Paneling and Trim - S4S thickness

Hi,

I'm a newbie on woodworking. I'm building a fireplace mantel surround and would need some advice. I plan to wrap the bottom of the pilasters with 11/16" x 1-3/8" cap moulding:
http://www.eastcoastmouldings.com/profiles/BaseMouldings/EC163.gif
and 6" S4S. Can anyone tell me how thick of the S4S should I use? I can found 1/2", 21/32" and 3/4" thick S4S in the big box store...

Thanks,

KeithL

Are you going to use the S4S to make the pilasters or otherwise?

I don't think you want the cap bottom to be wider than the base (S4S), so you would probably need 3/4". Though I thought S4S normally had rounded edges..is that the look you were going for? Otherwise why not use regular 1X material?

I always found it best to just set things in place and see if you like the look. If not..change it before you make all the cuts and such.

I'd go with the 3/4" S4S, but I'd suggest you put a 1/4" round over on it where they meet so that you have a gentle curve where the cap meets the S4S. (or a chamfer).

Thank you for the responses. I've already built the pilasters with stock 1x3 and 1x4. I decorate the mid section of the pilaster with a fluted moulding I found at Lowes (I don't have a good router :(). I want to build out the bottom of the pilasters by wrapping a big baseboard around it and miter the outside corners. My idea is to put the cap moulding on top of the 1x6 S4S to get the 7" baseboard look. I'm also debating whether to put a shorter baseboard outside like this:
http://images.lowes.com/general/m/mold7_box.gif

XSleeper,

What do you mean by putting a 1/4" round over the S4S? Are you talk about the round dowel? Do you put it between the base cap and the S4S?

Thanks,

Keith

a 1/4" roundover is a router bit, but as you just mentioned, you don't have a good router. In your illustration, it would ease the top right corner of the S4S.