OAK MANTLE AND SURROUND A warm look to a once cold corner. SHOP OWNER: Bryan Cowing LOCATION: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada     After two years, I finally found time to finish the mantle in our new house. I covered the protruding 2x6 base with 3/4" oak stock, laminating up an 18" width for the hearth board.     To frame the firebox of the gas fireplace, I cut black marble floor tile to a 5" width. I assembled four raised panels and a flat section to cover the drywall.     Using a Vega Pro-36 copier, I turned the four 6" x 6" x 13" column ends.     This shot shows me cutting the 24 beads for the 5" diameter center section of the column.     Test fitting the column parts.     Here I dry-fitted all the parts. The mantle top is a hollow box about 4" x 14" x 88". The top is laminated solid oak and the bottom is 3/4" particle board veneer with three strips of 3/4" x 2"scraps to separate the top and bottom pieces. I used biscuits to align and hold the front 3/4" x 4" oak cap on the box. The hand-carved accent for the center section was purchased.     Incandescent lighting gives the mantle a warm look. I made the 1/2" wide notch in the dentil with the radial arm saw and the crown with my old Foley-Belsaw planer-molder. The stain is Min-Wax dark walnut and I added five coats of sprayed gloss lacquer.     I included a flash picture with my wife standing beside the mantle just to show how large it is. The top of the mantle is 63" off the floor. . . . Bryan Cowing   CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE    INDEX!   SEND US YOUR "SHOP SHOTS" This is the place to share views of your shop, woodworking tips and methods, mug shots, special tools or machines, finished work--you name it!     We prefer digital images via e-mail, but prints or transparencies will do. Include your name, address, phone number and a paragraph or two explaining the photo(s). Not every entry will be used, we reserve the right to edit for length and clarity, and we will not return photos. WoodCentral P.O. Box 493 Springtown, PA 18081