Shopsmith Forums

Beautifully done project . I love the cherubs on the mantle !
Paul

Thanks, guys. We have finally made it to final assembly!

Cut to length, the mantel beam still weighed upward of 150 lb. So I "enlisted" (OK, drafted) my oldest daughter's boyfriend, a strapping lad, to help me carry the beam up from the workshop and set it in place on the corbels. To make sure that it won’t get pulled down by future grandchildren, I cut locating pins from a couple of nails and simply pinned the beams to the corbels. I figure that anyone big enough to lift that beam off of the pins is big enough to know better.
The above view is very popular, as the floor in front of the fireplace is a coveted place to lie on a cold winter night.

And finally, here is the finished mantel, all decked out with family photos. Fire, anyone?
I’d be remiss if I didn’t include a close-up of the Mother’s day presents that my twins, 13 years old at the time, made on our Shopsmith jigsaw. From cherry and purpleheart.

Great project, thanks for sharing.

Wow, brother, the result is better than expected, you sir are a lucky man. Beautiful family ....

Nice work and artistic engineering!

Very nice!

Great job! It looks great there.

Wow! Just plain great!!!!

Love the mantel and all of the explanation.

Great Family

So I see the 'twins' are the girls.

Nothing I can add to what has already been said by others, other than I totally agree with it all. VERY nicely done. I was thinking dowels to 'pin' it last nite. Hope those are 'fat' nails.

Wow! That is really nice.

That is great looking.