fire place mantels

[4woody]

I have some good red oak 8 ft long what size to cut for fire manalls

[woodbowl]

What ever size you want.  :

No really, .....  I've cut them from 2" thick to around 8" thick X 5" wide to as wide as the log would deliver X 5' to 10' long. Everyone is so different. As for me, I would like it as big as possible.  ;D

As far as selling precut mantles, I've never done that, but I should. Every mantle that I sawed was on the spur of the moment from the customers own log pile.

The first question they usually ask is, what size does a mantle supposed to be? 

[thecfarm]

I have a 4x7 piece of granite for a mantel.This was before my sawmill.Looks good.I think the 4 inch would look better than the 2.But everyone has differants ideas.

[4woody]

Oky do i center the heart  in it or cut as many as i can out of the log

[hiya]

I have installed mantels of all sizes.Any where from 3X8 to 8x10 old barn timbers. If you are going to stock mantels for sale I think I would cut cants to be sawn on order.The other way is to cut different sizes, then you would probly have every size but the one you need.
Richard

[Jeff]

Then do you want to have square edges or a "live" edge? Having a live edge, or an edge with the Bark or character of the log still on it is the rage around here.  I gotta think there aint a good answer for the question as its all in the eyes of the customer.  I think that if some one wants a Mantle your odds of selling one would be better if you could say "I can cut what ever you would like" rather then "This here is what you have to choose from".    I think our Mantle is 3½ inches by 16 inches by 9 foot long. It has a manual powered dragsaw sitting on it plus a bunch of other stuff. Should have made the mantle smaller. 

[brdmkr]

Oky do i center the heart  in it or cut as many as i can out of the log

I would avoid the heart as it is likely to check.  I cut a mantle from pecan that was 4 x 10 x 10'.  I had the heart in the mantle.  No it is a couple of 4 x 5s :(

[jpgreen]

PM Solodan.  He's the expert on this topic..  8)

[solodan]

I wouldn't say I was an expert, I just make alot of them. ??? :  ;D I kind of already do what everyone else is saying, I custom saw each one. But I think there is a need for precut ones as well, cause sometimes I feel I give the customer to many options, and most of them don't really know what they want. ??? What I really like is when they just tell me to make whatever I want. If it is for yourself, well now , I guess you can do it however you want.  8)

[Rail-O-Matic]

I cut a selection of different thickness planks, leave them in the plank until you get the order then at lest you can sell the plank as well if needed, then what ever is left you can convert into any sizes, 4" is a good size for a plank.

[rebocardo]

I think very few people say "my mantle is too wide". That is like someone saying my garage is too big  :D

So, if I was going to pre cut them, I would make them at least 12 inches wide and three inches thick. I would say, since you can easily buy 2x12s that cutting something very wide 14" x 3" x 6 feet might be a good compromise and likely to sell. I cut mine about that size. Just make sure you can lift them and only stack them once.

Make the width and beauty of the wood the selling point with the "you can't buy that at Home Depot".

[4woody]

thaks ya'll i think i will just cut 10 pc 3  1/2 by 96inches  :P
           

[logman]

I just went to a log home/timber frame show and saw a few different
mantles.  That was a great place to get ideas.  Most of them were priced at
$500 or more.  There were  live edge, carved, mantles with burls, you name it.
I have pictures, just have to figure out how to post them. 

[4woody]

cool i would like to see them

[Tom]

Me too.  Go to Behind the Forum for instructions.  ......or click on help above.

[4woody]

logman look on wm bandmill exsention thats how i learnd to do pic

[DanG]

I would think cutting a few to have in inventory would be a great idea.  That way, they could have a while to air dry before someone hangs it over the fireplace and lights a fire under it.  Somehow, that just don't seem like a good idea for a 4" slice of green Oak.   Also, most people can't envision what a piece of wood might look like while it is still in the log, so you'd at least have something to show them.

I've been toying with another idea about mantles, though I haven't actually done anything with it yet.  I'm gonna cut some 3-4 inch natural edge pieces where a large branch comes out, and use those as the end supports for a mantle.  You could do the same thing on a log that has a major butt flare, too.

[Tom]

I always tried to keep mantles at 3 or 3.5 inches thick.  A 4 inch slab is a heavy piece to hang on a wall.

I've done the swelled butt supports.   I turn them over so tht the swelled butt is at the top.

[jpgreen]

I need a wood stove mantle..  :D

[Tom]

made on from a pieceof cedar for a neighbor.  He cut the circle out for the pipe.  looks good.

[twoodward15]

Do you put the mantles up green or do you let them dry?  How long is long enough?  I cut one with my chain saw mill (from a log that actually turned out to be too short for my needs) a couple weeks ago but am unsure if I should dry it or put it up green when I cut the proper length piece.

[Fla._Deadheader]

  It will dry real quick in the house. Might check worse, but, if ya want "RUSTIC", you'll get it. 

[Larry]

Few thoughts on mantles.

• Oak over 2" thick is gonna crack during drying unless you take special measures...some people don't like cracks...some do.
  
  
• If I pre-cut they are always the wrong size.
  
  
• Cut extra big so I can cut them down...or have material to take out bow, or twist if needed.
  
  
• People prefer rough circle sawn mantles over rough band sawn.
  
  
• Live edge adds value.
  
  
• Draw knife and spoke shave can duplicate hand hewing to a certain extent and add value.
  
  
• Anybody can saw a timber and call it a mantle...the mantles that bring the high dollar's are something that not just anybody can saw.
  
  
• Mantles are heavy...very heavy...quit making them for the most part because of that reason and the low return.
  

And a story for ya...I was on a road construction project one time and the contractor was removing what I believe was maybe a old trolley line underneath the street.  He had a stack of ties...smaller than standard railroad ties.  Took close look at em and they were hand hewn (hacked) walnut ties.  All were dirty...some with big cracks.  Asked the contractor if I could have those old junky ties...yeap.  Brought more money than any of my sawn mantles...course they had a little piece of history attached to em.

[solodan]

• Mantles are heavy...very heavy...quit making them for the most part because of that reason and the low return.
  

I agree that mantels are heavy, but for myself I feel the return is  worth my time.
I get between $600 or $700  average on my mantels, sanded and finished. I average about 5 hrs total per mantel cutting, debarking, sanding and finishing. That is $130/hr average. I can live with that.  I made seven this past month.

[Larry]

I took a peek in your gallery...saw a quite beautiful finished mantle custom made and scribed to the stone fireplace.  I can see well why your work would command a compensate price...besides selling a timber you are selling a work of art.

Market area also plays a big role...and how much disposable income the customer has.