I have a couple of fiberglass/resin columns to install. I plan to join the decorative capital just above the bead/astragal–cutting about 4″ off the top of the columns (as per instructions). They (Dixie Pacific) say to use caulk between the cap and column and toescrews.
It seems like there should be a better way to do this…any suggestions?
From building boxes and fitting face frames to installing doors and drawers, these techniques could be used for lots of cabinet projects.
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Replies
I'm restoring similar as we speak, the capitals I found at columns.com were 1.25" shorter than the original,,,so I am making it up in the base elements and the abacus.
The reason I said all that is I THINK you can just PL between the capiatal and the abacus ( that ring above and between the capital) and bury a few toescrews..mine are load bearing and the new capitals are resin cast. I can't see why a non bearing would need more IF you get it tight.
The wood I removed was toenailed to a crappy plaster/clay like casting, that had disintergrated beyond repair.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"We strive for conversion,we get lost in conversation, and wallow in consternation. "
Me.
Thanks,I think I'll use PL Premium...rather than caulk. One of the columns is right at the top of the stairs--I can envision people grabbing the column and swinging around it to turn the corner.I'll be careful to not crack the abacus when running the screws in (not much there and I've seen the stuff crack and chip before). Then I'll bondo over the screw heads.I've only done one other set of FG/resin columns and the joining of the parts seems the least thought out part of the system.Should be fine...just wanted to hear what others do.G'day,BC
When I've split HB&G columns to go around structural wood, their instructions say PL400 to stick the halves back together; afterwards, rake off any squeeze-out, and Bondo any fissures.
Seemed to work fine.
Forrest
you sure it's called an "Abacus"?
I just looked it up--yup, that's what he means. Sphere is usually dead on with such things, but you got me doubting him (sorry, Sphere--oh, me of little faith!). Webster's says, "A slab on the top of the capital of a column."
The capital is made up of 3 sections. The top part is called the abacus. In a doric capital it is a square slab between the architrave and the rest of the capitol. In the ionic order it is sometimes more elaborate, and usually thinner. Often it is egg-and-art around the edge. In the corinthian example in Bass's pictures it's the square piece at the top of the capital with the cove and ovolo edge.Below the abacus is the echinus. In Doric that is the mushroomed out part. In Ionic, it's the scrolled part, also called the volute. In corinthian it's the acanthus leaves.Below the echinus, is the necking, which is everything between the echinus or volutes and that band around the column underneath it, which is sometimes right up against the echinus, or sometimes a few inches away. In a lot of the original greek columns, the necking is terminated not with a raised bead, but rather an incised ring.Steve
Steve,Thanks for sharing the nomenclature.Here is the result of my efforts this afternoon:
That don't look quite right. The flutes start too high up from the base.
Look here.
http://www.columns.com/co_replication_columns_pop.html
The ones I am doing are the very last in the lineup
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"We strive for conversion,we get lost in conversation, and wallow in consternation. "Me.
Edited 6/18/2008 7:52 pm ET by Sphere
Well, it could have been worse...I cut 16" of unfluted area off the bottoms of these columns.
Holy smokes! I'd say somehow that was wrong..lol
I edited the last post to show that I am working on the last style in the lineup, and outta curiosity I priced a new column..118" was 1475.00, I rebuilt the wood one in a day.
They do do make custom sizes.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"We strive for conversion,we get lost in conversation, and wallow in consternation. "Me.
Sounds like you did well on your rebuild.As far as custom columns go...this stuff is already on the job and I just install..."semi-custom."Once they are painted, I think they will look better.Thanks for the input,BC
I'll have a pic or three when the camera recharges later, cutting the base rings round and profiling today.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"We strive for conversion,we get lost in conversation, and wallow in consternation. "Me.
Brian,Nice work. They certainly look better with the necking right up under the acanthus leaves. Most of what passes for classical columns these days just looks wrong, and one of the most glaring errors to me is the way they handle the necking. Not sure why they do that. Probably just to give some adjustment room...probably the same reason for stopping the fluting short of the base too. I don't think the bases look too far off in your case though. One of the biggest problems with trimming too much off the bottom is that it messes up the entasis, which they usually don't get right from the git-go either. There is a really neat way to get the entasis right if you ever need to do a pilaster from scratch...can post if you are interested.Steve
Steve,I bet these columns get the capital added right on top fairly often (I cut 4" off the tops and 16" off the bottoms). Some folks just would not want to cut them twice...aesthetics...What?These columns came with a warning "don't cut more than 1/3 off the bottom" or something like that. The reason given was that the base would not fit (no mention of entasis--that would just confuse people).Feel free to post more on entasis (all I know about it is from a PBS special on the Parthenon).Have a good day,Brian
Thank You Danno, but I am just repeating what the manu. told me. Like I said I am making up for a shorter necking..
Been fabricating rings for the bases and abacus all morning and instead of 8 segments at 22.5 degrees, my brainstorm was 30 degrees and 6 , but dialing in the Bosch 12" slider at 30 , proved to be a real PITA..might go back to 22.5 if the detent is accurate..POS Saw.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"We strive for conversion,we get lost in conversation, and wallow in consternation. "Me.
Yeah, what Moogie said. LOL
On the columns I am re-creating the Co. referred to the joint as that, si if I am wrong, it's thier fault. Mine is actually a 1" bead, and a 3/4" Cove as a transition to the necking.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"We strive for conversion,we get lost in conversation, and wallow in consternation. "Me.
why not? where's it gonna go?
if U want something more structural ... I once glued a column back together with gorilla glue.
don't ask how ... but between me and my helper ... we managed to cut the first of 4 exactly 10 inches too short.
kinda funny when U carry it over ... set it ... thinking it'll hopefully just slip in with a little smacking into place ... and it almost flops over the other way!
anyways ... we glued it and left it in the garage overnight.
carried it into place ... stronng as can be ... up till the very last adjustment smack.
that opened a hairline crack.
btw ... when I cut a 10" round column 10" too short and have that hairline crack showing .... that pretty much decides where the band of flex trim is gonna be applied on all the columns ... and that stuff gets applied real quick before yer boss shows up to check the progress!
just cut it all so tight there's not much room for side-to-side movement.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I overthink some of these things that I do seldomly...especially when the parts are expensive.These happen to go over ceramic tile and infloor radiant heat...so attachment to the floor will be interesting too.Never a dull moment,BC
On the floor, I'd think in terms of a fabricated retaining ring around the perimeter of the base rather than trying to actually attach the column to the floor. Set the column with the ring loose, slide it down and PL or short-screw it to the tile, and hide it al under the base. If they're foam, the hollow quickly with a Forstner or pointless spade bit.
Forrest
cut one 10" too short with the boss scheduled to show up the next day and ya stop overthinking and start reacting real quick-like!
neccessity may be the mother of invention but panic sure speeds the decision making up! Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Good point there, Jeff.All went well today. Thanks,Bass