I have finished the glue-up of all the railing pieces. Doing the 16' long ones was a big of a challenge to say the least. Here is how one of them came out:
r13.jpg
To smooth and plane these 3D pieces I am using 3 routers with flush trim bits at different heights:
r12.jpgr14.jpgr15.jpg
I'm also making 4 small wall sections at the ends of the runs to veneer. here is one of them being made and veneered on from both sides (I have the photo from one side only):
r19.jpg
I have also made this jig to shape the profiles. It grabs the piece between two high tension springs (that can be adjusted with a knob) and the router bit bearing. It works extremely well!
r16.jpgr17.jpgr18.jpg
Mreza, where did you learn all this? What is your day job?
You do amazing work!
Please help support the Creek.
"It's paradoxical that the idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old doesn't appeal to anyone."
Andy Rooney
Thanks Bruce. I haven't had a teacher other than the Internet and forums like this. Most of these things I'm doing are my first times but I plan ahead a lot (lots of thinking and reading) to make sure I know what I'm about to dive into.
As for my day job, I'm a university teacher/researcher (AKA professor).
Keep up all the positive writing!
We started a new home last year and I'm now hoping it doesn't kill me before it's finished. Just entered year two and hope to be moved in Summer 2016.
Keep the updates coming!
Scott in Montana
Keep it up Scott. I had a serious accident back in May. Among all the things I have done in the house the simplest one caused it. While walking on a 2' high deck fell down with face on a deck joist and lost two teeth (plus a fractured jaw). It could have been a lot worse but I was lucky (or so the Dr's in ER told me).
It has taken us a lot longer than I hoped for (just entered year two last month) but I hope we enjoy the end result.
Really outstanding, Mreza!
--
The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
Noted!
Never let my guard down.
Scott in Montana
still busy with the railing but it is coming to an end soon (or so I hope).
Here are some photos which should be self explanatory. All that is left is:
- install spindles on the main floor to second floor stairs,
- put some trims around the stairs and make panel looking trims on the outside of the stringers
- remove all the railings and sand everything,
- Stain them partially (particularly the shoes and the bottom of the railings as it is easier to do it without the spindles)
and then put them back and lacquer.
I have not put the knuckles on the spindles yet.
Cutting the strange miter/bevel angles at the end of the long 3D railing and adding small parts to the end to join them to the posts was challenging to do solo on a miter saw (I tried a manual miter saw box and it was disappointing). I don't want to admit how many times I cut those angles (little by little, try and error) and went up and down the stairs with that long rail to see how it fits.
You can see in the photos I made two temporary holders/stands from 2x4 on the middle of the stairs to hold the railing while I was measuring the angles at the top and bottom against the posts. Let's just say that it took me a good portion of a day just to cut that long railing and add a piece at the end to joint the post at the top. The one from main floor to the basement was even worse (a 14' long piece that is no made up of joining 5 pieces).
Having said that drilling the holes at the bottom of the 3D rail and mortising it has probably been one of the most difficults part of this project.
r32.jpgr33.jpg
Drilling the spindle holes on the stairs at the basement (BTW that's one part that I made a wall and veneered myself):
r35.jpgr34.jpg
r36.jpgr37.jpgr38.jpgr39.jpg
Sharp eyes might notice that the posts at the bottom of the stairs are different from what I initially had made. I changed the 2-level skirt on them to one long one. Then they are cut to the shape of the first step as it sits partially on that.
I also made two smaller posts for the basement landing as the big ones I had made were too massive for that area.
I will post the finial photos of everything when stained.
I had not noticed my thread had moved from the main woodworking forum to here. It is mostly about all the woodworking I'm doing in the new house
(from doors, to trim work, railing, next cabinets, etc). As it is ongoing woodworking I felt posting it in the main woodworking forum was right, and then perhaps posting the final result here
but I guess not.
Last edited by mreza Salav; 11-12-2014 at 1:16 PM.
mreza, I moved it here awhile ago where we feature both finished projects and WIP threads. It will also be more visible here as it doesn't "move" as fast as GW&PT does on a daily basis. And for this work of art, keeping it all together is a beautiful thing!
Jim
SMC Moderator