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Premier Class Marquetarian David Walker guides you through
the daunting tasks of cutting mitres and mounting pictures and turns a
complicated process into an easy and enjoyable activity. So now let Dave show
you how to achieve the perfect mitre with the minimum of fuss, over to you Dave.
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Mounting a picture, affixing
stringers, borders and cutting mitres |
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by David Walker |
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Nothing spoils the visual aspect of a
picture more than unequal or crooked borders or mitres that are not cut
accurately. As with other features of Marquetry there is no absolute
correct method of carrying out these tasks. Each marquetarian will have
found the best method that works for them. The method that I describe in
the following article is the one that I have found acceptable for me.
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| Glossary: |
Borders :
Stringer :
Mitre : |
A veneer edge that
surrounds the picture A thin strip of a
contrasting veneers that separates the border from the picture. Can be a
plain colour or a made up veneer.
The method of joining the borders at the corners |
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Before we even start to attempt to mount
the picture we have to ensure that both the picture and the baseboard are
absolutely square. I use MDF board to glue the picture down. It is
reasonably light and easy to cut and plane. Use an accurate set square and
if necessary a metal straightedge to mark up the board. The picture is
squared up with a set square and knife.
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The picture must obviously be mounted in
the centre of the board.
My method of finding the centre of the board and
picture are the same.
With a straightedge, draw a pencil line from corner to
corner on the base board. (Fig 1)
Using the set square draw vertical and
horizontal lines through the centre point, i.e. where the diagonal lines
cross, on the base board
(Fig 2 & 3).
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Before marking the picture fix veneer
tape diagonally from the corners to prevent pencil lead marking the
picture as this can be difficult to sand out, especially on light coloured
veneers. (Fig 4 & 5)
With a straightedge draw lines from corner to corner
but only mark with a pencil on the veneer tape.
Where the diagonal
lines cross will be the centre mark.
Draw horizontal and vertical lines,
as before, on the face side of the picture but again use veneer tape to
draw on. (Fig 6 & 7)
The picture is now ready to glue down. |
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Position the picture on the board so
that the centre lines on the picture marry up with the centre lines of the
base board. (Fig 6 & 7) and draw around the picture with a pencil.
Remove
the picture and the outline can be used to see where to spread the glue.
I use white PVA glue to lay the
picture but when using this type of adhesive a veneer press must be used
to complete the pressing.
Spread a layer of glue on the board and then
place the picture on the glued part and slide the picture about to exclude
any air pockets again marrying up the lines at the centre and edges.
Secure with sticky tape to prevent it moving when pressing.
(Fig 8 & 9) |
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