Projects Archives - Spindlewood

Staircase Spindles

by Spindlewood | Feb 16, 2022 | Projects, Wood turning

Wooden Staircase Spindles

According to Wikipedia, a Staircase spindle is:

“A spindle, in furniture, is a cylindrically symmetric shaft, usually made of wood. A spindle is usually made of a single piece of wood and typically has decoration (also axially symmetric) fashioned by hand or with a lathe.

Whereas Spindles are the vertical posts that connect the base rail and handrail on a staircase. Their primary purpose is safety, by stopping things falling through the gap between the base rail and the handrail.

Spindles are available in a variety of different styles and materials, usually wood,

What type of spindle to choose

Traditional wooden stair spindles make up the most decorative part of a staircase.

If you are selecting new spindles, you’ll need to ask yourself several questions to ensure you choose the right pieces for the job.

Is your staircase closed string or cut string?
Are the spindles all the same size?
Do you have a specific style (is the staircase new or an extension)
How sturdy will the spindles need to be

Wooden Staircase Spindles

The most common material for staircase spindles in the home is typically wood. Wooden spindles have become a classic choice for staircases, other materials are available. Wood is usually, aesthetically pleasing, strong and durable and easy to maintain

For wooden spindles, there are a few options to choose from:

Oak—a solid hardwood that will always make its mark
Pine—can be easier to maintain and lower cost.
Ash is a straight grained hardwood, predominantly light brown in colour
Dark Hardwood, an ideal replacement for mahogany spindles

Wooden Staircase Spindle Styles

SQUARE TURNED SPINDLES

Originally square turned spindles and newels have been around since the late middle ages, however that technique became popular in the Edwardian era. Sadly due to the cost involved in producing these the style declined later in the 1930’s. We have developed a technique that means we can reproduce these styles at a reasonable cost.

CONTEMPORARY RANGE SPINDLES

Turned staircase components such as spindles, newel posts, newel caps and finials are a large part of our business. Our designs are architecturally accurate and cover a wide range of ages and styles. We also offer a matching service where we can reproduce an exact copy of an existing turning from the original or a drawing.

The examples shown below were recently designed by ourselves to accommodate and embelish modern interiors with a simple elegant touch.

FLUTED & TWISTED SPINDLES

The origin of barley twisting and fluted turnings can be traced back to late antiquity as a mean of embellishing a turning. Barley twisting in particular was very popular in the 15th & 16th century and had a revival in the 18th & 19th century. Today we mainly do barley twisting, reeding and fluting on restoration projects and high end stair cases.

We can provide a comprehensive range of turned, barley twist or fluted spindles.Our designs are architecturally accurate and cover a wide range of ages and styles. Many examples are shown here.

We also offer a matching service where we can reproduce an exact copy of an existing turning from the original or a drawing.

Spindle spacing and building regulations

Spindles need to be properly spaced to achieve an even and consistent look and for building regulation purposes. Building regulations state that gaps between the spindles should not exceed 100mm. A domestic property can have a handrail height of 900mm for both stairs and landings. Commercial properties should be a minimum of 900mm on stairs and 1100mm on landings.

Why Spindlewood

Here at Spindlewood Woodturning we produce a huge range of custom furniture spindles, Staircase parts and handles turned parts. We offer a range of styles, woods and finishes professionally finished by time served, accredited and quality focussed professionals.

Need to know more about managing your woodturning restoration project, why not speak with an expert at Spindlewood.

Contact Spindlewood Woodturning

Address: The Old Bakery 8 Edward Street, Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 5ET

Website: www.spindlewoodturning.co.uk

Email: info@spindlewoodturning.co.uk

Tel: 01278 453665

Opening Times

Monday 8:30am – 530pm

Tuesday 8:30am – 5:30pm

Wednesday 8:30am – 5:30pm

Thursday 8:30am – 5:30pm

Friday 8:30am – 3:00pm

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Tips for Furniture Restoration

by Spindlewood | Jan 19, 2022 | Projects, Wood turning

Here are some top tips for furniture restoration

Hobbyists, as well as professional furniture restorers, have one thing in common: The desire to find a piece of furniture that is damaged and then restore it back to its original and former glory. In this article we discuss furniture restoration.

Giving new life to an old item. A table that had broken legs and an uneven surface may have been the last thing it saw from its former owner. You see the possibility as a furniture restorer increased value, art, and design.

Restoring furniture means restoring an item’s original state. It’s often more than just giving the piece a makeover r a fresh coat of varnish or a distressed painted finish

Getting Started With Your furniture restoration Project

There are several Steps in your furniture restoration project

Decide for whom you will be doing the work. – You, your family members, friends, or a commercial client.
Create a design for the item – Do you want the item to be modern or contemporary?
Decide upon a budget – Set your budget an stick to it, Determine how much and what kind of componants you will spend it on. Be clear about who, what kind of specialist assistance is needed and the specific tools and components that are required
Decide who or what support you need – Do you need access to specialist skills, equipment of components, are these skills or components available.
Describe the finish you are looking for – Are you looking for a lacquered or polished finish, distressed modern or contemporary.

Design the Project

Each project starts with a beginning, a middle, then ends.

The beginning – Examine the furniture to determine which parts need attention. Which items will require the most time, and what can be done in-house? Request quotes and negotiate costs. You can purchase any material.

The Middle – Refer to your restoration plan and create drawings with the dimensions of items to be made.

Be sure to make time for the project It’s crucial to keep in mind that even a minor side project could quickly become a tedious chore depending on how skilled you are at restoration and how much time you have available to do the job.

Complex tasks take longer to complete. woodturning new table legs takes skill and precision, tools and a lathe. Make sure that you are able to spare enough time or resources to complete the project on time and within budget so that you can get a return on your investment.

It is not an easy task to redo slats or spindles. You will need to do extensive work to remove the dead or rotten wood. This is something that you must consider before you decide whether to take your table home.

Do your research and inspect

Before you decide to restore your item, do some research. Examine it carefully for any marks or labels which may be indicative of its provenance. Before you do any work, make sure to consult an expert if it is worth something. Photograph any tags or markings for your records. You could lose or reduce the value of a collectible antique by removing its finish.

Don’t be afraid to try your hand at furniture restoration. You can easily spot signs of aging. Feel underneath for dull interior corners. Take a part of a screw off and inspect the threads. The piece may be old if they are uneven in width. Take out a drawer to check for dovetail joints. These are signs that the furniture may be old or well-made. A professional appraiser should value it.

Set up a budget

After you have determined the value of your treasure, decide how much money you are willing to spend on it. You might enjoy the challenges of furniture restoration. However, if it’s not valuable you will need to determine how significant the item is to your life. It is something you can repair relatively easily? Is the cost of this project less expensive than purchasing a brand new item? It is worth the effort? Sometimes it’s simply sentimental or the need to retain the style of the home

You may only need to make a couple of simple repairs that you are able to quickly finish some projects. Some projects may require more work and might end up costing more.

Know what you want it to look like

Every restorer has seen it happen: A wooden table is pulled off the curb thinking that its colour would match well with the other furniture. However, after restoration starts, the pieces are actually made of lighter wood. You can easily determine the grain’s true colour by examining it. You should look for a place that has been kept from daily wear such as the drawer’s back. A peek at an area that has not been used will help you visualize the final product.

Safety First

Even if your furniture is a masterpiece, you still need safety gear. You don’t want a piece of wood getting stuck in your eye, or causing you to breathe in harsh fumes.

To protect your skin against harmful chemicals in varnish and wood strippers, long sleeves are recommended. To protect your eyes, wear safety glasses. To keep strong vapors from escaping, use safety glasses and mask when you are stripping or varnishing. Always follow the health and safety instructions on the materials or equipment you use.

Furniture Repair

Repair or replace damaged parts. It is possible to find a similar knob or leg at an estate sale, antique shop, or do you need a woodturner to replace it. Professionals like Spindlewood have a matching service that may be helpful.

But don’t be discouraged. Most likely, custom-made parts will be required to match the perfect piece. If you are not a skilled craftsman, it may be necessary to hire a professional for more complex repairs, such as leg replacements, or anything related to the structure of the item.

Tightening the screws can fix wobbly chairs and tables. Turn the piece upside down and examine each leg at the junction with the body to find the problem. Check the screws if it moves. If the screws are in good condition, you can tighten them. Remove and replace any that are rusted. You can join small gaps with wood glue and then fill them with similar-colored wood pastey. Make sure to buy stainable wood putty if you intend on using stain for your finish.

The process of refinishing a piece involves removing the previous finish and creating a brand new one. This job is physically challenging, so you will need to put in some effort. Do-it-yourselfers can use both chemical strippers as well as sanding. Be patient even though certain finishes are difficult to get rid of. You could end up with more work if you try to hurry the process.

Find out what type of stain is best for wood. You can paint it if the wood is not worthy of staining. It doesn’t have to be valuable, but it will be no problem once it is painted. To smoothen any imperfections, you should sand them before painting. No matter if your intention is to stain or paint, it’s important to clean up the area after you have finished stripping.