Staircase handrail

Tasmanian Blackwwod, the builder roughed out the blank and put the recess in the bottom where the balustrades fit into then asked me to carve the profile.
It possibly could be used as is however there is a flat spot on the top that could be further resolved.
I told the builder I would prefer not to do the job, however sensing his disappointment I relented. I know he is very fussy, in fact he is the only person I have done woodturning for that did not seem happy with a previous job.
He is dropping in tomorrow to see it in the flesh, it should be interesting.
Blackwood is not a renowned carving timber.
Attachment 473933
Attachment 473932

Interesting, would like to see the house and finished stairs. He is obviously a high end builder

So how did your builder react?
I'm surprised to hear that you don't rate Blackwood. The couple of occassions I have used it I found pretty easy going.
Westbury's lady carver, Ellen Nora Payne and Robert Prenzl did some good stuff in Blackwood.

Philip

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Originally Posted by HuonPhil

So how did your builder react?
I'm surprised to hear that you don't rate Blackwood. The couple of occassions I have used it I found pretty easy going.
Westbury's lady carver, Ellen Nora Payne and Robert Prenzl did some good stuff in Blackwood.

Philip

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Hi Phil
Builder seemed happy with what I'd done. Paid me and wanted to take the item home to see how it looked in situ before deciding what to do next. I had a plan on how to resolve the unresolved area on the top and even had made a drawing of it. I let him take the drawing with him. He said he had a mate who was expert in such matters and he wanted to consult with him first about how to finish it off.
He said there was a possibility he may be back for further work on the item.
I am very interested to see how it pans out and am curious about the expert.
I feel like such an amateur. Only been woodturning for 42 years, have a trade certificate as an engineering pattern maker and an honors degree in sculpture and furniture design.
I think I mentioned I thought the guy was a fussy client.
P.S. Regarding Blackwood as a carving timber. I guess I have been spoiled working mainly on Huon, King Billy, and Jelutong in the old days in my trade.

I find it interesting that he's capable of routing out the rebate for the balustrade, which is generally the 'make or break' part...

I hope you'll keep us posted as to how it all turns out!

(And, perhaps, about the expert. You've piqued my curiosity... ;) )

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Originally Posted by artful bodger

He said he had a mate who was expert in such matters and he wanted to consult with him first about how to finish it off.

I think I mentioned I thought the guy was a "fussy client".
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You are SO polite! I can imagine what he would be called in my neck of the woods! Sounds like a fair dinkum pain in the (I guess you would politely call it "the lower lumbar region") :D And if his mate is such an expert I am amazed that his mate didn't do the job in the first place. Looks great and wish I had half the talent of the highly qualified "amateur".

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Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

I find it interesting that he's capable of routing out the rebate for the balustrade, which is generally the 'make or break' part...

I hope you'll keep us posted as to how it all turns out!

(And, perhaps, about the expert. You've piqued my curiosity... ;) )

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The rebate was not complete when he dropped the item off, I had to widen it and there was a tad of guesswork involved.
I am sure the client is a competent builder and joiner, he has been in the game for a long time and does work on some of the heritage "National Trust" type places.
He first showed up with the blank for the handrail section that comes down a flight of stairs, turns 180 degrees and then goes down the next flight.
It had joins in it and had the rebate on the bottom but needed the carving.
It looked like a horrible job to do with changing grain directions, an almost impossible shape to clamp to anything and most of all it already had had a lot of work put into it meaning if I stuffed the job up it would be worse than if he did. I explained to him how I would cut out the shape on the bandsaw and how I'd carve it. Thank goodness he took it home to have a crack at it himself. Have not asked how it went.
As for the expert, yes, I am curious too. Maybe he is an architect who specialises in old houses?.

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Originally Posted by Gary H

You are SO polite! I can imagine what he would be called in my neck of the woods! Sounds like a fair dinkum pain in the (I guess you would politely call it "the lower lumbar region") :D And if his mate is such an expert I am amazed that his mate didn't do the job in the first place. Looks great and wish I had half the talent of the highly qualified "amateur".

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Thanks Gary, however I am not always polite.
I just realise this is a family type forum and rude posts get censored swiftly. Plus I actually have no beef with the bloke, he is quite a likeable chap. I suppose really good builders rarely do any woodcarving and I have carved at least one other job for him before which seemed to pass the quality control test.