Hi,
Some years ago I saw a small handout with standard trim moulding profiles on it at a lumberyard. It mentioned the profiles were standard per some industry spec. I am not living anywhere near that lumberyard, no longer have that piece of paper and have spent the last 3 hours on Google trying to find the source of that source. I was not successful.
Someone somewhere must have determined how the standard patterns available in lumberyards are configured. I can go to 5 lumberyards and buy a stick of something and they are identical.
Here is my question: what industry group has established these standard patterns?
All my best,
Boomer
Replies
Look in the phone book under 'Millwork'. They should be able to either show you what you want or give/get you the sheet with the profiles on it. You may have to make a few calls since not all of these places carry everything. There is usually someone who specializes in most cities. Where are you located?
I had a similar sheet from Woodmaster tools. You might find something on their web site. Seems I saw a download in PDF there.
Do a google on 'wood molding' and see what you get. There are lots of companies and some of them will have a booklet of standard shapes. Here in the down-state New York area, DYKES Lumber has a great booklet listing all their standard moldings. Yes, there are 'standard names' but every time a blade set is honed or sharpened, the profile changes slightly. So... even if you're buying your molding form one lumber yard, that extra length you must buy 3 or 4 weeks later may not be the EXACT same shape as what you purchased earlier.
SawdustSteve
Hi All,I agree the exact profile may change slightly on material produced locally. However, I can purchase a given profile from Home Depot, Lowe's or Carter Lumber and they are the same, *exactly* the same. I have done this and mixed up the material during storage and use and could not tell the difference between them. There MUST be a precise standard established by SOMEONE that has been accepted by the big producers to ensure uniformity. This is what is called a defacto standard. It is not something that is legally imposed but is created by someone with enough influence that others accept the standard throughout the industry.I have checked Google. As I stated in my original posting I spent 3 hours trying to find the answer to my question.I believe the standard I am looking for may be a document published by the Western Wood Products Association called *Standard Patterns* which is their document G-16. From what I could see from their website they show precise dimensions. I will contact them to check this.I need this information for a book project on home remodeling. My editor must be able to fact-check anything I say, so I must be able to provide exact sources that can be checked and included in the book. This little problem is holding up an entire chapter.I really appreciate the attempts to help me on this.
Williams and Hussey sell a book of profiles (width & some thicknesses only) that is from The Western Pine Club Series 8000.http://stores.piamedia.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WNH&Product_Code=54-414&Category_Code=INFOLee Valley sells a reprint of a catalog of Victorian Millwork that has the same profiles. (Dover also has a similar one.)http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=32225&cat=1,46096,46100&ap=4I think you're closer to the answer with the info that you have already found.
I worked for a millwork company as a moulding supervisor for about 5 years. I think what you are referring to is the AWI standards. I really do not know who is credited with the configuration of the patterns. The basic designs have been around for a very long time though.
The profiles from one company to the other may vary in dimension for thickness and width but the profile will be very similar. I think it would be rare to buy a stick of moulding at each of 5 places and they all match in size or profile. It has to do with the knife pattern to begin with and then how the knives are ground--------by free hand or on a profile grinder. Are they being ground inhouse or ordered from a tooling supplier? There are many variations in millwork that affect the end result. Even the man who sets up the moulding machine makes a difference in the end result. If you get several pieces run on the same set-up they will or should be a perfect match. Otherwise it will depend on how good the set up man is or how accurate the new computerised machines are.
Hope this offers some insight. Jerry
blade, Google up DYKES LUMBER They probably still hand out those pocket sized booklets.
I used to save small samples of cut off Dykes moulding to bring to customers for their trim selection . Too bad Home Despot does,'t sell a package of their moulding samples??
They are great for mockups built from several styles for mantels and such. Steinmetz.
Edited 2/19/2006 8:18 pm ET by Steinmetz
Edited 2/19/2006 8:18 pm ET by Steinmetz
Blade
http://www.woodmastertools.com.
Profiles are PDF for download. Or order The Profole Book from them. These are industry standard.
Or:
Wood Mouldings & Millwork Producers Association, 507 First Street, Woodland, CA 95695 for the W/M Series Wood Moulding Patterns booklet.
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