![]() The frame also receives a decorative bead routed along the front.ĭominos provide a mortise-and-tenon joint, which is super strong, and durable. Once satisfied with the fit I used a Festool DF500 Domino cutter to cut slots in the miter joints. I cut 45-degree miters on the frame parts and dry-fitted them and the slate to see how things were fitting. rabbet router bit and a router fence, I set the width and depth the cut a rabbet on the opposite face of the newly routed 3/8-in. plywood backing board would span over any areas larger, further holding the slate in place. I figured a secure fit was better than a loose fit, and knew the 1/4-in. The average thickness was 1/4 inch but there were some thicker spots so I made the rabbet 5/16 inch deep and wide. I measured the slate in numerous locations and found it to vary in thickness. The rear of the frame is routed with a groove (rabbet) to provide a recess to hold the slate. This allows you to “lock” the slate securely into the frame. The purpose is to hold the slate and allow a back cover to attach flush to the frame. A rabbet is a recess or “one-sided” groove cut into the edge of the frame. The next step is to cut a rabbet to recess the slate into. I then used 100-grit sandpaper to sand the bead and lightly break (round off) the sharp routed edges. Once the routing is complete I used a block plane to remove the mill marks that the router bit leaves behind. I’m a huge fan of collecting dust at the source during long-term sanding applications. I used a router table fence only because I wanted to use my dust-collection system. The ball-bearing guide on the router bit ensures that you get a consistent bead along the entire length. radius router (with ball bearing bit) mounted in a router table. Sketch the dimensions of your frame design to use as a reference.Īfter choosing the “best face” of the wood, I routed a bead along one entire edge of all four-frame parts. Because we were mitering the frame corners, all four parts could be cut to the final length and width. Next, I cut the top and bottom pieces to the exact width. The first step was to cut the chalkboard frame sides (long parts) to the exact height of our project. I took our materials into my “Concord Carpenter” shop and began construction. We could have also used Poplar species, which is a cheaper alternative and is also known for its “knot-free” qualities. This was a paint-grade project so we used clear, select pine for the frame, because it has little to no knots. Because no fine maneuvering is required, even a relatively heavy cabinet can be hung this way. The bevels interlock and secure the item to the wall. One cleat is mounted to the wall and the other to the item you want to hang. ![]() It involves using two ‘cleat’ boards, each with an opposing 30-45 degree bevel. Real slate chalkboard is heavy, and we figured that we would need to mount this on the brick chimney with masonry screws and a French cleat.Ī French cleat is a sturdy way to secure a heavy item to a wall. radius bead along the inside edge of the frame for aesthetics and to complement the existing bead-board backsplash in the kitchen. wide frame was not only a nice proportion but looked similar to the surrounding trim and cabinet styles. Remember that width and measurement will be the frame edges, and the slate will be cut smaller to fit into this frame, similar to a picture frame. The first step in many projects like this is to determine the size of the chalkboard. It’s a creative alternative to traditional chalkboards, and the look complements many designs and home projects. Salvaged slate chalkboard has a beautiful, aged look to it. ![]() They had a small space in mind, approximately 20 x 54 inches, in front of an exposed brick chimney. Our client loved the antique look and feel of the slate and wanted to make a smaller chalkboard for their kitchen. This blackboard was originally installed in the French classroom of the school more than a century ago and was recently replaced with a whiteboard during a remodel. A client of mine came across an old slate blackboard that was salvaged from a boarding school. In this article I cut a 100-year-old, recycled slate chalkboard and create a custom-sized frame to hang it in. Alternative Heating & Fireplace InsertsĪ Classic Kitchen Accessory Mounted with a French Cleat.
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