Handrail/Guardrail Project

[LomitaWelder]

This is a handrail/guardrail I just completed. This thing turned out to be almost 1200 linear feet. The skate boarders could not wait for me to finish.

[LomitaWelder]

Sorry I told a fish tale. It was almost 600 linear feet not 1200.

[SWells]

Nice work, 600 or 1200 it still looks like a lot of pieces to me.

[Sandy]

Wow, that's a lot of guard. Must be a minimum/maximum grade for wheel chairs or something?? Long ramp. Lot of ziggin and zaggin.

[mr2turbo7]

2 questions.... how did you mount those posts?

and HOw in the heck do you figure the angle to built the panels at? I build a lot of fencing and when it comes to a slope I either step it down (ugly) or I build it on site (Pain In The Arse) I have tried angle finders and what not but when ever I build the panel it seems to be off a little bit when I install it.

Looks awesome by the way!

[spiral-cut-bevel]

HOw in the heck do you figure the angle to built the panels at? I build a lot of fencing and when it comes to a slope I either step it down (ugly) or I build it on site (Pain In The Arse) I have tried angle finders and what not but when ever I build the panel it seems to be off a little bit when I install it.

Looks awesome by the way!

Trig would work....a little help from Pythagoras. You would need to measure the overall length of the railing placement (run) and then the distance it rises throughout the run.

Nice looking work LomitaWelder :cool2: ....I used to skate in my youthful days and I agree with you; those railings do look appetizing. Nice job !

[Scott Young]

2 questions.... how did you mount those posts?

and HOw in the heck do you figure the angle to built the panels at? I build a lot of fencing and when it comes to a slope I either step it down (ugly) or I build it on site (Pain In The Arse) I have tried angle finders and what not but when ever I build the panel it seems to be off a little bit when I install it.

Looks awesome by the way!

i could teach you the math and it will in the end confuse both of us and will have very little effect on the outcome unless you like that sort of stuff. there are some simple tools and methods.

three tools you need are a long straight edge, a half joint of 2x2 angle or sq tube (the stiffer the better), a 2 foot level, and a sliding t bevel.

the process:

lay your straight edge where you want the railing to go. take your level and hold it plumb with the base resting on the straight edge. then adjust the bevel to the angle and set the nut tight. if you have a sheet of paper transfer the angle and record the pertinent info and then go build your panel. you will never have a truer panel and you did no math.

i have had trim carpenters come to work for me that try and do the math only to get frustrated and mess up as well as wasting a lot of time. i soon got to the point of asking the prospective carpenters if they have a bevel. most didn't even know what one was. when i showed them they said oh that "t thingy".:cry:

now that i am in welding and fitting i still use many of the same tools from my other life.

[tapwelder]

Nice rail. I am impressed. Looks like you did some onsite work. Is it painted? What type welding regulations do you deal with in California?


Yeah, I would agree with Scott. Take the math out. I use a large bevel square. On steps. I also use a digital protractor. I have found the key being, measure across all of the steps in a run.

Use a couple of strings the length of the run. One string would follow the pitch the other would be level. Get the average rise/run and make a jig, then build away.

I guess a transit would work, I have never used one however.

With math, You really have to figure how many digits would be significant for a given distance. Then there become the tanslation from decimal to fractions. Over a long pitched run errors are magnified. e.g off 1/8" per foot for 100 feet adds up.

Also, with steps Math does not consider imperfections in steps construction.

[LomitaWelder]

I did build the rail on site.
I did not really use math for this one.
It was pretty easy really. The uprights are cored into the concrete 6" at 6' on center. From there I just marked each picket at 4" on center. If it were off by a 1/4" it isn't visible on a rail this size and is still within code because I have 1 1/2 to play with. Here I went by ADA Ubc 1997 addopted by California.
The angle was easy also because I fab on.

[LomitaWelder]

Yes it is painted with red oxide primer and then brown to match the library exterior.

[brandon75173]

Looks very good. Man I hate to core drill even though most of the time people never think far enough ahead so that you can use embed plates. So much nicer to walk up and weld them down instead of running the drill.

[Brett]

Nice work LomitaWelder,

Certainly looks strong!