An intricate handrail adds beauty to stairways.
A wrought iron handrail adds elegance to the decor of the home. Creating a handrail is a difficult task if the design is complicated. An ironwork is more easily done with thinner metal, but thicker metal is needed to ensure the handrail stands up to the use it will receive. Ironwork involves high heat and fast-paced work with a steady hand and a detailed eye. These essential traits ensure the project is the best it can be. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Draw a design for the handrail before starting the project. Have a detailed drawing available while working on the iron for quick reference, as ironwork is a fast process.
2. Heat the forge to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Hold the milled steel with tongs while wearing safety gloves. Heat the steel until it glows yellow-white.
4. Remove the steel from the forge and quickly begin pounding it into the shape needed for the handrail. Start with the top of the handrail, the straight, thicker part, and build onto that piece.
5. Make the loops of the design by hammering the pieces of milled steel over the rounded end of the anvil with the ball pein hammer. Create the straight, thinned parts by hammering the pieces over the flat top of the anvil.
6. Meld pieces together by heating the sections with a propane torch until the pieces reach the yellow-white color. The torch will take longer to heat than the forge, but it is best to heat specific parts rather than the entire piece and risk damaging the work already done.
7. Complete the handrail in sections. Add the vertical bars that will attach to each step and then finish the next section. The handrail is finished when enough sections are completed for the amount of steps in the stairway.
Tags: hammering pieces, handrail adds, milled steel