Replicating a curve for railings

[Brad93]

Ive just been and priced up a set of railings, simple enough stepped design, just need to borrow a laser or use some string to get the steps/drop figured out as the ground slopes down to a driveway.

They want the railings at this bit curved or made in small sections. I think three small 950mm sections may look pants.

Easiest way to measure this curve, go back to the workshop and replicate it onto the top and bottom rail of the railing which is 3m of 40x10?

 

[Brad93]

Red crosses mark the start and end. There is a gradient so the railing may have to be in two parts anyway to allow the change in level but I think it would look a lot better following the curve.

 

[Kent]

I have a curve finder myself. However hardboard or thin mdf sheet a helper to hold it and a joiners pensil to mark it should put you right
You bending thecrails the hard way or the easy way as a picket sandwich ?

 

[pressbrake1]

Mark a straight line from where you propose to put the posts and measure out points every 100mm so you can plot the arc

 

[pressbrake1]

On jobs like that is fit the post first if possible to create a reference point that’s accurate

 

[Kent]

Cheaper easier option if required is estate style.

 

[pressbrake1]

Bad diagram. I’d do the same when making a buck for a car body

 

[wyn]

I would measure from the tree out to one of the X's then at intervals of 1' along the arc back to the tree.
Draw it out on the workshop floor. Curve the top rail and take it to site to check, then make it.

I made the one in the pic below like that. I think it was about 5m in one go.

 

[daedalusminos]

Take a length of aluminium rod and bend to shape on site...use joining tubes if too long to transport back

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

View attachment 165958 Bad diagram. I’d do the same when making a buck for a car body

Pretty much how I scribe timber when I can't butt up and use a pair of compasses (timber off it cut to length usually)

 

[addjunkie]

Measure as above, use it to cut an mdf template. Bend to fit the template. id put the pists in for fixed reference points.

 

[Brad93]

Mark a straight line from where you propose to put the posts and measure out points every 100mm so you can plot the arc

That was my first solution

 

[pressbrake1]

That was my first solution

roofers square is handy , holds you a 90deg to the line whilst you measure. A fibre tape measure can be your line so measure off that as well

 

[Brad93]

Easiest way to bend it? I was thinking through the gas forge, onto a plate with a set of pins?

Haven’t got ring rollers.

 

[pressbrake1]

have you got a flypress?

 

[wyn]

I bent 40x8 the hard way by hand between two bits welded to my bench to get a gentle curve.

 

[Revs1972]

Did one similar to that years ago. Did the 100mm marks and measurement bit as described above.
Plotted it in cad (had a nice 2d package back then). Printed it off on A0 paper full size, laid it down to check. Then went back to cad, put holes in for the uprights, then got top and bottom rails laser cut. Dropped uprights (16 dia solid bar) through the holes, plug welded on bottom of bottom rail and top of top rail. ( well the fabricators did that bit )
Worked a treat

 

[pressbrake1]

Revs reminded me about laser cutting. I’m pretty adept at metal forming but a workshop next door to me had some multi curve railings to do and he plotted out the arc or sweeps and had the rails laser cut inc the holes which had perfect spacing due to the cad finding the centre line distance.
Bit more expensive but he was done in a hour and because the laser cutters use pickled plate the galv went on nicer

 

[Kent]

Easiest way to bend it? I was thinking through the gas forge, onto a plate with a set of pins?

Haven’t got ring rollers.

Sounds a proper muddle handling that through a gas forge. Complex smaller curves in staircases i have done hot with hand held bending forks but a long one all hot ? Doable but heck !
Mught be better with two or three guys a template, hand held bending forks and a pepper pot nozzle on the torch

Can just imagine the thing drooping in the middle or not getting a second heat because the curve wont fit through the forge.


Curve finderscare cool will post a picture later

 

[Brad93]

I think I will head down with framing square, tape and length of bar with 100mm marks, measure out to the kerb and record it. Then plot that out onto MDF, and take the template down to the section benders near me.