Last year I was awarded the bid to fabricate and install a complex railing system for the library of a new monastery built in Jacobs Falls on the far end of no mans land in Michigan Upper Peninsula. Not my style of stair railing but anything new and different catches my interest, so off I went on a 8 hour drive, round trip, to take measurements, photos and the etch the idiot proof story pole. What a place, right across the road from a fantastic waterfall and located a stones throw from the shore of Lake Superior, I should have brought my kayak.
The design was based on photos provide by the monks, I was allowed some flexibility in order to fit it into the budget. The box newels are reinforced with steel tubing securely lagged to the rim joist. All parts were cut to size and fitted in the shop, prestained and finished prior to delivery. Two 14 hour days including the drive rounded out the installation. The only on site cuts were limited to a few pieces of oddball trim. The monastery was partly open for business so the hardest part of the job was reworking my vocabulary, fortunately nothing went wrong and the monks were spared the usual trade expletives. All went well, great bunch of guys, even sent along a box of cookies for the wife.
Replies
photo of steel in box newel
photo of steel connection to rim joist
steel to floor connection
photo of exterior of project
Armin: You the man......that was top quality work you posted.
Very nice place and very nice work.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
very impressive, always glad to get some inspiration from your work.
did you frabricate the steel for the post or is it a standard item?
and the exterior. wow.
What a beautiful piece of workmanship!
If any one is interested in visiting the place on the web here is the url
http://www.societystjohn.com/
did you fabricate the steel for the post or is it a standard item?
We weld up our own, I do have several standard sizes however a lot depends on the rim joist and how much space I have to work with. When possible I use a 2x2 steel tube with weldments for fastening. This job had limited options so I opted for a 1 x 2 tube with a wing stiffener welded along the inside edge and a plate screwed to the floor., photo below. I used to sub it out to a local shop but it took me longer to draw it up than actually make it myself .
Armin,
Nice work as always. Why do you use a box? They looked about 4 1/2" square, why not use solid wood? Not critisizing, just interested in your reasons.
Para,
Sorry for taking so long to reply. The posts are 5 1/2 x 5 1/2, solid would be next to impossible to get without gluing up and heavy as hell. The box is not just a box, it really does look like a solid post since the face boards are flat sawn and the sides quarter sawn, ice grain march, looks like the real thing. The box allows me to fasten the railing from the inside using heavy duty fastners. Aside from pulling the joint tight it adds an extra measure of safety, no matter what inebriated lug leans against it this isn't going to break apart anytime soon. Last but not least, it's the steel insert inside the hollow box that gives it its lasting strength. I have used this for 30 years with not one call back.
Nice work, Armin......I love the shot of the building and your work!
Thanks Pi
Armin
Very nice, looks like the building should be in some foreign country though.
I like the way you attached the newels, very clever, shouldn't wiggle loose.
Nice job
Doug
Armin , That is some neet shi........oh er um I mean stuff .
Thanks guys.
The building does look out of place, it's modeled after a Russian Orthodox Church. I was hoping to get back for some finished photos. The inlayed tile floor is an awesome piece of craftsmanship. The altar was built by a local craftslady, fantastic joinery, superb hand rubbed finish. She was very knowledgeable about the trades, not to bad looking either, I was impressed. Unfortunately the finish carpentry is substandard, borderline hacks. The winning bid was 1.3 million bucks and I'm sure the job cost ran over.
One piece of advise: any of you guys ever get to work on a monastery, don't wear brown carhardts, especially if you are bald and have a beard, tourist start asking you all sorts of religious questions.