Replies

1. 
   Snort | May 09, 2002 04:58am | #1

   Don't know about spacer blocks, or the old way...we space to code (3 15/16 here) and work out an even distance between walls or newels ...

2. 
   user-284410 | May 09, 2002 06:21am | #2

   The way I space pickets on a deck rail would work for spacing spindles as well.  The pickets used are 1.5" spuare so I will explain my method using pickets and you can adjust for the spindle dimensions.   I first determine how many pickets I need in a given space between posts by dividing the overall space by 5.5 (4" space + 1.5" picket).  I round down to the nearest whole number to determine the number of pickets needed.  I then multiply the number of pickets by 1.5 to determine the total space taken up by the pickets.  I subtract this number from the overall width between posts to come up with the remaining space.  This number is divided by the number of spaces between pickets which will always be the number of pickets + one.  (In other words if you have 10 pickets you will have 11 spaces).  The number I have come up with should be slightly less than 4.  If so that is the space I will use between the pickets.  If the number is higher than 4 I know that I need to add one more picket so I go back to the second step and recalculate the spaces.  This may seem like alot to do but once you get used to it, it goes quick.  The last thing I do is to set my combo square to the width of the space + 1.5" and use it as a gauge to layout the pickets between the posts.  I am always careful to mark my X on the correct side of the line. 

   I hope this will help you.

1. 
   stonewood1 | May 10, 2002 04:23am | #4

   Thanks for the spacing advise. Much appreciated!!

3. 
   PhillGiles | May 09, 2002 06:24am | #3

   There was a lengthy discussion of this not too far back in the archive

   .

   Phill Giles

   The Unionville Woodwright

   Unionville, Ontario