In the above video I continue the last video & article “How to Cut a Ship Lap Joint with Hand Tools” by showing you how to cut a simple decorative “bead”, with a beading plane, to add shadow and beauty to an otherwise ugly joint line:
Isn’t that an ugly, boring line?
TOOLS THAT YOU’LL NEED
Even though I’ve written a nice hand tool buying guide (here), I’m still often asked for links to the tools that I use in my videos, so here is a list of tools that I used (or mentioned) in this video:
WORKBENCH:
HAND PLANES:
MALLETS & HAMMERS:
- Small Cross Peen Hammer (to adjust plane iron)
Beads look great on the lines that separate two boards on drawer & tool chest bottoms, backs of cabinets, and even around door & window trim. In this video I put a bead on the bottom of a tool chest tray:
After sharpening & adjusting your beading molding plane, start cutting on the edge of the decorative side of the ship lap. This decorative bead also looks nice on a tongue & groove joint. Just take a thin shaving (adjust the iron & wedge if it’s too course), and the plane will stop when it bottoms out.
For thinner boards (like the above 1/4″ drawer bottom) you will need to use a smaller beading plane, like this 3/16″ beading plane. You can also use a “hand beader” and even a screw on a board to make a decorative bead! If you want to learn more about beads than you ever thought possible, watch this surprisingly great episode of The Woodwright’s Shop:
