Railing

[SlagKing]

Since I now have a new camera, I thought you might like to see a railing I started today. First is a couple pictures of the site.

[SlagKing]

From the front.

[SlagKing]

The raw tubing and somewhere in there are the sticks for the scrolls.

[SlagKing]

Cutting the railing. Thats all for now. I will post more in a few days

[SlagKing]

I had a couple hours so I started to put the railing together

[SlagKing]

sorry that is the wrong picture...trying again

[SlagKing]

I guess that was the right picture after all. Anyway here is some of the railing...upside down of course, and with a little paint on it, just to see if it will look okay.

[cutter]

Looking good, Slag. Keep it coming.

[7018]

Doing a god job there slag,and it looks like u got a new camra to!!!!

[JoseJump]

What.. No Pickets?

[Jim314]

Slag, keep us updated on the progress. Looks like a good start!

[SlagKing]

The front rail is the one I painted black a little. With a couple hours after work, and grandma taking the kids for a few, I built the first side. It's 10 feet long and then after that I'm building a 5 foot removable gate for the kitchen door area so they can move bigger things in there by removing the gate. First picture is of the front/side 10 foot piece

[SlagKing]

Here is the gate still on the welding table. Not a great picture, it's 5 foot long

[SlagKing]

Just a better view of my welding table with the gate on it. Also you can see how I have HF bender/scroller set. Thats all today, I really like my digital camera.

[SlagKing]

A few hours on Sat. night, and about an hour today, Easter, I got all the railings made. Here is the last part. This goes from the "gate" to the steps

[SlagKing]

This is the end where the steps are. You can see how it the railing will rise up with the step. Of course the railing is upside down here. I have a lot more to do on this. I'm also going to add little scrolls that can be used for hanging flower pot holders in the middle of each section, also scrolls on each leg or upright.
The guy I'm building this for has already asked for more work from me. I'm not sure of the design yet but it will be a gate on his driveway, which is just to the left and out of picture view from the site pictures. But first I have to finish this one, and a couple smaller jobs, so maybe in a couple weeks I can start the gate for him. This type of railing is the first for me, I have only been doing handrails and repairing other railings that have gotten old and rusty, although I have done maybe close to twenty of those. This is my first design at a railing, sure is fun. Some of the other railings where the picket type, and I was giving the plans for them. On this I was told to just do what I thought. I like that.

[SlagKing]

Picture of my great grandfathers anvil that I just got a few hours ago from one of my brothers. My grandfater who died in 1953 left it to my dad. I was born in 1956 so I never met my grandfather, but I'm told I was just like him. Work with the hands type.
His dad, my great grandfather, died in the 1920's so I have no idea how old this anvil is. It's in great shape! Yeah I like this welding stuff.

[SlagKing]

How am I doing? Too many pictures? I'm having such a great time doing all this stuff, if it's too much, let me know, or if it' okay.
Mixing old work skills, (handmade tools and projects) with 21st century camera's just amaze me.

[Doggus]

Heck no, I mainly browse this site looking at pictures because I'm the non-creative type. I have to look at what others are doing to jog my creativity. would like to see the photos when it's up too!

Thx

[7018]

Nope its not to much! i enjoy looking what others do.Ur really diong a great job there. i would also like to see what it looks like up!

[cutter]

Shoot no, Slag - keep 'em coming.
That anvil is a true treasure.

[John]

keep'em coming, keep'em coming. And Doggus I'm the same way.:D

By the way Slag, it's looking excellent!

[Trevor]

keep the great pics coming
I'm jelouse about the anvil I want one what ya gonna mount it to a large chunk of wood would be nice

[SlagKing]

A "friend" of mine asked me why I would care about an old anvil. Sometimes it's best not to even talk to those kind, you know what I mean.

[one_rod]

SlagKing;
I managed to get hold of an old anvil, looks to be about the same size as yours, but it was in much worse condition. No family connection, just a big old lump of iron.
It took a full roll of hard facing wire, lord knows how much Argon, how many hours work and how many grinding disks, to get it back into good shape.
It was worth every bit of the trouble it took. It's up to people who do understand to try to look after old tools like this and appreciate their worth.

[SlagKing]

Didn't feel all that well Monday, but today I did a little more work on the railing. Wife went to work so I have to make dinner for the kids. Also I need some more scrolling stock and it wasn't here when I got home, so I only had about an hours work in it tonight. Middle scrolls and a couple leg scrolls. Starting to look about right to me now.

[SlagKing]

Just a tad closer.

[7018]

Looking better Slagking,Are u installing it,hope u post some picks after its up!!!

[John]

Hey SlagKing, I read back through and didn't see what you are using for scroll material. Sorry if I missed it.:cool: Mostly wondering what thickness, for future reference. Thanks.

[SlagKing]

John. Your correct and I'm bad..sorry. Railing is 1 1/4 square tubing, about 1/8 inch thick wall, pretty heavy. Scroll is 3/16 inch by 3/4 inch. Total length will be 29 feet 3 inches.

[YJMike]

Slag Nice work!

As for the other that say they are not creative, I feel your pain. I get a few ideas off the site here and fit them to my use.

I work mids these days hard to see daylight on the weekends and no garage either. I want make make a bunch of stuff with no time on hand.

[rodburner]

that looks awesome slag someone's taxes are goin up after its up and finished, and keep those pic's comin. Its great to see what others are building

[John]

Originally posted by SlagKing
John. Your correct and I'm bad..sorry. Railing is 1 1/4 square tubing, about 1/8 inch thick wall, pretty heavy. Scroll is 3/16 inch by 3/4 inch. Total length will be 29 feet 3 inches.

That's quite alright. I was just curious. I've been making some scrolls lately and thought that yours looked thicker than mine. It's good to hear that the HF scroller is holding up to the job for you. I almost bought one when I was looking for one but ended up getting the SO. As for you being bad. From the looks of your work, I'd say your pretty good.:D :D :D

[SlagKing]

Thank you all for the kind words. A little snag lately, no materials. I will keep in touch on this as soon as I can get started again. Lots of scrolls! Already over 100 feet of scroll stock. Needing about 20 feet more. I'm looking down the street, no supply truck in sight. HF scroller is doing well. I did replace the pin that holds the big coma on. It was pretty loose when I used the original pin. There is the dreaded, flat spot, but it's right where I weld and then I can't see it anymore. I'm welding the scrolls in with my Clarke 95 with fluxcore. It's a nice weld but the duty cycle is pretty short. Honestly it's only doing about 5 or 6 of the welds if I get a moving and those welds are only a inch or so anyway. Not too bad when I do the first side with all the set up and getting the scrolls placed, then the welding is slower and more time between, but when I do the other side and just go from one to another, it's dead stick time way to soon I think. I havn't added a cooling fan yet and may not. After this is done, if not before, I'm going to upgrade. I'm adding this for information in case anyone needs that information. If I would have had that information before I bought this Clarke, I would have been looking at higher duty cycle. So there ya go.

[SlagKing]

Rodburner
This job was a must do as the owner's insurance insist he add railing to the "patio" or increase rates. After I looked at the patio I agree it needed a railing. It's going to be a lot safer and I hope look a lot nicer. The owner has done a lot of upgrading to his home but he doesn't know how to weld.
I also understand about how some of you don't have much time or would like more time to do this kind of work. I have a wife that is a nurse, works nights and I have 3 younger daughters. Never enough time for anything but I don't watch tv like so many of my friends do and that helps I think. Also I do have a lot of tools and that helps. To the guys that are still rookies, ( I have been welding for 1 year now and 5 days), get information from all the guys you can, right or wrong and sort it out. Stay excited about learning new skills and work hard because it pays off with interial self pride and nice words from others.
To the pro's. look behind you, I'm gaining.

[SlagKing]

Welding all done on the railing. Still waiting for paint. I set all the pieces up to see how the gate would work. I like it. This is not a good picture but it's interesting I think.

[cutter]

Good job, Tom. Now you get to do the part I always dread & try to dodge - the paint. Dunno what it is, but I hate to paint! :p

[John]

Excellent work. I've got to get me some work like that. Looks like fun. And I'm with you cutter on the paint'in thing. I used to think paint'in was all right 'till I started this metal stuff. Now it's not much fun, what with all the prep work and such.:D :D :D

[Jim314]

That's an excellent job Tom!

[SlagKing]

Okay. Tonight I got the paint. Now I can channel my excitment and start to paint with this new, exciting and I"m sure interesting color. With excitment showing I asked, "What is it called?" I thought I heard..........................
.................................................. ..."PUTTY"

I know I heard it incorrectly, sometimes grinding does that, so I asked again....a little more shyly.
I heard it again................................
.................................................. ......."PUTTY"

It looks good don't get me wrong, but at first I had a hard time painting this railing............"PUTTY"

Why not Mistic Cloud or something really cool??

Here is the PUTTY rail. Installing it on Saturday.

[SlagKing]

another part, painted in Mestic putty

[SlagKing]

I'll be good, only one more

[SlagKing]

I am of course pulling everyone chain. The color is called....
"Mystic Putty for Clouds" Geez, now am I going to get any sleep tonight?

[7018]

Looking good Slag ,the color isnt what i would like but each to his own.bet it will match up good with his porch.like to see it installed,keep up the good work,:)

[SlagKing]

After a few hours of thinking about it, I decided I like the name of PUTTY after all. Funny, it smells like putty to.

[Jim314]

I don't think you could have picked a prettier color :p

[SlagKing]

Jim, I'm almost with you on this now. Almost done with the painting, of course , I ran out and can't get more tonight. Sat. it gets installed, painted or not. It's looking good though.

[SlagKing]

Here is new home for the railing. Not quite finished. A couple more brackets, some paint, maybe an hour and half to go. This install took 2 hours. I think it really sets off that side of the house now and is a lot safer. What do you guys or gals think?

[SlagKing]

From the front.

[cutter]

Right you are, Tom. It really does make a difference. The porch would look naked without it now.
Good job!

[Sandy]

Originally posted by SlagKing
Here is new home for the railing. Not quite finished. A couple more brackets, some paint, maybe an hour and half to go. This install took 2 hours. I think it really sets off that side of the house now and is a lot safer. What do you guys or gals think?

Good looking railing. Fits right in. I don't know how in the heck you got by without it. I would have been off that edge at least once a day without some kind of Bumber rails!!!

[SlagKing]

Thanks Cutter, Sandy. Sandy, not my house, this is a jobber.
The railing was needed, badly, and I feel pretty good about doing it. Not just for the looks but also because of the safety. The Owner of the house is the one on the step. He's happy with it and wants more work. On the back of the house, there is a short chain link fence and gate, thats coming out and I'm going to do a railing, without a gate, for him soon. Also he wants a handrail that will go on the front door steps, to match this railing. Then he wants a gate on his driveway where a chain link gate is now. I have a couple ideas for that. Did anyone notice the "gate" on this railing? It's hard to see standing next to it, I'm really happy how it turned out. We have paint now and tomarrow I'll add the few brackets I needed and maybe take a pic of the gate area. I learned a lot building this railing, also I thank all for the kind words and good goings you gave me. More information for any newbie's. I feel that when I started, I liked all I could get, even the smaller things that I wouldn't have thought about. So here are a few. Pro's sorry but I just think a little is important.
Install took about 2 hours. Not including the two holes dug for the front posts, that only took 10 minutes I was told because the earth was a flower bed and soft. It was dug before I got there today.
Everything fit. I did remeasure twice and since I had a five foot removabe gate, I wanted it just right.
Write everything down, don't guess and if not sure, measure again, if it's different, measure again.
Get a good hammer drill. I got one from my wife for Christmas, this was the first job with the chance to use it. She got it at a Homier Sale. Bless her heart. The first hole, out of 24 holes broke that hammer drill. But two weeks ago, I bought a used Hilti TE5 for $75 and I had it on this job to. It's one of the reasons this install was so easy. Just a great, great tool.
I only had to weld in two places for the install, at the corner, at the front. I used my Arc One baby stick welder. Could not have been better. Second time I have used it, perfect for this kind of thing. Stick weld on the tubing during construction, Mig (fluxcore) on the scrolls. HF scroller, I paid $49 for the bender, $14 on sale for the scroller, I'm happy with it. If some of you, and I know because I didn't know myself, wonder what to charge if you do some of this kind of work. I have an inside on this because my nephews have a shop that do this work, I asked him about a year ago. So for this it's about $40 a foot. I have made enough to give the Homier Hammer Drill a decent funeral.

[7018]

Nice work SlagKing and it fits the home real nice!!And doing such a good job got more biss for u, and im sure the man will brag about u so u'll get more!How high is the rail? i've really wanted to see it up,again it really looks great!!!! :)

[SlagKing]

Thank you 7018. From upon the patio, the rail is 36 inches. From the sidewalk it's 54 inches. Here is a couple pictures of the gate area. This really worked out great, nice and big and if you have noticed, with the railing up, there is no easy way to use the kitchen door for moving things out or in, as the air cond. units make the steps too small for anything but walking. This was a fun project, and all I can say now is ....."Next"

[SlagKing]

Gate on and the owner is the model.

[SlagKing]

Gate being lifted out...about halfway.

[SlagKing]

Gate all the way out. I would say for me, this job is done!

[cutter]

Hell's Bells! No wonder I couldn't spot it. :p
That's impossible to see in the earlier pictures & I studied them for 10 minutes yesterday. Only thing that worries me - I'm not sure I'd take a check from a guy that wears shorts like that. :rolleyes:

[SlagKing]

Cutter, Thanks and I'm happy you couldn't see the gate. Makes me feel pretty good. He is a friend, works for the City of Omaha on traffic lights, installing and repair. Great guy. This job is also paid in full. Already have the other jobs for him ready to order. And as I was leaving his place, a woman across the street from him, ask about some railing. Man I am having a great time. I do have another intesting job waiting.....Custom tire rack for a new RaceCar shop. Got the okay on my bid. start that on Monday.....Of course I'll post some pictures, I warned you guys. Again, thanks so much for all the kind words. Means a lot.

[cutter]

Golly, that's super Tom.

I may have to reconsider my lack of interest in benders & scrollers 'cause so far, they just haven't really rung my bell.
But it sounds like you have just hit the ground running.
One thing I didn't understand clearly: what did you wind up using to anchor the railing?

[7018]

I'm with cutter on this one i looked for the gate to never did see it!!Again i must tell u its a great jod!! keep posting ur work i like to see someone who takes pride in what he does!! u just don't see that much anymore!!!

[rodburner]

Really awesome railing,enjoyed the thread from start to finish, many thanks for posting all the pics while it was in progress.

[1911Man]

Slag, I just had to jump in and give you an atta boy. That is really nice work! However if the wrong folks find out how much fun yer having they might think it's not "work" and you should be doing other stuff:D

[Paychk]

Just too cool, great work!

[SlagKing]

Again thanks everyone! Making me feel pretty good! All you guys know that this work isn't "easy", but it does feel good to work, do the best you can, and have people like all of you saying such kind things.
Cutter, I braced the railing with 4 concrete screws on each of the side legs, into the sidewalk, the front railing is set in 2 feet of concrete. On the legs of the side railing, maybe you can see flat stock that is welded to the legs and screwed to the top of the porch. There is no movement with those "brackets". Those brackets in the pictures are just painted with primer, and will get a paint that matches the stone. There are four of those brackets with 4 concrete screws in each one. Also Cutter, I like reading about your vise. I also can't tell all you guys how much I like what everyone post. I'm learning and hopefully, teaching like so many of you are doing. This project was fun for me, and so was posting it's story. Thanks again everyone. Made my evening! I'm going to show the guy the post about his shorts, after looking at them....I have to agree and he'll get a kick out of it.

[Pat]

Tom,

Excellent work. I have been sitting back watching as you progressed through this project, and am amazed at the workmanship and detail you have provided. It will probably give you a great sense of accomplishment every time you drive by and see that railing knowing that you created it. Did you use any special tooling or jigs to keep everthing in place and square while you welded it up? Thanks for sharing this project with us.

[SlagKing]

Thanks Pat. Only for the first (front) railing. And then I only Tacked to the welding table after squaring. After I just used C clamps. Turned out square and install fit easy. After setting everything square, I would tack it together, turn it over tack again, turn it over weld a little here, turn it over and weld a little there. No warping, stayed square and made it easier. I didn't have any trouble really, only thing I can think of was not knowing how much scroll stock I would need, because I have never done any scrolling before. So I ran out and had to wait a few days for more. The gate was fun to figure out, I didn't want a standard type of gate, I knew that from the start. If it would have been a swing type of gate I thought it would have just been in the way. This way it's just "gone".

[MAC702]

Nice work, Slag. What wall thickness did you select for the tubing?

[SlagKing]

Mac, I don't know for sure but I think it's 1/8" thick. If not I will post a correction.

[SlagKing]

These are the last pictures for this job for quite awhile. Owner wants a gate on the driveway and a fence to match this railing on the entire front of his yard. Thats, at a guess, 180 feet. Maybe more toward the end of summer. Then a small fence(gate), replacing the one you can see at the back of his house, behind the steps of the patio railing. This railing is for the front steps, and the cement is still pretty wet when I took the pictures, so the stones are misplaced. Also I would like to show a few pictures of a railing I repaired this morning after installing the step railing. This repair, was for the four Post, at the bottom, as they where rusted away, then the rails on the top railing where rusted and gone. I replaced the bottom posts a few monthes ago. The top rails I did this morning. Repair can't be seen, which I feel pretty good about. You have to imagine the post gone and the top railing gone. I didn't have my camera with me until I was finished, then I came back and took the pictures posted now.

[SlagKing]

more if the step railing

[SlagKing]

repaired railing post

[SlagKing]

Top railing was gone. This railing is about 25 years old, design works well with the house. Maybe I helped in saving it for a few more years

[7018]

Well Sk u done it again nice job! I can't see where u repaired it,looks good . And ur getting into the right stuff there,Good money in that type of work!