how would you obtain/cut wood strips into this...
 

the shapes of the moldings and trim around the house has always intrigued me. parents want to install european type shutters in the house and we figured that we might be able to build some since it would be far less expensive. anyways, does anyone know how they get the strips of wood in the shape such as....or where i can get them?

behold, my awesome paintbrush skills (cross section view)...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v364/nippaz/slide.jpg

I've seen enough episodes of This Old House, to know that it's a specific piece of hardware that creates the decorative molding.

A quick google brought up this"
http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shops.../bt_mold2.html

Which has the different bits for the routers depending on the shape you want.

I'd imagine Router's are pretty expensive to buy, but you might be able to rent one if you wanted to do it yourself. Or check with your local home improvement center and see what tehy charge to do it for you.

thanks. but the problem with the certain shape i'm lookin for is that it is not flat on one side. it's curved on both sides makin a somewhat elongated, elliptical shape.

using the router you'd make four passes - one for each "corner" of rectangular stock, rotating the stock as you make each pass.

you would need to invert the router in a table top (so that the bit points up through the table) for example:

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...,43053&p=43885

a router will cost around $160, a table setup around $300 and the cutters/bits another $100 or so.

plus the cost of the wood, which is suprisingly expensive especially if you don't have the equipment to convert rought sawn lumber into usuable boards.

plus the finishing supplies, and if you don't have spray finishing equipment, the finishing alone would take a very long time.

now, if you want to do it the old fashioned way all you need is a spokeshave, wood, and a whole lot of elbow grease:

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...t=1,50230&ap=1

(of course you'd still have the finishing to worry about)

fwiw, i've got quite a bit of woodworking experience and i own the necessary tools, but i still wouldn't try to make my own window blinds.

hmmm...what kind of router bit would i be using? haven't seen one quite as shallow

If you don't own a router or router table, but do own a table saw, look for a moulding cutter set to accomplish the quarter rounding in four passes.

Still a buttload of work. ;)

i do own a table saw. but alas, i've never heard of such an item, any names i can google? thanks

you'd need a large radius round over bit. whiteside makes them as large as 3.75 inches in diameter:

http://www.routerbits.com/cgi-router...28851_13784+28

i have personally never used a molding cutter on a tablesaw, but here's a review of one to give you the idea:

http://www.onlinetoolreviews.com/rev...agicmolder.htm

Thanks for finding him that info 2sheds. My molding cutter set is one that belonged to my Dad, along with the dado and table saw, all being 2 years older than me (back when Craftsman tools had 0% plastic).

A quick search of the Craftsman website shows this item which is identical to the one I have.

molding is normaly made with a router table... not just a table with a router attachted i think its a hp thing. and yeah its going to be mutipul passes with a round over bit... good luck to you, let us know what you do