Metal Rail with Wood Cap Tip

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I've been in the wood stair and rail business for 30 some years.  Thru the years I've received the same call many times, " can you put a wood cap on the metal rails I had installed, the metal guy said just get a wood rail guy to put it on, no problem."  Well after one or two we just turned these jobs down, as you just could not do them, make money and have a happy costumer. You see the rail has to be carved or cnc routed and the cost is over the top. a hand carved compound curve just a few feet can cost 600+ dollars.  My solution with metal railing guys that I worked with was to supply them with stock rail fittings for stock profiles and have them make there bends, easings and volutes to match these.  It was a little more work for the railing fabricator, but much easier on the customer.  It was then just a matter of putting a route in the bottom of the wood rail and installing it.  Its much easier to form the metal to the wood than the other way around.  So rather than taking the easy way and saying just get your carpenter to do it, " no problem".  Work with someone that does wood railing or do it yourself, using as many stock fitting and as much stock rail as you can, once you weld it together its to late.  You can even buy wood bending rail and its much easier to fit the metal bend to the wood bend than the other way around. If you metal sub rail is off a 1/2 inch to the wood it's no problem. The wood doesn't move with a little heat. I hope this helps someone and I don't get the heat for it.  Thanks Phil
Reply:That's a great idea.  Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Thanks!Ian TannerKawasaki KX450 and many other fine tools