new from contractor forms - Woodworking Talk

Kingfisher · 10-24-2007, 08:09 PM

Some of you have seen my posts already but here my offical introduction. HI!
I'm 37 living in Tampa FL with my wife and 2 grils 5 & 8 years old. Started in SC doing historic restoration with lots of hand tool work and furniture building. I'm a licensed contractor in FL now building new homes and renovation/addittions. Mainly all subs doing the work now and very little hand tool work

work for me, just paper work

Still try to do some, but between fixing my own home and work I have a hard time getting in the shop after hours. Also still hurts going from a 1600 sq ft shop under the home I built in SC to my 47's ranch home's 2 car garage here in FL

it's so cramped in there. Looking forward to learning and sharing with you guys and gals

johnep · 10-25-2007, 06:11 AM

Like your staircase. Just how did you construct the newel post?
johnep

woodman42 · 10-25-2007, 09:01 AM

Welcome to the site.

Kingfisher · 10-25-2007, 09:11 AM

The newel post are matching heart pine. The top is hand carved not the post not applied later with a chamfered edge. Here is a little closer photos that also shows some of the paneling in the hall way and one looking up to the copula(sp) that is at the top of the opening. This is one of the nice projects I ever got to do because the owner had seen our work and gave us a free hand in the design.

woodman42 · 10-25-2007, 09:19 AM

Yikes. What actually holds those stair treads up?

Kingfisher · 10-27-2007, 10:36 AM

Yea the stairs are the highlight of the whole space. They go from the second floor gallery to a small 3 rd floor cupalo seating area. The stairs span over an open area formed by two gallerys on the second floor all the way down to the first. It does not touch the sides only the top and bottom and has 12 steps total. The left hand stringer if full 2" by 12" heart pine with the stairs mortised though and wedged. The right side is the best part, each step supports the one above and below throught the balusters that run thought the step and are held in place with pins under an applied end cap. These also are pinned into a heart handrail which was handmade with a 2" arch/bow to help pass the load to all the other steps and not compress or sag. The affect is breath taking, literaly you hold your breath while you go up them and looking down 30'

. They have been doing fine for 11 years now without any trouble. The panels that surround the lower part are 2 bookmatched boards with one in the center and the other split in half and glued on the edges so you see the center grain only once and it looks like one huge board

, it also helps that they were 15" wide each to start with. This home is full of cypress paneling and the owner had his son and freinds hand rub the tung oil finish

for summer work in collage, I just glad it was not me

The floors are new pine but they hand a "magic finish" that involes acid, a blow torch, and lots of labor, But well worth the effort. I think this home is some of my best woodworking to date and it was back in 1994-96. Just don't get a homeowner who says how do you think it should look, sounds good too me do it, and here your check.

**joasis** · 10-27-2007, 01:30 PM

Absolutely beautiful work. I am really impressed.

**Nathan** · 10-27-2007, 03:20 PM

WOW!

Nothing else really to say...

**TexasTimbers** · 10-27-2007, 03:25 PM

That is top shelf for sure.