Morris Dovey wrote:

Richard (in )
said:

| Folks, I have been out of woodworking for a few years (no lack
| of love for woodworking, but lack of time), but the wife has
| been wanting a mantle to go over the fireplace. Does anyone hve
| any suggestions for sources for plans? Thanks so much in
| advance, and please reply to . Thanks
| again!

Questions posted to usenet groups are answered in the newsgroup -
for the now obvious reason that (a) you're not the only person
wanting to know; and (b) you failed to offer to compensate any of
the regulars for working as your personal consultant.

With that understood, I did what you should have done before
asking to be spoon-fed: I did a Google search for what you said
you wanted. One of the first references was to
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/bw0011.asp, where you
can download a 15-page PDF document that could be helpful.

That document is an exerpt from what appears to be a book worth
reading before starting your project. If you're lucky, your local
library will have a copy; and if you're less lucky, you can buy it
in softcover for twenty bucks.

I think that if I were serious about building a fireplace mantel
I'd buy the book.


Point taken and well deserved. That said, you noted that YOU would buy
the book. Not everyone tackles problems/projects in the same way. Me,
if I wanted a mantle I would find a few pictures, decide what I liked
and draw up some plans for myself. But that's me. Other folks have
other ways they go about it.

I can't believe I said that. All this while I think I'm getting more
crabby every year and then I and say something that displays
sensitivity and empathy. Kinda ****es me off actually ;-)

You're right though... here we are connected to the greatest
information resource the world has ever seen and every usenet group
has people routinely asking for stuff that 5 minutes with Google would
supply them with more than they could ever want.

Joe Barta