greeting all,
looking for some tips on laying out spaces for ballisters around a stairwell where all the lengths are different. there was a neat trick a couple years ago in ‘tips and techniques’ where you hooked your tape on one end of the rail and using a square at the other end you moved your tape away from the rail until you hit an even # or something to that effect. does anyone remember that one or have other tips?
greatly appreciated
Orbs
Replies
I don't know that method, I add a space (3 7/8ths, say) and a baluster ( 1.5") and dived the run by that number..if its close to even I start the layout with a space centered, if closer to odd I start with a balluster in the center..works for me.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
You gonna play that thing?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32Ln-SpJsy0
Get a construction master calculator, it will get the spacing exactly right and it's simple. I have a friend who used one for his layout on a deck and bought the CM from home depot and used it in the clear plastic then returned it. But it's only $35 or so to buy. Gary Katz has the step by step.
http://www.garymkatz.com/TrimTechniques/baluster_layout.html
The method you are remembering is very simple and very accurate.
For simplicity, let's say you're trying to lay out ten equal sections on a 4'x8' piece of plywood. You can divide 96 by 10 and get 9.6 and use that. However, this can require a little mental math.
It's much easier to hook your tape on one corner of the ply and slide the other end up so the opposite end of the sheet is right at the 100" mark on your tape. Now, you can make marks at 10, 20, etc. and you will have ten equal segments.
The way I prefer to layout balusters is to use a scientific calculator. A $10 one will do.
First, get your overall measurement and then subtract what you project the spacing between the balusters to be. This doesn't have to be exact, 4" typically works.
Then, divide that number by the sum of the baluster thickness plus your projected spacing again.
The number you get is to be rounded up and that will be the number of balusters. Now, just multiply the number of balusters by their thickness and you have the combined thickness of all the balusters. If you prefer to have space between the newel and balusters (I do), add one to the number of balusters. If you want the balusters up against the newel, subtract one.
Finally, subtract the combined baluster thickness from the total measurement, and divide your answer by the number of balusters + one.
Total distance between newels: 91-1/4"
Baluster width: 1-1/2"
Desired spacing <4"
91.25-4=87.25
87.25/(4"+1.5")=15.86
16*1.5=24"
91.25-24=67.25
67.25/17=3.956"
It may seem cumbersome, but a calculator with a couple of memory keys will allow you to do this calculation in about 20 seconds.
Jon Blakemore
RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA