Thread: Bevel on plinth blocks

The skirting you are fitting is known as a Torus Moulding and to complete the look you can get a scaled down Torus architrave, which would sit nicely on the plinth block in the attached image, note the chamfer is running vertical, this means you get a better paint finish than putting the bevel/chamfer in the direction of your design.

plinth block.JPG

Here is a link to someone making Torus skirting although I feel his proportions are not fully correct, but the general shape is there.

Making Torus Skirting Boards - YouTube

This would be the rough shape of how I would look to make the plinth block to complement your Torus skirting.

CAD drawing Plinth block for Torus skirting.JPG

Thanks, camelot. The matching architrave in the picture looks lovely. Good recommendation. I already have architrave, though. Just standard bullnose stuff. It was already there and I don't really want to replace it throughout the entire house, to be honest.

Interesting point re: quality of the paint finish based on direction of chamfer/bevel. I'll consider that. Vertically looks perfectly nice as well.

Which brings me back to my original question: How do I cut the bugger (such that the line is crisp and clean, the output is consistent, and all appendages and other vital organs are intact when I'm done)?

Originally Posted by tryingitathome

Thanks, camelot. The matching architrave in the picture looks lovely. Good recommendation. I already have architrave, though. Just standard bullnose stuff. It was already there and I don't really want to replace it throughout the entire house, to be honest.

Interesting point re: quality of the paint finish based on direction of chamfer/bevel. I'll consider that. Vertically looks perfectly nice as well.

Which brings me back to my original question: How do I cut the bugger (such that the line is crisp and clean, the output is consistent, and all appendages and other vital organs are intact when I'm done)?

Based on your design and because you have a few of them to do, why not make a mitre box (they don't have to be just for 45 degree cuts) then buy a brand new fine tooth saw (this will hopefully ensure the set on the teeth is correct thus allowing you to cut a nice straight line) and mark your angle on the box with a sliding bevel. Once you have your box setup you should be able to get matching results

Architrave add on.JPG

With your pencil round architrave you could just add a moulding like the one I have drawn in yellow, this would make it look more traditional and sit nicely on your plinth block because I think the large Torus skirting and the small pencil round architrave will look out of proportion when they abut your plinth block

Good suggestion. I agree it would look out of proportion based on the width of the pencil-round/bullnose architrave in your diagram. It is, however, 70mm wide so with a 90mm plinth block, that's only 10mm either side. Or am I missing something?

Originally Posted by tryingitathome

Good suggestion. I agree it would look out of proportion based on the width of the pencil-round/bullnose architrave in your diagram. It is, however, 70mm wide so with a 90mm plinth block, that's only 10mm either side. Or am I missing something?

No your not missing anything, I guessed at the size of your architrave based on off the shelf sections, but having a plain thin architrave and a traditional moulded skirting which is quite wide may look odd, I was just wanting to show how you could modify your architrave without having to remove it, to give you a beefier look.

Thank you, camelot. I appreciate the suggestion; I would never have thought of that.

Back to the basic look for now, though... I made two mock-ups today out of cardboard:

plinth-block_mockup1.jpg

plinth-block_mockup2.jpg


You have to imagine them with round-overs on the outside (vertical) edges.

I don't think they look terrible, but it certainly illustrates your point re: fancy-schmancy skirting and Plain Jane architrave.

The missus isn't particularly interested in shelling out for a more decorative, rebated element to sit on the outside edge of the architrave. Perhaps I should consider a slightly more ornate plinth block design. She sent me this image, which I quite like:

plinth-block_idea.jpg

...which begs the question: How easy or difficult is it to make that kind of thing? I'm guessing I'd need a special moulding set for the table saw and/or router table ??????

Use your off cuts of skirting and cut the top moulding off and then plant it on top of your plain plinth block, then the moulding on your plinth block will match your skirting

Originally Posted by Camelot

Use your off cuts of skirting and cut the top moulding off and then plant it on top of your plain plinth block, then the moulding on your plinth block will match your skirting

What an elegantly simple solution! I'll give that a crack and see how it looks.

Thank you