I was wondering if anyone had any trade secrets on how to install a piece of chair rail on a curved stairwell? My customer already has chair rail in her entrance and wants to continue it down her stairs into the basement. The chair rail is 2-1/2 by 1-1/4 thick. Any help would be greatly appriciated.
Thanks, Rob
Replies
Might be easier to order a section of polyurethane or polyester trim, both of which are bendable.
http://www.ultraflexmoulding.com/
http://www.flexiblemoulding.com/
Unless you want to get into major overkill, and rip and laminate the chair rail so it conforms to the wall , a major PITA, in my opinion, just go with the flex like Cloud says.
What's the radius of the curve?
I agree with the others.
If its painted, and not too tight, pine will bend like a mutha, if you can hit the studs.
If its flat on top you could veneer, or fill.
You cant kerf it if its shaped, without showing, and the fill job would be more work then the value of the flex.
Idea- you could cut off the small part on top of the molding, (bandsaw would be great) kerf the thick part, then tack the strip back on, covering the kerf. (like curving 2-3 part base or skirt)
-zen
think about steaming it? piece of 3" dia pvc as a steam tube attached to something create the steam, let it steam and you should be able to get some flex
you can kerf the back down to 1/8 inch or so -set up your saw like you want to run dado's- easy enuff to do with a mitre box or a slider
then steam it and fasten and forget
rip some scrap stock into a ribbon to bend around the curve to get a length and mark ,
or use ribbon come to think of it,
transfer it to the finish piece and bingo
you is done
you can also rip the profiled parts and steam
kerf the flats
and put them all back together on the wall
steam box pic and curved base
This pic http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/at.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&guid=DC0D9498-AC3F-4847-985E-617D5B68D1FD&frames=no
would make a great cover for FHB. Your work?
yep.
I use a combination of the steaming and kerfing techniques already described here. For steaming I hook an old wallpaper steamer up to 3" PVC with a few perforations in the cap at the far end to allow the steam to move through the pipe.
Edited 2/23/2005 12:20 am ET by basswood photo way too small
Edited 2/23/2005 12:30 am ET by basswood
larger photo of Curves in Oak