Hi Everyone!
I will begin repairing some plantation shutters. The staples that attach the end of the louver to the control arm have rusted out. I would like to replace the staples with new SS staples. What would be the best method to repair these staples? One method that I know of would be to use individual staples and push them into the louver and control arm with vise-grip needle nose pliers? What do you think? Looking for some suggestions on method before I start. Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks
Cruzan
Replies
Greetings C,
As a first time poster Welcome to Breaktime.
This post, in response to your question, will bump the thread through the 'recent discussion' listing again.
Perhaps it will catch someones attention that can help you with advice.
Cheers
Hunts with garlic.
That would be very helpful as I have not received any input as yet!
Thanks
Cruzan
Maybe no one knows what a plantation shutter is? I don't.
Hi Mark,
Missed your question, just learning the system! I'll try an anwer as best I can.
The plantation shutter is a louvered, usually casement interior shutter installed on the interior to regulate air and sunlight. They are common in the Carribbean, South and warm climates. They have operable louvers and a control arm to move them up and down.
I'm restoring them on a 19th century Danish Slave Plantation on the island of St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands
Thanks
Cruzan
I'm restoring them on a 19th century Danish Slave Plantation on the island of St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands
I think is going to require that you fly a few of us down to inspect the shutter situation. ;)
The Breaktimer formerly known as "Steve-O"
"Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words." - St. Francis of Assisi
Project is not big enough for full crew. I'll keep you in mind if anything comes up in the future.
Thanks
Cruzan
Cruzan,
I just restored 50 of these. I use Senco 15 gauge trim nails. Cut off the head and bend to u shape. Drill holes with slightly smaller bit and push in with needle nose.
I hate shutters!
KK
Hey I love your callname!
I really appreciate the input! I was beginning to get a real migrane over the whole thing! This is my first time on the breaktime and to just get a response has made my week. I will give your suggestion a good try! I'll be intouch. This website is kind of fun, just hoping I can help someone else. I guess the time will come for the greenhorn!
Until next time! Can't forget that callname! Ha Ha ha ha!
Sincerely
Cruzan
I used to run a shutter plant......have made and restored a few. Don't know if I can help though. We made interior shutters....I would never put an operable shutter on the exterior, so I've never seen a staple rust out. We used fixed louver shutters for exteriors. None of the copanies that I was aware of at the time made operable shutters for the exterior. 'Plantation' the way we used the term referred to the width of the louvers, by the way.
Different companies use different methods for stapling the rod....we used 18 gauge gun staples, and most or all of the companies I knew did the same, although I have heard of people using an Arrow stapler or something like that, which seems skimpy to me. Our guns had complicated jigs for a) getting a staple centred on the edge of a louver and b) stapling the louvers to the rod through the staple that was in the louver. Would be complicated and expensive to set something like that up, and not worth it unless you want to produce shutters, and I don't know any quicker and easier way to do it. Our set-up still required practice and skill to get it right.
So you're back to the method you suggested, and which we used to fix the odd bad staple.....pliers and a new staple, and build up the original staples holes if necessary (glue, sliver of wood, whatever). Or drill new ones, but you can't move much to either side as that will interfere with the operation of the louver......you can sometimes flip the louver around so that you have the fresh wood on the other side to work with. That's a lot of work if you have many shutters to do, and if you have to replace both the louver and the rod staples. I never looked for SS staples, and don't know if they exist.
Don't know if that helps at all; basically, I think you have the right idea. Good luck.
Edited 8/23/2005 8:41 am ET by Adrian
Hi Adrian,
Sorry for not responding sooner. Got tied up with real work! What a wealth of info. I do thank you so! I'm a newbe to the site and I feel so lucky to get info. like this. I will use the information you have provided and let you know how it works out for me.
Thank you much for taking the time to respond to my task at hand.
Cruzan
The ones that I have restored, we pulled out the 1/4" staples with needle nose pliers and then push back in new ones with the pliers, along with a little crazy glue. They have been hanging now for 12+ years(interior shutters with galvanized staples). As to the stainless steel staples, I know that they are available. I believed I used a senco SKS stapler. They are the "L" series staples. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong...
Thanks for the response! 12+ yrs is a good track record! My project is near the Caribbean sea and thus wanting to use the SS staples is a given. The shutters are interior. I think the galvanize ones would work as well! I will definely give your suggestion serious consideration and checkout the senco gun.
Thanks for the input! Have a great day!
Cruzan
Just to make this more clear, I did not use the senco gun to attach the staples. I just used the senco staples and manually reattached the the staples in the existing holes.
Thanks for the clarification. I was a little confused because there is no tolerance for a gun to get in between louver and control arm.
Thanks
Cruzan