Quickest method continuous handrail

oz0707 · Post by **oz0707** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 7:51 pm

What do we think is the quickest way to do one of these continuous handrails? The strings are curved so don't follow the pitch line on the winders. I almost think it's got to be cut and set up on the nosings of the treads, including being 50mm or whatever off the wall in plan view, then glued and fitted in sections. I reckon the walls don't want to end up with pencil marks all over them. I prefer pigs ear at least you can fit to a line on the wall! Any better ideas?

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ayjay · Post by **ayjay** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 9:36 pm

I really don't see how you can do it without setting it out on the wall first. Maybe put some wide masking tape on the wall first in an estimated position for the joints.

The handrail height should always be set from the nosings.

oz0707 · Post by **oz0707** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 5:10 am

Yeh I thought tape too. Surely if I set it up ontop of the nosings thought it will follow the pitch line.

ayjay · Post by **ayjay** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 6:58 am

You have to plumb up from the front of the nosing, at either end of any straight section, and then individually anywhere that the pitch changes, and then mark the handrail height on that line. This is where it's so much easier to be able to mark the wall, you can get the handrail line set out the whole way up the staircase and easily calculate the angles for the cuts on the joints.

fin · Post by **fin** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 7:59 am

one of my mates who i work alongside regularly is a carpet and flooring lad. he often uses template paper for when hes doing anything from stair carpets to fitting ply for lvt flooring.

some of that masking taped to the wall might be a good plan like

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 8:20 am

I was wondering, how do you reinforce the joins? Is there a fettled bracket inlet into the underside, biscuits and glue, or just a rubbed joint? The rail may potentially take a lot of downward force.

DWD

oz0707 · Post by **oz0707** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 3:20 pm

It's a Wilson's site. I would say there mitre bonded. It's not the best but the prices don't allow much time for faffing hence the thread

Job and Knock · Post by **Job and Knock** » Thu Aug 12, 2021 7:56 am

dewaltdisney wrote: ↑Wed Aug 11, 2021 8:20 am I was wondering, how do you reinforce the joins? Is there a fettled bracket inlet into the underside, biscuits and glue, or just a rubbed joint? The rail may potentially take a lot of downward force.

Stair handrail joiners (e.g. Zipbolt type, etc) or Dominos and glue. Othet than a full.length steel strap underneath pretty much anything else will fail eventually, especially in a public building

oz0707 · Post by **oz0707** » Thu Aug 12, 2021 8:58 am

At 80 quid a set i dont think you can afford to do much more than mitre bond. You could spend a long time on that to do a pukka job.

ayjay · Post by **ayjay** » Thu Aug 12, 2021 4:01 pm

I wouldn't go near it for £80, you can't do a proper job at that price.Could you set up the handrail directly on top of the treads to get the lengths and angles, rather than marking out the wall?

Job and Knock · Post by **Job and Knock** » Thu Aug 12, 2021 6:39 pm

I've had a knock off version which came in around £20 or so a few years back. Dominos, however, are much cheaper - if you already have the machine

oz0707 · Post by **oz0707** » Thu Aug 12, 2021 6:47 pm

ayjay wrote: ↑Thu Aug 12, 2021 4:01 pm I wouldn't go near it for £80, you can't do a proper job at that <span class="skimlinks-unlinked">price.Could</spanou set up the handrail directly on top of the treads to get the lengths and angles, rather than marking out the wall?

Ha you make me laugh ayjay (in a good way). That is literally what I was suggesting early doors!

Honestly half the jobs are so under priced it's a joke. Anyone wonders why newbuilds are rough it's not just down to dodgy trades. 80 quid simply isn't enough to do proper job on that. I actually quit before I started on this site but the baron upped the rates 15% for the couple of plots I've just done. Site managers came after first plot done saying work is neat and they want me to stay, I say I'm not sure if I can make it pay, they say I'll get faster. I said to them if you want stuff neat and done right it takes time there's only so much you can improve efficiency then it just becomes poor work.

oz0707 · Post by **oz0707** » Thu Aug 12, 2021 6:49 pm

J&k could you set the domino up on a small piece of mitred handrail? Never used one.

Job and Knock · Post by **Job and Knock** » Thu Aug 12, 2021 8:41 pm

oz0707 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 12, 2021 6:49 pm J&k could you set the domino up on a small piece of mitred handrail? Never used one.

Yes. There is actually an add on sub fence designed for this sort of task

fin · Post by **fin** » Thu Aug 12, 2021 11:10 pm

ive not used a domino yet. they look canny mint like.