How to Build a Mantel Part 2

How to build a mantel part 2 is getting the “bones” of the mantel done.

This is a basic mantel done easily for beginning woodworkers.  If you can build a box, you can make this mantel.

Here’s the list of wood needed:

1 – 2 x 10 x 10′

2 – 1 x 10 x 8′

1 – 1 x 10 x 6′

1 – 1 x 8 x 6′

4 – 1 x 4 x 8′

2 – 1 x 3 x 8′

3 – 1 x 2 x 8′

1/4 ” plywood cut to 36′ x 24″  {MDF works too}

This will make a faux mantel 51 total inches high by 60 total inches wide.  In part 1 are measurements for faux mantels.

Here’s the cut list

2 – 2 x 10 x 60″ {top and base boards}

 

Body

 

2 – 1 x 10 x 48″ {front of body}

2 – 1 x 4 x 46 1/2 ” {top and bottom of body}

Plus 2 – 1 x 4 x 18″ {sides of body}

Use these board to make a long shallow box.  Place the two long boards together to make a larger body.  The longer top and bottom board are shorter to inset so the mantel sides will not show board edges.

Legs

2 1 x 10 x 30″ {top of legs}

4 1 x 3 x 30″ {sides of legs}

4 1 x 3 x 7 1/2″ top and bottom of legs}

Build two boxes.  Again the 30″ pieces are along the sides so no edges of the boxes show.

Cut the 2 x 10 in half to 48″, one for the top and one for the bottom base.  If you wish a different paint color to the top and base.  Paint them now.

Here’s a link to see my faux mantel.

After the three boxes are built, you can sand them a bit.  Then fasten the legs on to the body.  Then the legs to the base.

Side View

Here’s the side view.  This makes the body come out an inch from the legs.  If you didn’t want that, use only 3 or 4-inch boards for the “box” sides instead of both.

Firebox area

Make a mini-me for the firebox area.  Some three boxes only smaller.

Here’s the cut list for the firebox top, or body.

1 – 1 x 8 x 33 1/2″

2 – 1 x  2 x 33 1/2

2 – 1 x 2 x 5 3/4″

Here’s the cut list for the legs.

2 – 1 x 4 x 22 3/4″

4 – 1 x 2 x 22 3/4″

4 1 x 2 x 2 1/2″

Screw these three boxes into the legs and body of the mantel.  Make sure to set the three boxes to the back edges of the larger boxes.  This gives an inset to the front of the mantel.

Cut a piece of plywood to 36 x 24 and paint with chalkboard paint or simply black paint.  But the chalkboard is tons more fun! 🙂

Nail into place from the back.

That’s basically it.  Next, I will go over adding trim.  Although maybe not as much trim as I did on the scrap wood mantel! 🙂

Let me know if this was easy to follow.  If I was with you this would be easy to show, but writing about it…