Landing Balustrade Started
Finally I have made a start on the landing balustrade. I have had a kit of parts for making this for some time now, and it is finally at the head of the "to-do" list.
The first task is to build the handrail. I described how to fit the handrail components together in a blog post last January, so I won't go into that detail again as the principle is the same. To summarise, the components are cut square on the chop-saw and glued together with a combination screw/bolt in each join to pull it together. Underneath a metal plate is screwed on to add strength.
This time, of course, I have more component parts to join. Starting at the top of the stairs, first there is an "end-cap" which fits onto the top of the shortened newel post that Dad made for me in March last year. This is joined to a 90 degree turn, then a length of handrail, then a "mid-cap" which sits on the second newel post at the top of the two steps down in the landing. From here there is a "down-easing" to angle the handrail down the two steps, another short length of handrail, then an "up-easing" to level it out again. Finally a short length of handrail to the terminating "end-cap" on top of the third newel.
In total I have 9 handrail components to join into one continuous length. Here is what I have managed today :
The joints are properly made, and the bolts inserted, but currently it is only dry assembled. I had to cut off the end-cap and one "arm" of the 90 degree bend as short as possible to avoid pushing the handrail too far onto the landing. I couldn't make these any shorter without encroaching on the curved moulding on the sides which I didn't want to do. At the moment the far end is simply supported on a batten g-clamped to the temporary post. To get the handrail length right I now need to install the intermediate newel-post. That's a job for another day.
The first task is to build the handrail. I described how to fit the handrail components together in a blog post last January, so I won't go into that detail again as the principle is the same. To summarise, the components are cut square on the chop-saw and glued together with a combination screw/bolt in each join to pull it together. Underneath a metal plate is screwed on to add strength.
This time, of course, I have more component parts to join. Starting at the top of the stairs, first there is an "end-cap" which fits onto the top of the shortened newel post that Dad made for me in March last year. This is joined to a 90 degree turn, then a length of handrail, then a "mid-cap" which sits on the second newel post at the top of the two steps down in the landing. From here there is a "down-easing" to angle the handrail down the two steps, another short length of handrail, then an "up-easing" to level it out again. Finally a short length of handrail to the terminating "end-cap" on top of the third newel.
In total I have 9 handrail components to join into one continuous length. Here is what I have managed today :
The joints are properly made, and the bolts inserted, but currently it is only dry assembled. I had to cut off the end-cap and one "arm" of the 90 degree bend as short as possible to avoid pushing the handrail too far onto the landing. I couldn't make these any shorter without encroaching on the curved moulding on the sides which I didn't want to do. At the moment the far end is simply supported on a batten g-clamped to the temporary post. To get the handrail length right I now need to install the intermediate newel-post. That's a job for another day.
posted by shadaswell @ 9:04 pm
0 comments
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home