Architectural Woodworking

You are not logged in. [ Login ] Why log in
(NOTE: Login is not required to post)

Cast or turned Aluminum Moldings

7/22/20       
Harold Pomeroy  Member

I need bases for columns. The existing were lead coated White Pine log sections, and lasted 190 years. There is a lead law, and I don't want plastic. Has anyone used custom aluminum turnings for column bases?
Thank you
Harold

7/22/20       #2: Cast or turned Aluminum Moldings ...
David R Sochar Member

I have not seen cast or turned aluminum, but I have made many column bases over the last 50 years. Some new, most replacements.

We will often use 1/4" or 3/8" aluminum plate to make four feet and vent holes in the rectangular base. Normal columns (not logs) are open all the way to the top and can breathe thru thermocirculation. The aluminum gets the base up out of the water, and keeps the air moving. Overzealous painters like to fill the air gaps with caulk.

Of the 20 or more of these jobs I have done, I drive by two of the earliest, and they still look good. Honduras Mahogany, made into 6 pc rings with splined miters and epoxy, then turned on the lathe, then stacked and screwed with stainless screws. I recommend the plinths with aluminum.

7/22/20       #3: Cast or turned Aluminum Moldings ...
Keith Newton

NO, but when I make them for the homes in my historic neighborhood, here are a few things I do.

Usually I choose Spanish cedar since it's the best most durable / available wood that I have to choose from. Then I make Octagonal rings that I stack to get the height. I start by making half rings which are easy to glue up, then cut the ends on TS sled to get it straight across, and then glue the halves together. This is much easier than trying to cut 16 perfect angles.
Each of the 8 mitered pieces have a notch cut about 1" back from the toe of the miter for the hand-screw clamp to close the miter, then a bar clamp across the halves to close heels lightly.

I use epoxy for the adhesive. Then when everything is glued up, turned and sanded, I use the Smiths CPES epoxy to seal it all up. I keep adding it as long as it continues to penetrate. I may go ahead and prime them too before sending them out.
I have nothing to do with the above company, except for being a happy customer. It was made to soak into decayed wood, but works great on new wood going out into the harshest environments.

Oh, and one final tip. When I glue the ring stacks together, I don't stagger the joints by half way in between, I may only shift them over by 1.5' to 2". When they are shifted by half, and movement from MC change is greater and is harder on the glue-line. Keeping them closer in alignment prevents the shear between layers.

Harold, one of the houses up the street from me got some new cast concrete bases that were about 2" larger than needed, which left a 1" flat around the top. I don't know why the customer accepted that, or why they didn't add another ring even if it was just a square fillet to split the difference, but it sucks to may eye.

Be sure to use the CPES to soak the bottom ends of the columns above to prevent them from soaking moisture up.

I know I didn't answer your question, but maybe gave you something else to think about.

7/22/20       #4: Cast or turned Aluminum Moldings ...
Harold Pomeroy  Member

Thank you for the resposnes.

I should have said that the turnings have 8" hollow centers.

The aluminum plate and stacked laminations both sound good. The originals have 6" thick walls, and end grain on the top, exposed, surface. Having long grain presented to the weather is about the best option.

Clamping with notches, in steps, sounds good. In the past I have used ratchet straps.

7/22/20       #5: Cast or turned Aluminum Moldings ...
Mark B Member

The aluminum would seem a bear to keep finish on over time especially down near the ground.

Not sure your aversion to plastic, I love the purist passion for wood but sometimes times change. Historic aside there are a lot of other options. I love wood and lament the changing times but there is a reason we dont make spoked wooden automobile wheels anymore.

7/22/20       #6: Cast or turned Aluminum Moldings ...
TonyF

Harold:

You might consider black locust as a suitable material. Before the advent of pressure-treated lumber, it saw a lot of use here in the East as fence posts. I would think that any wood that you can bury would do well above ground.

I don't know where you are or how much material that you need, but the source below has some available.

Hope this helps. TonyF

Robi Decking

7/22/20       #7: Cast or turned Aluminum Moldings ...
rich c.

Any machine shop could turn billet aluminum into a column base. Powder coating would last a long time. There is a wide selection of square and round columns available. Either load bearing or decorative.

Superior Aluminum

7/30/20       #8: Cast or turned Aluminum Moldings ...
Thomas M Diel  Member

Website: http://thomasdiel.com

I'm sure your aware but if you go with aluminum make sure you use a self etching primer made for aluminum or metals in general. Even if painted on a fresh surface aluminum will oxidize over time and regular primer and paint will flake off.


Post a Response
  • Notify me of responses to this thread
  • Subscribe to email updates on this Forum
  • To receive email notification of additions to this forum thread,
    enter your name and email address, and then click the
    "Keep Me Posted" button below.

    Please Note: If you have posted a message or response,
    do not submit this request ... you are already signed up
    to receive notification!

    Your Name:
    E-Mail Address:
    Enter the correct numbers into the field below:
     

    Date of your Birth:



    Return to top of page

    Buy & Sell Exchanges | Forums | Galleries | Site Map

    FORUM GUIDELINES: Please review the guidelines below before posting at WOODWEB's Interactive Message Boards (return to top)

  • WOODWEB is a professional industrial woodworking site. Hobbyist and homeowner woodworking questions are inappropriate.
  • Messages should be kept reasonably short and on topic, relating to the focus of the forum. Responses should relate to the original question.
  • A valid email return address must be included with each message.
  • Advertising is inappropriate. The only exceptions are the Classified Ads Exchange, Machinery Exchange, Lumber Exchange, and Job Opportunities and Services Exchange. When posting listings in these areas, review the posting instructions carefully.
  • Subject lines may be edited for length and clarity.
  • "Cross posting" is not permitted. Choose the best forum for your question, and post your question at one forum only.
  • Messages requesting private responses will be removed - Forums are designed to provide information and assistance for all of our visitors. Private response requests are appropriate at WOODWEB's Exchanges and Job Opportunities and Services.
  • Messages that accuse businesses or individuals of alleged negative actions or behavior are inappropriate since WOODWEB is unable to verify or substantiate the claims.
  • Posts with the intent of soliciting answers to surveys are not appropriate. Contact WOODWEB for more information on initiating a survey.
  • Excessive forum participation by an individual upsets the balance of a healthy forum atmosphere. Individuals who excessively post responses containing marginal content will be considered repeat forum abusers.
  • Responses that initiate or support inappropriate and off-topic discussion of general politics detract from the professional woodworking focus of WOODWEB, and will be removed.
  • Participants are encouraged to use their real name when posting. Intentionally using another persons name is prohibited, and posts of this nature will be removed at WOODWEB's discretion.
  • Comments, questions, or criticisms regarding Forum policies should be directed to WOODWEB's Systems Administrator
    (return to top).

    Carefully review your message before clicking on the "Send Message" button - you will not be able to revise the message once it has been sent.

    You will be notified of responses to the message(s) you posted via email. Be sure to enter your email address correctly.

    WOODWEB's forums are a highly regarded resource for professional woodworkers. Messages and responses that are crafted in a professional and civil manner strengthen this resource. Messages that do not reflect a professional tone reduce the value of our forums.

    Messages are inappropriate when their content: is deemed libelous in nature or is based on rumor, fails to meet basic standards of decorum, contains blatant advertising or inappropriate emphasis on self promotion (return to top).

    Libel:   Posts which defame an individual or organization, or employ a tone which can be viewed as malicious in nature. Words, pictures, or cartoons which expose a person or organization to public hatred, shame, disgrace, or ridicule, or induce an ill opinion of a person or organization, are libelous.

    Improper Decorum:   Posts which are profane, inciting, disrespectful or uncivil in tone, or maliciously worded. This also includes the venting of unsubstantiated opinions. Such messages do little to illuminate a given topic, and often have the opposite effect. Constructive criticism is acceptable (return to top).

    Advertising:   The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not an advertising venue. Companies participating in a Forum discussion should provide specific answers to posted questions. WOODWEB suggests that businesses include an appropriately crafted signature in order to identify their company. A well meaning post that seems to be on-topic but contains a product reference may do your business more harm than good in the Forum environment. Forum users may perceive your references to specific products as unsolicited advertising (spam) and consciously avoid your web site or services. A well-crafted signature is an appropriate way to advertise your services that will not offend potential customers. Signatures should be limited to 4-6 lines, and may contain information that identifies the type of business you're in, your URL and email address (return to top).

    Repeated Forum Abuse: Forum participants who repeatedly fail to follow WOODWEB's Forum Guidelines may encounter difficulty when attempting to post messages.

    There are often situations when the original message asks for opinions: "What is the best widget for my type of shop?". To a certain extent, the person posting the message is responsible for including specific questions within the message. An open ended question (like the one above) invites responses that may read as sales pitches. WOODWEB suggests that companies responding to such a question provide detailed and substantive replies rather than responses that read as a one-sided product promotion. It has been WOODWEB's experience that substantive responses are held in higher regard by our readers (return to top).

    The staff of WOODWEB assume no responsibility for the accuracy, content, or outcome of any posting transmitted at WOODWEB's Message Boards. Participants should undertake the use of machinery, materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB's Message Boards after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages it deems inappropriate. (return to top)


  • Forum Posting Help
    Your Name The name you enter in this field will be the name that appears with your post or response (return to form).
    Your Website Personal or business website links must point to the author's website. Inappropriate links will be removed without notice, and at WOODWEB's sole discretion. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    E-Mail Address Your e-mail address will not be publicly viewable. Forum participants will be able to contact you using a contact link (included with your post) that is substituted for your actual address. You must include a valid email address in this field. (return to form)
    Subject Subject may be edited for length and clarity. Subject lines should provide an indication of the content of your post. (return to form)
    Thread Related Link and Image Guidelines Thread Related Links posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should point to locations that provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related Link that directs visitors to an area with inappropriate content will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Thread Related File Uploads Thread Related Files posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. Video Files: acceptable video formats are: .MOV .AVI .WMV .MPEG .MPG .MP4 (Image Upload Tips)   If you encounter any difficulty when uploading video files, E-mail WOODWEB for assistance. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related File that contains inappropriate content will be removed, and uploaded files that are not directly related to the message thread will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links, files, or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Doucet Machinery
    Sponsors

    Become a Sponsor today!