How to make templates for carved frames (stencil)
Optimal and simple ways to make templates for cutting.
Using a graphic editor
There are many programs for image processing (Photoshop, etc.).
Photocopying
If you don’t want to deal with programs, you can make a photocopy of the drawing and immediately set the desired copy size (enlarge, reduce, compress, expand). Or scan and print the sketch on a printer in the desired format.
Manually - scaling by cells
In the end, you can make a template manually using the technology of scaling (copying) by cells (linear scaling).
By scaling by cells, you can change the proportions of the drawings. For example, you don't like the original form and you want to change it. To do this, when transferring the drawing, keep one of the sides at the original size, and increase the second in the new square.
Scaling by cell
Changing the proportions of a picture when scaling by cells
Required care
The installed platbands require constant attention and care. For processing, special preparations are used - powerful impregnations. They create high-quality protection against:
- wood pests;
- appearance of cracks;
- sudden fire.
Carved versions must be coated with a primer, then varnish or paint. The intensity of such treatments is once every 3-5 years. In this way, the service life of the products will be seriously extended, and at the same time their attractive appearance will be preserved.
When installing plastic or metal products, no special care is required. It is necessary to provide high-quality protection against corrosion for products. Periodic paint updates are also required.
Thus, it is very possible to independently make platbands of extraordinary beauty with elegant patterns. Some carpentry, carpentry and tool handling skills are required. This way you can decorate window openings in a very original way and add an elegant twist to your chosen architectural style.
How carved frames are made using the slotted carving technique, see the following video:
Platband details
Platbands consist of the following parts:
- carved kokoshnik, which is located above the window;
- vertically located slats;
- towels that are located under the windows.
These names, as well as the methods of their manufacture, are traditionally Russian. It feels like they are hundreds of years old. There are also additional details with the same self-explanatory names: tiaras, hangers, valance, crackers.
Carved cedar window frames
Painted carved windows
If you put platbands on the windows of your house, this will give the house a national flavor and express its individuality. Decorative intricately combined patterns used to have practical significance, now they are simply a decorative element. Everyone can choose a pattern not only to their taste, but also taking into account the style of the site and buildings located on it.
The most common ornaments on carved frames are floral. Russian masters, in their desire to capture grass, flowers and leaves, reached tangible heights in their skill. We still see houses with similar ornaments on the windows. And we can admire the carved windows, which are more than half a century old.
Very often there are platbands with geometric carvings. It is believed that this is one of the most ancient types of home decoration. Before mastering floral designs, wood craftsmen carved diamonds, squares or triangles on the frames.
Carved porch of a wooden house
Carving on a dormer window
Sometimes, with the help of drawings on the platbands, plot pictures are created. Every element, every detail emphasizes the owner’s attitude towards the world around him. Their meaning is deciphered as follows:
- if, during the exterior decoration of the house, the symbol of the wings was cut out, then this was intended to emphasize strength;
- the bird means the source of unification of different times;
- the sun represented life;
- the image of a snake was interpreted as a desire for wisdom;
- the cross is a Christian symbol of spiritual rebirth;
- vegetation personified man's admiration of nature, the desire to capture fleeting beauty for the whole year.
In addition, in the winding carvings you can sometimes spot geese, swans, horses, deer and other wild and domestic birds and animals.
Carved frames on the window
Window with carving
Making from wood
For platbands, you should select only hard wood species, such as oak, alder, ash, maple and birch. They are much less susceptible to drying out and rotting, so they will retain their appearance for a long time.
As a rule, the wood for these figured fragments should be selected and, if possible, chamber dried. The percentage of humidity should not exceed 12.
The length of the blanks must be impressive in order to completely cover the window opening not only vertically, but also horizontally
It is important to leave an allowance on each side of 1.5 times the width of the board. It is advisable, before starting work, to purchase several low-grade boards that will serve as training objects
You can hone your skills on them so as not to spoil the specially purchased expensive wood.
Creation is carried out by applying a drawing to wood according to a pre-prepared template, examples of which can be found in this article in the form of photos
Here it is important to maintain jewelry precision, which will allow you to achieve excellent results. It is advisable to start with simpler forms
Carved platbands are an incredibly beautiful type of decor for building facades
In order to end up with products of amazing beauty, it is important to practice in advance on unnecessary fragments of wood. Once simple forms have begun to be obtained, you can move on to more complex ones.
As a result, you can get luxurious windows that will decorate your house, turning it into a fairy-tale palace.
Wood species
Carved window frames are made primarily of wood. First of all, they use wood from those tree species that are least susceptible to changes in temperature, humidity, and other atmospheric influences. However, each tree has its own advantages and disadvantages. Below are the most common types of trees that are used to make house frames.
Linden
The most suitable material for wood carving. Linden is soft and pliable, with its help you can realize any fantasy, but platbands are almost never made from it. It is not suitable for cashing at home because it easily absorbs moisture and is not suitable for those products that are located outside. Sometimes craftsmen take on such work, but it takes a lot of time to carefully treat the wood to prevent moisture from entering. Another disadvantage of linden is that it is not strong enough.
Birds on a carved window
Aspen
Its strength is used by using aspen as handles for agricultural implements and other household items; for example, axes were made from this wood. Aspen is not afraid of frost and high humidity.
Products made from aspen retain all their positive properties outdoors: high elasticity (aspen beams do not bend and are lightweight), resistance to wormholes and rotting. Unfortunately, aspen is a very damp tree, and it is difficult to obtain conditions for drying it, so products made from it are not cheap.
Birch
They love it not only because this tree is a symbol of Russia. Firstly, its wood is classified as coreless, which means that the inner and outer parts of the cut do not differ from each other in color. Another plus for the characteristics of wood: the growth rings are almost invisible. The wood has a uniform white color with a slight tint. Birch can be processed and practically does not crack when dried.
In the open air, without careful treatment, birch quickly rots. Therefore, the manufacture of platbands requires special and multi-stage processing of the finished product.
Decorative carving around the window
Larch
This material easily withstands all atmospheric conditions, but is unsuitable for carving due to its fragility.
Oak
Its wood is durable and hard. Products made from oak bend well, so barrels, tubs, runners, and rims were made from it. Oak is moisture resistant. Oak is difficult to carve, but is still used for making carved parts. True, seeing carved oak windows is very rare.
Pine
Pine has fairly high strength and is easy to process. It is not prone to cracking during drying. Due to its exceptional resistance to weather conditions, pine is used both for interior work (floor boards, windows, ceilings, floors, railings) and for exterior decoration. This is a good choice for making platbands.
Carved pine window
Alder
It has brightly colored wood. Remarkably, like linden, it cuts thanks to its softness. It also polishes well and can be processed. Another plus is that alder does not crack when dried.
Ash
The wood of this tree is not inferior to oak in hardness. But in other physical and mechanical characteristics it even surpasses it. Today it is one of the most fashionable representatives of wood for interior decoration, carved furniture, railings and parquet. Due to its properties, ash is a suitable material for making carved frames for house windows.
Antique carving on a window
Beech
Beech is very similar in its characteristics to oak and ash. It also bends well, so it is suitable for the production of bent furniture, stairs, and railings. Beech wood is almost as strong as oak wood. True, it is inferior in the ability to rot. Beech also does not like high humidity. When platbands are made from beech, they are treated with special compounds at least twice.
Carved window shutters
As we can see, there is a large selection of different types of wood, which are suitable to varying degrees for making carved frames. There are those that are easy to process, but are used only indoors. Others cope well with loads in the form of precipitation and frost, but are not easy to cut or dry.
Carving on the window of a country house
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Basic Rules. What not to do
Below is a list of rules that will help you avoid the most common problems.
It is recommended to use a board 3-4 cm thick as the starting material. Do not immediately grab onto complex patterns
First, it is better to practice on ordinary round parts that are easy to make with a drill. The width of the workpiece should be such that it is enough to cover the ends of the walls and protect it from moisture. Carved elements should be placed along the grain of the wood - this will prevent cracking. When choosing a stencil, it is better to pay attention to patterns with large elements, because
small ones will look crumpled, as a result of which the finish will not have the desired decorative effect.
Moreover, it is advisable to first familiarize yourself with photographs of different products. This way you can find a suitable option or get inspiration for creating something yourself.
Platbands
Shutters for protection
If you need shutters to protect your dacha from intrusion, the first requirement for them is strength. Strongly knocked together and securely fastened wooden ones or high-quality metal ones made to order - you know best. Just think how well this addition will fit with the style of your country home. Agree: on a stylish stone mansion, carved rustic shutters will look strange, and for a modest hut on a 6-acre country house, expensive “branded” products will become an overkill...
Good quality, durable shutters can protect your home.
Reliable and durable shutters will require:
- good material for their manufacture: boards or metal, depending on the chosen design and technology;
- high-quality fittings: the hinges must withstand the weight of the shutters, and the bolts must lock them tightly;
- thorough fastening: it is important to hang the manufactured shutters correctly - firmly and without distortions.
The right shutters are good material, high-quality fittings and solid fastening
Agree: all this will not be difficult for a skilled craftsman. Even a novice Samodelkin can make strong wooden shutters, but those who have the skills to work with metal may find the idea from the following video useful
How are shutters locked?
This is a question to which there are several possible answers. Which one to choose is up to you: each has its pros and cons.
From inside or outside? At first glance, it is safer if the constipation is located inside - on the side of the home. And modern views on fire safety support just this option. Well, now imagine: you arrived at the dacha in the cold season. The shutters are locked from the inside, the windows are closed... Do you want to open them to let sunlight into the house?
How will your shutters be locked: from the inside or the outside?
Shutters that are locked from the outside can be opened even if the windows are thoroughly sealed for the winter. But in this case, of course, you can’t get away with a simple latch or hook, since we’re talking about protection against penetration - you’ll have to install a lock. How reliable, beautiful and safe it is - see for yourself.
By the way, some people solve this dilemma in an unconventional way: they install shutters not from the outside of the house, as we are used to, but from the inside. Well, why not? Locks, hooks, latches. The choice of fittings will be directly related to the method of closing the shutters that you prefer. From the inside, you can install a simple latch, make a hook, or install a deadbolt, depending on how seriously you intend to “keep the defense.”
Furniture filling for the living room
Before purchasing furniture for the living room, you should determine for what purpose it is needed:
- For placing and storing things.
- For receiving guests.
The standard option for the living room interior is the presence of:
- Wardrobe.
- Armchairs.
- Sofa or sofa.
- Coffee table.
- Showcases.
- Dining table (if space allows).
The most important attribute of the living room is a place to relax - a sofa. Many people are concerned with the question: “How to choose a sofa for the living room so that it is beautiful, comfortable and functional.”
First of all, you need to decide on the size of this piece of furniture, because if the area of the room is limited, a large product will not be appropriate
When choosing a sofa you should pay attention to several details:
- Shape (straight, angular, U-shaped).
- Degree of hardness (soft, medium hard, hard).
- Quality frame and upholstery.
- Manufacturing materials.
- Execution style.
For small-sized apartments, designers advise choosing a classic or corner shape of a sofa, since this way you can significantly save space. You need to choose the degree of rigidity yourself, as you like.
Natural materials are preferable because they are more durable and safer for health. The execution style is selected in accordance with the main style of the living room.
From drawing to template
Template for platbands The template for platbands is made of cardboard, life-size. A separate template is made for each element, pattern and ornament.
The resulting template is placed on the board and the outline is traced with a pencil.
Making holes You can immediately mark the locations for the holes. Holes are drilled inside the pattern, in places where there will be a turn when carving. First, the internal patterns are cut out, and then the external ornament.
Platband carving
Another way to apply a design to a workpiece is copying.
The method involves the use of carbon paper. A sheet of copy paper is placed on the board, and a drawing is placed on top. The drawing is secured with push pins. An outline is drawn with a pencil and copied onto the wood.
Stencil template for carved trims
Now you know how to make a stencil template for carved platbands.
Popular materials
- The most common material for platbands is wood. Products made from it have an elegant and harmonious appearance.
- Plastic versions are also often used. They are characterized by strong resistance to temperature changes and ultraviolet radiation. Plastic options are sold ready-made.
- Another popular material is MDF. It is prepared from wood waste. It is more environmentally friendly than plastic. In addition, products made from it have a look reminiscent of natural wood.
- Polyurethane. Variations from it are highly practical. Facade stucco is often made from this material.
Folklore image of Baba Yaga
Everyone read Russian folk tales in childhood, and it is from them that Baba Yaga is known to us. Therefore, if you decide to start drawing this old woman, you should turn to children's books to understand what this character is. So, let's characterize Baba Yaga: she lives in her home - this is a hut on chicken legs. She can use witchcraft and, in addition, she can fly in a mortar, covering her tracks with a broom. If we talk about the character of Baba Yaga, she is not always a harmful and evil old woman; in some fairy tales she admonishes the hero and gives him magical objects, for example, a guiding ball of thread or a magic horse. Not only poets and writers, but also artists such as Malyutin, Viktor Vasnetsov and others have repeatedly turned to the image of Baba Yaga.
Platbands for windows in a wooden house: step-by-step manufacturing instructions
As already mentioned, before you start creating decorative elements for the window with your own hands, you need to make a template or stencil. It should be the same for all windows to give the whole house a consistent style. If you are new to wood carving, it is recommended to use designs that contain large elements that are easy to cut. In addition, it is worth considering that there are two main ways to create a thread:
- Carved carving is a through pattern that makes the decorative element look like original wooden lace. Quite difficult to make, but looks very original.
- Overlay carving - design elements are created separately and then attached to the main board. This option is simpler and better suited for beginners.
Why do they prefer painted windows?
An interesting way to diversify the decor of a room is to paint a window on the wall or ceiling. If you want to wake up and see the sea, a lavender field, a snow-covered coniferous forest or other pictures of nature, rest assured that the talented artists of the Aron Honoré studio will be able to paint them as realistically as possible. Pictures in combination with shutters or curtains create a unique optical illusion, visually expand the space and give the interior a unique look. We suggest drawing a window on the wall in the room taking into account your wishes, after which the room will be radically transformed.
Preparation and installation process
Before starting the installation, markings are made on the wall and the main mounting points of the platband are marked. This will help you navigate and correctly install each of its elements.
You definitely won't be able to do the job alone. You will need at least one assistant who will visually monitor the correct placement of the platband. If we are talking about a heavy, three-dimensional structure, you cannot do without a whole team, and for safe installation you will need scaffolding or a simple block lifting device.
The method of fastening the finished casing depends on many factors and is selected individually. The simplest of them seems to be the use of self-tapping screws, anchor bolts or nails with decorative heads. The hidden fastener looks impressive. To do this, dowels are used - wooden cylinders that are glued into the wall in advance. To install them, holes are drilled in the platband frame.
What did the patterns mean?
The variety of designs and patterns is off the charts, but here’s what some of them meant on the trim:
- Wings. They were considered divine, protecting the home and their endless power.
- Bird. It is considered to be the guardian of the past, present and future.
- Sun. It protected the house and created comfort and warmth in it.
- Snake. Associated with nobility and wisdom.
- Cross. This is the harmony of your needs.
- Earrings. It meant that the owners in this house are hospitable.
Operating procedure
To obtain a high-quality product and minimize the formation of defects, you need to do the work slowly and focus on the process. Before starting work, it is recommended to make sure that the thickness of the plywood is equal to the height of the groove on the printed sketch.
Preparing the stencil
Schemes for sawing with a tool can be of different sizes. To create a drawing of an interior item, for example a shelf, you will need to use whatman paper in A1 or A0 format, and for toys you can use a standard sheet of cardboard.
The contour of the product is applied to the surface in compliance with the exact dimensions. Templates for cutting with a hand jigsaw can be found on special resources. But it’s easier to come up with your own compositions based on the type of workpiece. An individual approach to developing a product design will highlight the texture of the wood.
Transferring an image to the surface of plywood or boards
To accurately apply a contour to the surface of plywood or wood, print the template on thick paper. Transferring a drawing from an A4 drawing can cause a lot of trouble if you draw the ornament with a pencil.
The drawing can be glued to the plywood with 2-sided tape. When using glue, you need to clean the surface with sandpaper. An accessible method involves using a stencil made using nail scissors. After preparation, the template is applied to the surface and each fragment is outlined with a pencil.
For convenience, the sheet is secured with tape or insulating tape. The design can be applied thermally. For this, an inkjet printer is used, with which the diagram is printed. After this, the design is applied to the surface with the front side and processed with a heated iron.
Sawing process technology
Sawing from plywood is carried out after applying the drawing to the workpiece. Processing begins with the internal elements of the product, and then the outer contour is cut out. This order of work allows you to get a straight line and provides convenient fastening of the workpiece.
Holes for the blade must be drilled in sharp places on the internal contour. This requires attention as chips may form on the back side. To avoid this, it is recommended not to make the holes completely.
You can limit the depth using insulating tape that is wrapped around the drill. After this, turn the workpiece over and process the hole with an awl. After finishing the work, the product is polished using a file or needle file.
Sawing with hand tools requires the equipment of a special machine with a clamp. This device is used as a base. During processing, the workpiece is fixed at chest level, which provides convenience and allows you to closely monitor the process.
For beginners, it is important to be careful when using a jigsaw in order to practice smooth movements. The cutting blade for a jigsaw is fragile, so it is recommended to avoid distortions, sudden movements, and overheating
When processing a workpiece, the movements must be reciprocating, and the tool must be positioned vertically. Using an electric jigsaw requires securing the workpiece to a workbench. When using this equipment, workpieces up to 5 cm thick can be processed.
Dismantling old frames
Having briefly learned how to install plastic windows in a wooden house, you can move on to a more detailed study of each stage.
Removing windows occurs in several steps:
- removing window sashes;
- cutting the impost and frame;
- directly removing the old frame;
- preparatory work regarding the window opening, in particular, removing insulation and cleaning the opening.
The window frame is removed in parts. The following tools are suitable for dismantling work: hammer drill, crowbar, nail puller, etc. You must ensure that the frame is completely removed from the box. Thanks to the flawless removal of the old frame, the future window will be fixed as much as possible.
