When I stopped into the lumberyard today, the guy was on the phone looking unsuccessfully for a stain grade handrail in oak or birch (preferred).
The profile is round with the flat bottom.
He needs an 19′ run, but is willing to get a couple of two footers and splice ’em.
Any ideas for a source?
Thanks.
Rich Beckman
Another day, another tool.
Replies
He is willing to splice on two-foot pieces, but two ten-foot pieces won't do?
In my area, if I wanted 20' material, I'd have to go back to the log.....the log would have to be cut at 20' plus, then I'd have to find a hardwood mill that can saw 20' (that may be an antique).....finding someone to mill the rail would be the easy part. The only people that routinely deal with lengths longer than 16' are boatbuilders and their suppliers. Maybe I've lead a shetered life though.
We just keep learning .
I was searching for some 14 ft oak clear. There wasnt any to be found and it was like looking for a flamingo in a hick town.
I went to a guy that did cabinets for a living , stairs , and finish work. He had 4 full time people working out of a shop so I knew he was going through a lot of oak.
I told him my problem and he said your problem is my problem and called a company on speed dial and ordered it . It came from the capitol of our state 100 miles away!
The Oak was very nice stuff and really had a high price on it but we werent bitching about price when we ordered it .
Tim
14', even 16' I could get.....it's when you get longer than that you get into problems. The logs around here don't get cut that long. The moulding guys aren't looking for it that long. The longest veneer machines take 16 feet, and there aren't many sawmills left that can handle more than 16' hardwood.....most of the ones I know here are in fact converting their gear to saw short-logs, because that's what's coming out of the woods.Cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
"He is willing to splice on two-foot pieces, but two ten-foot pieces won't do?"LOL!! Hey! It was 12:30 in the morning.Sounds like the 19 footer is unlikely, but what about a source for ten foot birch (or oak) handrails?Rich BeckmanAnother day, another tool.
Rich, I'm going to have to sign you up for my remedial googling tutorials.....here's one, up to 16' in any common species, also has some exotics. http://www.stairsupplies.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=4
10 footers are usually easy to find in any of my local retail yards, in oak and maple. Birch might be a phone call.
Cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
Edited 2/16/2006 11:20 am ET by Adrian
Adrian, Thanks for the link, but that is the wrong profile and I couldn't find any other handrail on that site.I tried Google, but I didn't find anything that had the round profile with the flat bottom.Admittedly, I didn't go past the first page of hits.Everyone,This isn't for me. My lumberyard is looking for it. I don't think they are very interested in looking outside their normal supply channels because there are not too many people around here paying premium prices and if it outside their normal supply, it will probably cost more (shipping).I bet this customer would pay, but the yard's habits are hard to break.I just thought someone might know of a source. I can't believe the item can't be had anywhere. It's just a question of where. I'll ask the yard if they know anyone doing lots of custom carpentry.Thanks.Rich BeckmanAnother day, another tool.
Lots of laughs! Go back to the log. LOL.
? I'm not sure what's funny.....I was pointing out that getting 20' one-piece lengths would be very difficult, and defiitely not feasible for one piece.....if you can find 20 foot lengths, good for you. 16 feet is hard enough to find, as pointed out by someone above. A fingerjoint, scarf, or bolted joint would be how most people would tackle it, including me.Cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
I've seen those trees - they're a lot taller than 16' At least that's what I say when my suppliers say they can't get me the lengths I want.
Remember, all woodwork is additive or subtractive - sometimes both. If you can't size down from larger and get what you need, build up from smaller.
I ran a shop that always struggled to get 16' material to run moldings - crowns, base, etc - everybody wanted 16' I solved the problem by scarfing together the plentiful 10's and 12's to make 20' crown and base. We usually had five of six patterns available, thousands of l/f of each. Carpenters absolutely loved it - they would all examine the stuff to see if they could find the joint.
So.... scarf your handrail together. The old time ratio is 7 to 1, so if this is 1-3/4" rail, then about 13" scarf should do it. We made a slide on linear bearings and a good circular saw at the proper angle and sawed both blanks at one time. You could do the same with a saw guide and maybe a block plane - just clamp and give it the eyeball to insure straight. It works fine, just a little tricky at the clamping stage. Since you will have molded product, you will have to be careful. We scarfed the crowns and base as molder blanks, then ran them thru the molder.
Dave S
Probably another reason they commonly make that length is that a stair laid out and built to code would not use a handrail that long. Gotta have a landing every now and then.
I know, I know...
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
If laminated of strips with staggered ends, I could make it easy.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Save a few posts, fill in your Profile, we can help!