Square Tapered Columns

ApgarNJ

Hey guys

I have a job coming up soon, where the architect calls for square tapered craftsman style columns, they are only 4' high because they are going inside, and they are on top of a knee wall supporting the upstairs(we are taking out a big load bearing wall and putting in a big PSL beam). we'll be putting a 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" psl vert post inside these, so they are just a skin. I'm having trouble locating ones that are wood and not composite, and also, the bottom needs to be about 10" plus the base, and the top around 8" plus the cap.

I have searched google to only find exterior square tapered. Pacific columns is a good site but they still come short of the exact dimensions.

I think these column manufacturers have forgotten about interior needs of columns where they don't need to be plastic or composite.

any suppliers online that you guys use? my local lumber yard which is a good one, is coming up with ones that aren't 4' high and the sizes are a little off.

thanks
Dan

ChrWright

If they're square, and only need to wrap a support column, can't they be site built?

I'm thinking four sides of 4/4 or 5/4 stock, mitered on the outside corners as a wrap.

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ApgarNJ

they are square but TAPERED and i'm just not setup to make them onsite. and i don't have a big shop at home to really build them there. If they weren't tapered, i could build them on site no problem.
not something i do on a daily basis, so i'd rather have them built by someone else to save time.

ChrWright

Since they're only 4' long, anyone with a decent table saw & a taper jig should be able to make them without a problem.

I'd ask your trim carpenter.... Chances are he knows a woodworker who could turn them out without a problem--or could build them himself. I'm surprised your lumber yard can't make them.

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ChrWright

How many do you have to make?

A clamped edge guide and a decent circular saw would also work.

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painterman

Try Outwater architectual products. If they don't have it they will make it or crowncolumns.com

Chris G

I made some a couple of months back. Pretty much the same size you describe. I used a circular saw and a guide, cut a separate piece for the base, and mitred some molding for the top and bottom. It was the only way I could get the correct size I needed.

Also, you're going to need to assemble them on site to wrap them around your post aren't you? I don't know if you can disassemble the ones from Pacific.

RizzoMaryland

www.kennishsupply.com

They have 4 foot craftsman style columns

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nywoodwizard

Like chris said the'll have to be assemble on site, since you can't do it, why not just call somebody in to make and install ? You can make it simple and not miter the boards at , just a sqaure cut, assemble then dress top and bottom with trim then some outsde corner moldings.

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Tom R

Dan, - - I'm pretty busy, - - but if you get absolutely stuck, - - I'm sure I can find some time to make them up for you.

Either the whole shebang, - - or just the parts themselves (sides) if you want.

Wood, MDF, lock-mitered corners, - - whatever . . .

I'm probably only about 45 minutes or so staight down Rt 29 from you (Bordentown).

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neolitic

There you go...
whole idea of "craftsman" was
carpenter site built trim!
KISS
(Unless we're getting into a
Greene brothers mode here..
that's fine art)

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Tom R

They don't necessarily have to be assembled on-site, - - I do it all the time, - - they can be rigged to slide up and down within the moldings and/or caps so there's room for fastening the center posts. Another option is to cut exact openings for the center posts within the bases and caps, - - and when they're attached, - - the posts are locked in.

But the easiest way, - - with those style columns, - - is to make the sides with alternating lock-miters, - - and then just back-fist them together right on the job. Could even use a thin bead of glue, - - but those lock-miters, - - especially 'boxed', - - are hard to get apart, regardless . . .

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A W Smith

This is the perfect job for a Festool, layout the pine, azek or mdf. a couple of tick marks, and you can have a post in an hour tops.

Video

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Greg Di

Festool TS55 will make those in about 5 minutes. I make interior column wraps all the time using 3/4 MDF or Azek. I use azek if I have leftover rips from 4x8 kicking around that are too big to toss out with the garbage.

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Greg Di

Tom, those lock miters can be tricky to set-up, no? Also, you need a very smooth hand to feed the material evenly when cutting them.

I have steered away from lock miters only because they seem to be a lot more trouble than they are worth. The TS55 is so damn accurate, long bevels are super simple to achieve.

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Teetorbilt

You can easily build a quickie 'sled' for your tablesaw inside of an hour with about $30 worth of materials.

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Tom R

Yes, somewhat tricky to set up, - - but absolutely no-muss/no-fuss on final attachment, - - and the word 'lock' is fitting. Best way to know your in perfect adjustment is to test-attach the (your scrap) pieces horizontally first 'til they fit on the exact same plane.

I keep one router table dedicated and set up just for lock-miters, - - so any final tweaking is just minimal, anyway.

But yes, - - also a smooth hand, - - and a double or triple-pass helps, - - according to what you are cutting.

I leave the fence at one setting (set for final pass), - - and use hand-made, fence-length (cut around the bolts) spacers of various sizes for spacing out the fence for initial passes.

This way there's no further fence adjustments necessary during the process.

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Tom R

Right, - - or to eliminate even needing a sled, - - I'll even sometimes just use a long straight-edge (that I keep handy) to extend the length of my fence, - - and then just attach a spacer off one side of the piece I want to taper.

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Tom M

What keeps that Festool guide from moving when not using clamps? Some non skid back? That tool looks like another needed investment come saw replacment. I have made tapers tacking 2 pieces of stock together offsetting the pieces to the desired taper and then use the lower stock as a guide on the table saw. You could even stack several together for consistancy.

Chris G

The quickie guide to lock mitres:

http://www.oldham-usa.com/Products/B...iterJoints.htm

Cool. Learn something everday.