LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

Project Information

The railing is part of a three year down-to-dirt demolition and reconstruction of the porch on our 1925 Craftsman style home, necessitated by a sinking foundation. I think of the railing project as another installment payment on bad Karma I earned somewhere. This payment involved 5 weeks of work with construction-grade Douglas Fir 2×6s, 2×4s, over 230 feet of 2×2s, and commercially available architectural molding.

The inspiration for the original design of the railing was drawn Internet research. To carry through the elements of the rebuilt porch columns, posted previously, and porch skirting, I used the same molding. The railing was constructed in four elements:

Top Cap: A 6 degree bevel was ripped the length of both sides of 2×6s. The result center peak was sanded to rounded over the top. A 1/8" round-over router bit was sunk 3/16ths into both sides to create a edge band and break the stark appearance of the flat sides.

Bottom and Top Receiving Elements: Molding was simply applied to wide side of 2×4 stock with Tite Bond III and clamped. The 4" bottom molding applied to the 3 1/2' wide 2×4s. This left a 1/2" dado or channel. The transition element, between the cap and balusters, was created by apply 1 3/4'" molding to 2×4 stock ripped to 1 1/4", again creating 1/2" channel to receive the baluster assembly.

Balusters: All for sides of the 2×2' stock was squared and smoothed though a planner. All 4 rough corners were relieved by routing a 1/4" deep campher or bevel. The railing required 120 balusters cut to 23". The balusters were assembled between 1×4" strips ripped to fit the 1 1/2" x 1/2" channels, described above, and leave a 1/4" reveal. The horizontal "speared through tenon" look was created using 112 blocks precisely planed to 1/2" thinner that the balusters and centered between the camphers.

Assembly: A simple jig was used to set the spacing and square blocks at the same height. Each baluster and block were glued. Each baluster was pin nailed with sufficient side pressor to hold the blocks in place. Clamps were applied as the section progressed. Completed baluster sections were then simply glued into top and bottom channels secured by screws.

Lessons and Advice: Check City Building Codes before beginning. Build baluster sections from dead center outward. Be extremely careful to keep square and avoid accumulative error. To do so, make extensive use of reference blocks and jigs. Don't buy the house if the porch is sinking.

Special Credit: To my wife, Joyce, who has become an avid, apprentice woodworker. She was right in there covered with saw dust, cutting, chopping, gluing, and nailing all the way!

Gallery

Comments

· Registered
Joined
·
87 Posts
What a pretty place! You live in Mayberry? The design and construction look flawless. Great job! When I built mine I built the rail too high… eye level. I had to lower it so we could see out!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
3 Posts
Very nice transformation from Picture 5 to picture 1. Well done.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
186 Posts
Our neighborhood is very popular with attractive, very fit, young women who walk, jog, and bicycle. I intentionally used the minimum railing height required by City Code so an old man sitting on the porch wouldn't miss anything.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
375 Posts
Your time consuming rail paid real dividends as far as the overall appearance of your house. It looks great!!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
19,753 Posts
Nice work DJ
 

· Registered
Joined
·
13 Posts
The beginning to end transformation looks nice. A lot of work I'm sure, but well worth it. Thanks for the update.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
841 Posts
Looks great! You did a very fine job and it is certainly better in appearance than what you had previously. Congratulations.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
4,714 Posts
Does your wife approve of the railing height or are there young attractive men who jog by too?

Regardless, it adds to the appearance from both sides of the railing!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
2,443 Posts
What a dramatic improvement this is to your house's appearance. I don't think you are paying for bad karma, but, in reality, you are building great karma. That is a great thing to do for your house.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
29 Posts
Very nice improvement to the front of the house…makes a huge difference. Nicely done.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
7,502 Posts
Lookin really good. Can ya come over and redo my deck and rails/?? lol
 

· In Loving Memory
Joined
·
10,077 Posts
VERY classy improvement over the previous look. And good that you made it where you can sweep leaves and debris under it.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
186 Posts
Thank you, Brethern! I am grateful for the kind words.

The good humor award has to go to maplerock. I cracked up all day every time I thought about "What a pretty place! You live in Mayberry?"

My first three years of retirement, all that work, and where do I wind up? Mayberry. Shoot me.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
180 Posts
Excellent work! You have impeccable taste in architecture. You are rightfully proud of your home and your work.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
380 Posts
Nice work. Makes all the difference.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
162 Posts
Fantastic! I love it.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
4,714 Posts
Good job, great looking result and I bet you are proud!

What next?
 

· Registered
Joined
·
77 Posts
What a wonderful job. That porch would be a great place to watch the world go by. I love the Craftsman Style.
Kimball
 
Top