The Makings of a Successful Architectural Millwork Operation

In addition to providing wholesale lumber, J. Gibson McIlvain produces a vast array of architectural millwork products for our valued customers. From chair rails to casings, bases to crowns, we offer an expansive assortment of styles in our architectural millwork catalog. Three aspects of our millwork operation that set us apart from the competition are—

1. Selecting Quality Wood
2. Using the Right Equipment
3. Building Custom Profiles

Selecting Quality Wood

At J. Gibson McIlvain, we realize that just the right moulding application can be the perfect finishing touch for your interior or exterior project; however, we also realize that a poor moulding piece can detract from a well-executed design.

Our quality control begins with our carefully selected hardwood lumber and continues as we help guide you in choosing the right species for your particular design. From weather resistance to grain and texture, we work with you to discover the ideal species, moulding profile, and finish that will give you the look you want. From astragals and coves to bullnoses, quirk beads, and fillets, we can help you determine whether the species you’ve chosen will work well with the design elements you desire.

Using the Right Equipment

Not only do we take pride in carefully selecting our lumber, but J. Gibson McIlvain also has the right equipment to perform moulding runs in house. Our well-equipped custom architectural millwork operation is equipped with custom knife grinders, moulders, gang rip saws, straight line saws, band resaws, and trimming saws. Of course, quality machines are only as effective as those operating them, and our professional staff takes painstaking care in keeping our machines running well and ensuring that our cutting tools remain as sharp as possible, throughout each moulding run.

Building Custom Profiles

Whether you’re working on a historic restoration project or a modern design for a new build, if you want to design your own custom profile, we can accommodate even the most unusual orders. In order to build a custom architectural millwork profile, there are four basic steps involved.

1. The first step is to create a specific blueprint, including exact dimensions and a carefully drawn image of the design. Once you or your architect-of-choice complete that step, you can turn it over to J. Gibson McIlvain.

2. The second step is to form a plastic die, which we’ll have done and submit to you for accuracy before progressing.

3. The third step is to grind the knife from metal, according to the plastic die. (That same die will be used for any regrinding as well as reorders, to ensure that subsequent pieces match the original design).

4. The fourth step, of course, is to produce a finished piece of molding. We’ll inspect and re-inspect the moulding throughout production, in order to ensure that it meets the high quality standards of J. Gibson McIlvain as well as your custom specifications.

The kind of full-service architectural millwork that J. Gibson McIlvain provides includes options such as oil- and water-based priming as well as storage facilities to help you with inventory control.

For more information, visit our website or call us at 800-638-9100.