Need woodworking info

[tallyho8]

I am making a handicap ramp and want to use 2x4s for posts and 1 1/2 pipe for handrail. I would like to round out the top of the 2x4 for the rail to fit into. What is the easiest way to do this?

 

[2manyrocks]

Get a forsner bit (can't spell it), clamp the 2x4 in a vice, and drill it in a drill press. Would be easier if you could drill a single hole in a 2x4 and then cut the 2x4 into two sections, I think. If you can't do this in a drill press to hold it all very steady, then you would want to drill a pilot hole first.

I think it would be less work to bolt a 2x6 to the 2x4 uprights so that enough of the 2x6 sticks up to make a hand rail. Then run a round over edge over the 2x6 to make a smooth rounded profile on the 2x6.

 

[MarkV]

Might be easier to use round wooden rail stock, stock item at the box stores, that can be attached to the 2x4 with standard railing brackets.

MarkV

 

[cowboy357]

Unless I,m missing something a Router with the correct bit would be the simplest way . Bob

 

[studor]

A 1 1/2" drum sander in a drill with coarse sandpaper (can also put it in a drillpress and press the 2x4 against it. The suggestion above of drilling the hole and then cutting is a good one- can use a forstner or a hole saw bit @1 1/2".
regards

 

[arrow]

I am making a handicap ramp and want to use 2x4s for posts and 1 1/2 pipe for handrail. I would like to round out the top of the 2x4 for the rail to fit into. What is the easiest way to do this?[/QUOTE


2manyrocks has your partial answer. Buy the length of 2x4 that when cut in half and bury or attach, gives you the correct handrail height. You should drill your hole right in the middle of your cut line before the post is cut of course. The only difference is I would suggest an auger bit. Barring that, you could V-notch the rail posts with a hand saw for the rails to nestle into. The rails themselves will hide the notch. Don't forget to angle the corners of the 2x4 toward the rail so you have a continuous hand clasp around the railing without the post interrupting the grip.

 

[woodchuckcanuck]

So you need to cut a half circle on the butt end of a 2x4 so the pipe fits into? Just use a jigsaw to cut your half circle and be done with it.

Having said that, is 2x4 sufficient to pass building code in your region?

 

[kenstrac]

1 1/2 pipe = 1 7/8 od use a hole saw

 

[tallyho8]

I like some of these ideas but maybe I better add a little more info. I am volunteering to build this ramp at my expense for a handicapped person and it is already costing me hundreds of dollars. I must keep the cost to a minimum and premium materials are out of the question because of the budget and sadly, it will probably only be used for a few years then torn down.

The handrail must be 1 1/4 or 1 1/2" round because the individual is unable to hold on to a regular wood railing and will be walking up and down the ramp with a cane and holding on securely.

Remember, the 2x4 tops will be cut on an angle the same as the ramp and the hole must go through the thick 4" side, not the 2" side making it a little difficult drilling through 4" on an angle with a long 2x4 perched on the drill press which I'm not sure if it can even drill 4" deep. I could not cut a hole like this with a jigsaw.

I like the idea of a router if they have a bit that would do this. A router is probably the only power tool that I have never used in my life but I have a couple of friends who would loan me one if I didn't have to buy a very expensive bit for it.

I have about 32 posts to do with about 96 feet of railing. Just cutting a V in the post tops would be easy enough but it wouldn't look as nice as I would like.

I have not found any type of brackets at a store that would let me mount this securely and look decent without cutting out the tops of the posts. Buying 32 $20 brackets is out of the question.

 

[cowboy357]

I dont know all of the names of the Bits . But this is similiar to what I was talking about. You can look through there site & see if any one bit would suit your needs . Bob

Routerbits.com,Inc Products

 

[gotrocks]

1 1/2 pipe = 1 7/8 od use a hole saw

Yes hole saw.

This is the way to go.

 

[LBrown59]

is 2x4 sufficient to pass building code in your region?

No building code here in Washington County .
Love it
love it
LOVE IT.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

I am making a handicap ramp and want to use 2x4s for posts and 1 1/2 pipe for handrail. I would like to round out the top of the 2x4 for the rail to fit into. What is the easiest way to do this?

I used a 2-1/8 inch. "hole saw bit" to make this.... It took me less than a minute using the bit in a drill press.

You can use a router to make them and you can also use a scroll saw.

I made the hole close to the end, and then cut off some of it.

(Pictures are not the best)

 

[Therios Pendragon]

I did this very same thing for my father when he had knee surgery. Here is basicly what I did. I used vnotch because it did not look bad at all. and you could not even see it since the way I mounted the pipe, I did not need but a really shallow vnotch

1) set my band saw at about 20 degrees
2) v notched the 2x4s long wise makes about 40 degrees (flat)
3) Used lags about the size of 3" deck screws
4) Drilled I hole in the top of the pipe big enough to clear the head of the screw and thinwalled socket
5) drilled a hole in the bottom of the pipe just big enough to clear the bolt
6) I deburred the top hole and it worked perfectly.
7) Later, I took a piece of black rubber hose and split it. Put it over the pipe with hard as nails to glue it. Lasted longer than the project!

Sorry no pictures but it workd really well and did not have to be REALLY pretty or anything. But it was sturdy and really easy.

You could also cut those angles in the end with a push bar and a table saw. Take a scrap peice and see if you "really" need such a curve. Flatten in out a bit and you may just realize that it does not have to be as perfect as you think.

If you really had to, you could cut the V and then use a dato to cut a couple more notches in the V. The pipe would sit down a little more.

If you have a decent vertical jig for you table saw or feel like making one, you could run the end of the 2x4 diagonal through the saw blade to make an arc cut. Done it many times but takes a special jig to be safe. It is actually amazing the arc sections that you can cut using this method... looks like you used a router.

 

[tallyho8]

Yes hole saw.

This is the way to go.

Do they make a hole saw that will cut through 4 inches of wood?

Johndeere4300
That looks real neat. I wish I was able to go through the 2" side of the 2x4 instead of the 4" side.

Therios Pendragon
That is a very clever mounting system that you have.

I'm waiting for my buddy to get back in touch with me about the router bit and router. He is out of town today.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Do they make a hole saw that will cut through 4 inches of wood?

Johndeere4300
That looks real neat. I wish I was able to go through the 2" side of the 2x4 instead of the 4" side.

Yea they make them to cut through 4-inches.... I have some that will cut 6-inch.

If you don't have one that will cut through 4-inches. You can take a wood chisel after you drill, and then use the 'hole saw' again... Then you can flip the 2x4 over.

 

[arrow]

Do they make a hole saw that will cut through 4 inches of wood?

Johndeere4300
That looks real neat. I wish I was able to go through the 2" side of the 2x4 instead of the 4" side.

Therios Pendragon
That is a very clever mounting system that you have.

I'm waiting for my buddy to get back in touch with me about the router bit and router. He is out of town today.

11/2" is alot of wood for a router to remove. A table mounted shaper is another story. With the correct bit, it would do what you want in the time it takes to sharpen a pencil. I'd still use a press mounted auger bit. You would shape and cut in half your 2x4's with one operation. The deep well hole saw would also do this and probably better but I do not know how avilable they are for you in your area.

 

[tallyho8]

Before I started on the project, I probably should have asked the question, "Does anyone know of any programs that would have helped pay for a handicap ramp for a disabled low income person?"

I am glad to be able to help out, but it bothers me that a person who worked and paid taxes all their life, and can't afford to pay to get a ramp built, has to depend on the charity of someone else to help them while the govt can subsidize so many other things now.

Sorry, I do not want to make this thread political, but couldn't help myself.

 

[cowboy357]

If You have a local Habitat for Humanity group in Your area , You might check with them. Thats not what They normally do , but in this area I,ve seen this type of stuff done by them at no cost to the owner , at least on the local news . Might be worth a try . Bob

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Before I started on the project, I probably should have asked the question, "Does anyone know of any programs that would have helped pay for a handicap ramp for a disabled low income person?"

I am glad to be able to help out, but it bothers me that a person who worked and paid taxes all their life, and can't afford to pay to get a ramp built, has to depend on the charity of someone else to help them while the govt can subsidize so many other things now.

Sorry, I do not want to make this thread political, but couldn't help myself.

Church organizations, colleges, vocational schools and high schools may have
community service programs that could provide volunteers, as well. Lumber yards and
building supply stores can be approached for donations of lumber and supplies.

There should be some kind of help out there, and IF NOT.. Then it's a shame.

I took carpentry at the vocational school while I was in high-school, and I remember when we built close to 100 little buildings for school kids that rode the bus, so they could get in those if it was raining or snowing.

All the material for building those was donating by several lumber yards in the area.... You might be able to talk to a "vocational school" and see if they can help.

If not, then I would think that a church would want to help.

If no luck, you can try searching the web for your area.... I did and organizations in KY & WV had programs that helped in this area.