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View Full Version : Installing chair railing question


Michael Ballent
07-25-2005, 4:18 PM
My wife want me to install some chair railing, which normally would be pretty straight forward. Take out the level, compressor, nailer, and miter saw and put it up. Unfortunately all the outside corners are radiused so I am not sure how you would wrap the molding around the outside corners. For the base molding they have radiused caps and the molding butts into so does something like that exist for chair railing? Anyone have any hints one how this would be done?
James Stokes
07-25-2005, 5:20 PM
The way I do them is 4 pieces cut at 22.5 degrees
Wes Bischel
07-25-2005, 7:46 PM
Another idea, though not as nice, would be to stop the rail just before the corners with a return.
If the rail is to be painted, you could use the bendable foam type of molding. Or, the old way of doing painted trim is to cut multiple kerfs in the back of the molding - enough kerfs to round the corner. Then glue and fill the gaps and sand.

If it is to be stained, slice a few pieces lengthwise into thin strips and glue into the curve - kinda like making a plywood out of the trim. This is harder to do if the trim has a complex profile, but it does look good when finished.

Not sure any of this is worth your time, but they are different ways I've seen it done.

Wes
Richard Wolf
07-25-2005, 9:53 PM
The only way this ever looks good is to use flexible molding. It's pricey, but you don't have to hide all the corners when people come over.

Richard
Michael Ballent
07-26-2005, 12:12 PM
The way I do them is 4 pieces cut at 22.5 degrees

Do you happen to have any pictures of this... I am not clear about using 4 pieces... I was thinking that there would be a long piece at 22.5º, then a small piece cut at 22.5º on both ends, then another long piece cut at 22.5º. The small piece would be placed diagonally, making the gap smaller... do I have my math goofed?:confused:
Michael Ballent
07-26-2005, 12:13 PM
The only way this ever looks good is to use flexible molding. It's pricey, but you don't have to hide all the corners when people come over.

Richard

Where would I find flexible molding and any idea what the damage would be... the corner radius is about 1/2" can the molding make that much of a bend?