Thursday 28 February 2013

Presto-Chango!

This new rail brought a completely new look to the house.  




The above are the before shots.  The lag screws were not actually engaged into the stringer, so the whole rail was actually held on by just four nails....
 I decided to build raised panels into the newel posts.  They look nice, and show that the panels aren't plywood.  


 Certainly a big change from what was there. 

 It's always nice to have a free hand when building.  

Thursday 21 February 2013

The Case of the Flying Stairs

Because I didn't want terribly steep stairs, I made them L-shaped.  Underneath the landing also makes a convenient place to store things.  I'm not sure what I'll put under there, but I know it'll fill up.

 Here, I've set the short stairs in place, so I could get up onto the landing in style.
 I just stuck a big eye lag into a conveniently placed rafter and hooked on the good old power-pull.


 After the stairs were up on the landing, I just hooked up another come-along up in the mezzanine, and while keeping the bottom one taught, I lifted up the other end of the stairs.
 Once the stairs were high enough, I pulled them back onto the ledger I had shot on earlier, and then shot them in place.



 Ahhhhhhh, now that's safer than a ladder, that's for sure
From underneath, you can see the construction.

Monday 18 February 2013

Half Gallon of Glue

Now that the siding is on the shop, I figure its about time I get serious, and clean up all the other jobs left to do.  I still have some T&G to put up inside, but I figured that I'd build some stairs.  I've been going up and down a ladder to access my mezzanine for far too long.  I was just going to cut the stringers out, but my Dad convinced me that it would be good practice, and good fun, to build housed stringers.  So, I got out the Audel's Guide, and read up on them.

You can see how the gains for the treads, and riser boards are wedge shaped, as there are no nails or screws in the construction, just glue.  Lots of glue.

I'm laying up the staircase nose down, as I need to pound in, and cut off all the wedges.

 I made up a simple jig for these stairs.  I just used some 1/2" Baltic Birch I had laying around the shop. Making the template was the work of a few minutes, after I came to the conclusion that no matter what, nice stairs take up allot of room.  I ended up with a rise of about 7 3/16" & an 11" tread.  This worked out nicely using nominal 2"x12" for the treads.  The stringers are actually shorts, (just 13") left over from a million board foot run of Belgium Roof Trusses.  I got them cheap, and have been hanging onto them for a few years, for just this job!

 The treads go into the stringers first.  Then the wedges will be dipped in glue, pounded in, and cut off, as the riser boards pass by them.
 Here, the treads, and riser boards are glued in place.  64 wedges.
 I'm adding large long glue blocks here to stiffen the treads up.  The stair case is 4' wide, and I don't like to feel bouncing when I scurry up and down,


 Glued, and trimmed.  Now, how to get this in place! By now, the staircase weighs nearly a thousand pounds.



















Sunday 17 February 2013

Siding.....Finally.

 I finally nailed the siding boards onto the shop.  I have to admit, it was great fun pounding the nails in.
 I also cleaned the gutters on the way by.
Hanging the siding up on the short back wall was great, I didn't even have to stand on a stool, as the wall is only about 6' high.  The grade here, is about 4' higher than the slab inside.

Saturday 16 February 2013

Twelve Foot Stairs

I don't just get to do fine work.  Often I do fill in jobs, and just about the only thing I use, is the mighty worm drive Skilsaw.
 Because the homeowners wanted the treads to be made of deck boards, I decided to just place the stringers on 16" centres, so there wasn't any bounce.  I used Fir for the stringers, for strength.
 I did this job just down the street from my place.  The stairs aren't comfortable for walking up and down, but they are great for sitting on, and holding planters.  Its just what they wanted, so it's just what they got!
I notched out the bottom of the stringers, to fit over a 2"x3" I shot onto the footing with the Hilti gun.

Friday 15 February 2013

And that's Why


You should always take a before shot!  



I didn't.  As great as this looks, it looks even better when compared to what was there before!  
 I had the Sapele Plywood laid up with the veneer backwards, going across the sheets instead of going lengthwise.  This let me build the long doors without joints, or without having to hammer veneer them afterwards.
 I like to use 3/4"ply for my case work.  In this instance, its Birch, which is nice and hard, and gives a dramatic contrast to the Sapele.I also like to use inserts for the shelf pins!
 Instead of a 5" dead space next to the double ovens, I put in a slide out pantry.  Sure is more useful than nothing!
 The countertop here is made of solid lumber, not ply.  The solid stock gives a much better feel when you knock on it, and its much easier to refinish!  The ribbon grain always looks a little more vibrant on solid wood than the plywood too.