How are you going to stain it ?
I’m not sure, Sean. Any product suggestions?
India Ink washes ?
It’s going to be exposed to the sun and the elements so you need something to help preserve it.
I used semi-transparent stains that I got from Home Depot - just a small can: Chocolate, or Padre Brown but, there are other choices as well. You don’t need all that much; 8 ounces goes a long way (plus it’s not that expensive at $3.68 (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cry.gif))
Right, Bruce, deck stain! Duh… I’ve only applied a tanker truckload of the stuff on my deck over the years, but I didn’t make the connection, haha! I didn’t realize it came in such small cans, nice! Thanks man.
Sean, thanks. I might pre-wash with that or maybe the vinegar + steel wool concoction that Jerry B turned me on to. One of those should bring out the grain better before staining. Have to experiment a little.
Hmm will the acrylic take stain/wash … ?
Sean McGillicuddy said:
Hmm will the acrylic take stain/wash … ?
There’s no exposed acrylic on the trestle, just cedar.
" Rooster " said:
What can one say other than put down the crack pipe Cliff?
Fantastic!
No, no, no … you’ve come to far to quit now. Keep puffing away, at least until this project is done (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif).
Great work, Cliff.
Dan Hilyer said:
" Rooster " said:
What can one say other than put down the crack pipe Cliff?
Fantastic!
No, no, no … you’ve come to far to quit now. Keep puffing away, at least until this project is done (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif).
Great work, Cliff.
Rooster has reported Dan Hilyer to the moderator: Clearly supporting an addict! Cliff has issues and needs help some help. Honestly there is no reason to promote this type of behavior!
I thought of our buddy Dirk and I know he loves this build.
You’ve come a fine way since his and our early mentoring.
Thanks John, and yeah, Dirk is missed.
A couple days ago I was thinking about him and his #14 turnout.
As is often the case, I’m on work-related travel this week, but am still designing & planning next steps here and there. Hobby therapy! Anyway, at the moment, the next step for me on the trestle project is to make its handrails.
On the one hand, I wanted to go to lasered acrylic for all the parts, just for the tight fit, bondability and dependable geometry. However, I appreciate the relative flexibility of wood, and of course its appearance.
So… I’ve decided on a compromise, but all in wood. The top handrail layer and posts are just sawed cedar strip. But the new thing is a second lower layer of laser-cut .12 cedar sheet, which I was able to purchase at the last ECLSTS. The gentleman (sorry, I forget his name) was selling these ~1/8 thick scraps, about 1.5 - 2.0 inches wide. So I’ll laser the lower layer of handrail from this stock. If successful, this will both index the posts for quicker installation, and provide far more Titebond gluing surface area at the top of the posts.
The lower end of the posts will have ample surface area for gluing, and also opportunity for pinning.
Here’s the eventual assembly:
Here’s the exploded view, with the new lasered sub-rails highlighted in green. The core & planked part in the middle is what has been built, and the bits in the air are the things to be added next.
CJ
Laser cut wood parts tend to have a real smooth cut surface, so much so the glue struggles to bond to the cut edge. So, before you glue the parts, you may want to roughen the laser cut edge a bit to help the glue bond to it.
Good point, David. It will also be burned & blackened, which would be an argument for lasering the top handrail layer as well. That way nothing will stand out too badly.
No glue!
Scale nails !
Hahaha! You bet, Rooster! That reminds me, I was going to ask when you were going to put in the scale rivets on your bridge? (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)
This morning I lasered all the hand rail bits out of approx. .1" thick cedar sheet. And it worked pretty well, I was pleased. Not too darkened on the edges. Sure saved a lot of time, vs. cutting by hand.
Here’s how the posts and lower rail layer parts looked. Posts are pinned to the main beams, but only glued at the top.
The whole shebang is still drying out.
Tomorrow I hope to do the final assembly of the trestle, we’ll see.
===>Cliffy
rivet-counting-alert!
if it were my model, i would score the upper sides of the different planks. to simulate, where two planks are laid together.
some of your planks or boards look a hundred or more scale-foot long.
Korm Kormsen said:
rivet-counting-alert!
if it were my model, i would score the upper sides of the different planks. to simulate, where two planks are laid together.
some of your planks or boards look a hundred or more scale-foot long.
They have VERY tall trees there. (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif)(In Nevada???)
I sort of agree with you, Korm, but a lot of this stuff won’t even be noticable when it’s out on the layout. I used to be so particular…now I just go, “Meh”. (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
Dan Hilyer said:
" Rooster " said:
What can one say other than put down the crack pipe Cliff?
Fantastic!
No, no, no … you’ve come to far to quit now. Keep puffing away, at least until this project is done (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif).
Great work, Cliff.
AMEN !!
Inspirational as well and putting fire under my rear end however I build differently.
Just a fantastic build Cliff !!!
Cliff: This build keeps getting better and better. For me, the wood will add a touch of “real texture” and “warmth” that will help the entire structure. The only thing I might complain about with this entire build is just how perfect everything looks. Some mars and scars and broken bits might be good to add in somehow. But it sure looks frickin’ amazing!