For the next accent piece design we are taking the grape motif from the the gate and applying it in a smaller scale. We had the opportunity to purchase a small (2′ x 2′) CNC machine nearly ten years ago which has made this project much more approachable. By taking a 3D file and computing it, we are able to generate a toolpath file that tells our machine what to carve. My son (with the majority of the computing skills) imports, scales, tweaks and renders the CNC files for routing.

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Just a quick update on the pine mantel. The installation went swimmingly. The main beam slid on to two supporting arms and was fastened. Here’s the finished piece after the masonry.

We moved to the Sierra Foothills about 15 years ago. There were a few wineries around, though the area has blossomed into dozens. The rolling hills with acres of vineyards is beautiful and inspiring. After getting a small CNC router, our carving possibilities increased, and the grape / vine motif seemed a natural fit. I wanted a rustic gate with a rusty metal frame. Collaborating with welder Earle Trimble, we slid the carved boards through the welded steel frame. The metal was rust-finished and the pine board were wire brushed to give a coarse, worn feel.

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The idea for this mantel was to look as though a timber had been rough-hewn with an adze (swung between the legs), mounted on its corbels, and set within a natural stone fireplace surround. The advantage of building with smaller pieces is a reduction in the overall weight and simplified wall mounting.

The front piece (1½” thick) was left solid while every subsequent piece had its center removed. Face gluing these boards created a hollow box. With a couple of scrap middles, I made a cleat with a few sticking out.

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