and Wisconsin. I usually get the surface down to about 8%- 10%, something that is easily accomplished out my way just air drying. Most of the work I do is fairly rustic, so checks are ok, but twisting is not. I looked back at what I wrote and claimed that I had never had any twist,  I do know of one live edge slab I cut for someone that was 7" thick that twisted. It was one of the first I had ever cut for someone else. The pith ran through it corner to corner . Of course it twisted. This could have been avoided.   I do try to use standing dead incense cedar If I can. This stuff is usually very dry and very stable.

WDH, Thank you. Yours are outstanding as well. 

[treecyclers]

I do a lot of custom mantles myself.
I cut from 2 1/2" thick to 12" thick, 8-20" deep, and as long as I can go.
I do a ton of quarter round mantles with a rustic edge, mostly of Juniper and Pine, which people here love.
If they finish it out, prices start at $300, if I finish it out, prices start at $500.
Superdave

[blaze83]

Hi All,

this is a really interesting thread, I never considered using a thicker slab for a mantle, hee is one I did a couple of years ago. I used crown molding and some other moldings to build up the mantle and give it a sturdy feel. it's a little easier when it is for a gas or eletric fireplace then real wood heat,  less shrinkage because of the lower heat.... or maybe I'm wrong...that's deffinatly happened before
trying to rember how to post the photo if its not here it will be shortly

see ya

blaze83

[blaze83]

ok, I think I remember...here we go

[WDH]

Looks great Blaze .  Yours is the more refined traditional approach I think.