In stonemasonry, a return is the word used to describe an angular change in direction of a moulding. A return can be both a simple or compound angle, and either acute or obtuse.
For this example, a simple ovolo mould based on a quadrant of a circle will be used. The mitre and initial chamfer have already been marked on to the existing mould running across the face of the stone.For information on how to mark a mitre on to a mould please see the marking a mitre how to.
Stages Of Working A Return
Working The Initial Chamfer
The process starts with working the initial chamfer of the return. The ovolo mould has already been set out on the rear joint of the stone as part of drawing the mitre. As with all architectural stonework, the chamfer is checked for trueness with a straight edge before continuing.
For clarity, the ovolo mould marked to the rear is shown in blue.
Working The Fillets
With the initial chamfer of the ovolo return finished, the fillets are set out and worked. Fillets are supposedly one of the hardest things to work as there are two opposing flat surfaces to deal with. However, if each surface is worked independently and the two joined as a final stage it becomes simpler to manage.
Working The Smaller Chamfers
The smaller chamfers are now set out and worked.
To set the chamfers out, first they are marked on the rear joint of the stone using the ovolo mould previously marked for reference. To transfer these to the mitre line they are drawn parallel to the horizontal and vertical surfaces of the top and bottom fillets respectively.
Each of the chamfers are checked for trueness with a straight edge before proceeding to the next. The process of creating further chamfers by division is repeated until the curve of the ovolo is developed enough to finish by tooling with a bolster and dummy.
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