Got seven sections of PVC / aluminum handrail to install between brick piers tomorrow (a new house, okay?!). 128 holes to drill for 3/16 X 1-1/4″ Tapcons. Got the 5/32 SDS+ bit for the rota-hammer, but wanted to not worry about alignment.
Made this, mocked up with some railing offcuts. Basically, I put it in place and stand on it. The double-thick back has the (8) correct holes drilled in true on the drill press. Just from scrap, in a few minutes
Adjust these lag-bolt feet with a 9/16″ wrench (porch is concrete) –
‘Til this shows plumb –
Drill away, standing on the jig.
Forrest – posting fool today
Edited 11/15/2007 1:40 pm by McDesign
Replies
Cool!
Do you think it might wander after you start punching holes? I'd think of a pin or something to slip in a few of the holes to help keep it aligned after the fitst hole is set.
Hey - that's a great idea - won't have to just count on standing on it. I've got some long 3/16 TapCons; I'll just temporarily set in a top and bottom one first.
That's why I like this forum thing -
Forrest
Cool beans!
I like to call the jigs and things I make part of my "Simple Dumb," style. I always ask my self how can I take thinking to much out of the equation. It all started when I was a young lad being taught to build cabinets using a story pole.
Looks like you do the same.
I agree. I was with a start-up division of Mead Packaging that purchased some patent rights, and began importing commercial packaging machinery from OTOR in France.
Interesting to see the difference in philosophy of machine manufacture from French to the US.
Our tendency is to make the part manufacture as rigidly controlled as possible, and the assembly "self guiding", so final assembly or field repair can be done by idiots. Sort of "complex parts, dumb assembly"
French was just the opposite - had to have technicians assembling the things, and lots of tuning/art after repairs / rebuild. Tough to sell and train here. Actually, it was impossible.
Great book http://www.amazon.com/Chunnel-Amazing-Undersea-Crossing-English/dp/0812921984/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1195169551&sr=1-11 about building the Chunnel, and how unbelieveably difficult it was for the French and English to work together from an engineering standpoint, besides the obvious political difficulties. I required all my guys to read it, to help us see the humor in dealing with those pathetic jerks. Wait - did I say that out loud?
Forrest
One of the aerospace companies I represented was a French one, our contact sales engineer would come over and totally po the engineers/buyers at Cessna, Raytheon, Lear, Boeing. He was obviously Asian and in discussion learned he was Vietnamese. I asked him where, I had been at Cu Chi and Phu loi. He said Hanoi. A sudden chill hit.
Yee-freakin'-hah!!!
That jig was the BOMB today. Only thing level on the whole porch was the top plane of the brick piers. I just adjusted my jig level and plumb with the bulls-eye level, and down 2-5/8" from that plane; centered it on the pier. Points of those 7/16" lag "feet" gripped well on the concrete.
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Every one of the 128 holes was perfectly situated - didn't have to re-drill one. This railing has little covers that snap over the mounts to conceal the screw heads
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Elapsed time, pretty darn short. A lucrative job on a per-hour basis!
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Not an attractive house or fine railing, but better than it was, with that "wrought iron" that wasn't really visible -
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HO is my HS science teacher
Forrest
Edited 11/16/2007 5:54 pm by McDesign
I'm impressed with the jig, but I'm more impressed with the mindset that creates such a jig. Nice job.
I had an occasion to install a vinyl railing once and it came out fine, but I didn't use a jig. I only had about 5 sections to install, but I wonder if I would have considered a jig if I had more. I will now.
Thanks - I probably wouldn't have thought about just attaching to wood, but I was concerned that some holes would wind up just at the intersection of brick and morter, and the point would drift.
Sure enough, some did, but the Rotahammer and the guide kept the holes straight.
Forrest
Dang, nice, functional and cheap!
Profits (and beer) to you!
All I did was spread shellac and Bona Mega (x2) today... nothing special but the outcome.
Oh, and have t-day lunch with the kids at school.
Love the k-garten musicals!Liberty = Freedom from unjust or undue governmental control.
American Heritage Dictionary
What's Bona-Mega? Is it like Tono-Bungy?
Forrest - Huxley fan
Water-born poly floor finish by Bona Kemi. Used over Bona Kemi "Quik Dry" custom color stain over shellac sanding sealer over white oak 1.5" wide 3/4 t&g common over new 5/8" BCX underlay.
If you ain't used it, you ain't had "tight-azz". Drips set almost as fast as shellac.
Smells funny, too.
Durable and purty, though.
Troy - fighting the off-gassing funk with blue cans of refreshment... err, for medicinal purposes only.Liberty = Freedom from unjust or undue governmental control.
American Heritage Dictionary
Great Job! Use your brains up front so you don't have to later. Simple Dumb! Excellent
Great looking stuff by the way.