Handrail for a new home

[wroughtn_harv]

A TBN member and friend/client/vendor asked me to help him with a handrail for his new home. We decided on the hammered tubing from King Architectural Metals wrought iron metal balusters finials casting steel ornamental forged gate fence stairs Access control

We used the one by two for top rail, one by one for bottom rail, and three quarter by three quarter for pickets. The spacing is three and a half inches. I turned the pickets forty five degrees because I could. I also believed it would provide more exposure for the texture of the tubing.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Most handrails made today that go between existing posts and walls are manufactured with tabs welded at the ends of the rails for attachment. Invariably there's a difference between the measurement of the railing and the opening. The railing is either a tad too long or a tad too short and sometimes the railing or the opening isn't quite as square as it should be.

A lot of the time the railing looks unfinished or an after thought because the fit up isn't as good as it could or should be. I didn't want that. King metals carries shoes or feet if you will for the one by one. They're cast iron and don't look bad and they do a good job of holding the railing. They don't carry a matching piece for the one by two.

The answer of what to do came with a theme the client has in a wall.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

I like to say blacksmithing gives you a twofer. By that I mean you get twice the thrill of making something. This is because invariably you have to make the tooling to make the project. This project was no different.

I had to make a punch and die to accomplish what I wanted to do with the hot iron.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

I used the propane forge. It's a furniture maker's version with a big cavity. This comes in pretty handy when working longer and larger pieces of iron. It's like using a sledge hammer to nail down roofing on little pieces like this.

The first thing was to cut seven inche pieces out of 1/4 by 3/4 bar stock. These were then put into the fire.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

After both ends of the seven inche piece of steel had been shaped with heat and hammer into a semi-leaf shape the whole piece was heated up.

It was then placed on the die to be shaped further.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

The railings and fitting were sent to Quality Coatings in Addison Texas. I've been dealing with this company for about twenty years. The gear heads will relate to the original owners, Baer of current brake fame.

There all the pieces were sand blasted and the coated twice with an oil rubbed bronze finish. This finish is a premium finish at a premium price. But with it you get not only texture, you get multiple colors under different lights. It is special.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Yesterday I finished the install. I used stainless steel lag screws that we painted a color close to the bronze of the ironwork.

 

[EddieWalker]

Harvey,

Very nicely done!!!! I love the leaves that you added to the brackets. They give it that something extra that really stands out as old world craftsmanship.

You told me about King Architectual Metals a few years ago, and if anybody else is looking for some very unique and quality metal items, this is the place to go. I've been very impressed with there prices and service. Mostly I buy brackets for kitchen breakfast bars in remodels I do, but I'm also using them for a gazebo that I'm going to build. It's all very high quality at an affordable price!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for all the great pics, I really enjoyed them. Tell Craig the house looks great.

Eddie

 

[GaryBDavis]

Nice work Harv.

Funny how things work as I was in town last night and had dinner with your "client". He was showing me pictures of the house and the railing you built. They are good friends and we've missed them terribly since we moved south.

You need to build him a matching gate now.

 

[RedRocker]

Nice work Harv, I've been using Baer/Pro Coat/Quality Powder coating for years myself. Roland started in a very small shop down the street from me in Lewisville, he's done pretty well for himself.