Making plastics look like wood has been a constant theme in the moldings world for a very long time. Witness the excellent ceiling medallion from Century (shown above), with a faux chestnut finish which blends beautifully with the wood ceiling above it. Or the detail from Tom Banwell's "Sunface" at left.

Mixed Media
Applying a wood finish to moldings - to make them match the natural elements in a project - is certainly a viable option for woodworkers. But it isn't the only one. Urethane moldings, especially architectural pieces, can be used extensively in the woodshop - as accents on furniture and cabinetry, in frames and fireplace surrounds and hundreds of other applications. The finish doesn't have to be purist. It can be stained, painted or dyed to a myriad tones and still work well with natural grains. Using precast corbels or other elements is a very economical way to add fine architectural detail to a project. Take, for example, a couple of corbels like the one shown at left. If they were ebonized (painted almost black), or even painted to match the trim color in a room, and then used to support a thick maple shelf, the opposing textures could be quite dramatic.

It's even more fun to think about using one of the newest twists in urethane moldings - Formaflex (TM). This is a series of flexible moldings from Century (shown at right) which follow a curve or arch.

Aside from the design possibilities presented by precast, extruded or flexible moldings, there are a few other reasons to consider using urethane products. For one, the cost can be quite a bit less. Uniformity is another factor - these moldings are engineered, not grown, so the intervals between the teeth in a dentil molding will all be absolutely uniform. And defects are virtually eliminated - annoyances like splitting, cracking, splinters, warping and even rotting. Plus, you don't have to sand them, which on its own is enough to make this old woodworker take a second look.