Ladders & Guard Rails
I plan to use these techniques to add Guard Rails and Ladders on many future projects.
Ladders
Ladders are started by cutting a 1/4/"x1/2" strip of wood down the middle on the Bandsaw. Then after sanding the cut edges. I use a home made ladder jig I made on the Drill Press to drill the holes in the side rails for the Rungs.
The Rungs are made of 1/8" Dowel rod. They are cut long and spaced by a 3/4 strip of wood.
The Rungs are sanded flush to the side rails using the Stationary Belt Sander.
No glue need here. The Primer and Paint along with the tightness of the dowel rods are enough to hold it together just fine.
Guard Rails
The Guard Rails are made from man's greatest invention(behind Air Conditioning and Duct Tape that is) the Metal Coat Hanger.
Start by cutting a generous amount using Linemans plyers.
Mark off for the first post. Make it long it will be trimed last. Set the post end into the Vise with the bottom of your mark at the top of the Vise Jaws then tap it over with a hammer while pulling it with your hand to steady it.
Next mark the width of the Rail.
NOTE: You loose some length in the bend so the most important measurement will be the width of the top rail.
This is what takes practice. Getting the second post positioned to get the Rail the right width. Once you get it right cut the posts to the exact length you want.
Shaping the Rails is always fun just experiment with it.
Here to make a tight radius Rail I used a paint can first then made the bends to the posts.
I Paint them by drilling holes in painting caddys as I call them.
NOTE: These are not as easy to paint as they look. Lighting reflects off them and hides missed spots.
I use a white primer to make sure the darker metal is covered unless of course I'm painting white then i'll use grey primer.
