The hand-rail should always have a gradual and graceful change from one direction to another. In Fig. 1, a b represents a tread, b d a riser, and a d the pitch, which is the direction of the handrail; c a point on the axis of the cylinder around which the stairs turn; a e a quarter of an ellipse, and represents the bending of the center of the hand-rail in passing from the inclined to the horizontal position; e g a quadrant, through which the center of the hand-rail bends before becoming straight again.

This double bending, or wreath, is made in two pieces, joined at e. We will take for illustration the elliptical one. In Fig. 2, c represents the axis of the cylinder at the landing, d the face of the string, e the line of the balusters and center of the hand-rail, a c the tread, a b the riser, c b the pitch, a b c the angle used in marking the work; c g and g i are semi-diameters of the ellipse through which the hand-rail passes.

With the lengths c g and g i, of Fig. 2, construct the lines a b and b c of Fig. 3; with i h, of Fig. 2, lay off a f and a h in Fig. 3; with g f, of Fig. 2, lay off c e and c d in Fig. 3, and complete the elliptical form, f e d h. This form, the mold, is cut out of a thin board, and used in laying out the work.

Fig. 4 represents a block of wood, thicker than the hand-rail, and sawed to the form of the mold. With a T-bevel adjusted to the angle, a b c, of Fig. 2, and applied to the side, d e, Fig. 3, slide the mold along the line a b, Fig. 3, until the center of the handrail in this inclined position comes to the center of the end of the wood, as shown at e g, Fig. 3. A rectangle, inclosing the form of the rail, is now drawn on the end, e g, and also on the end at j, Fig. 3. The corners of these rectangles are now united by curved lines drawn along a thin straight-edge pressed to the hollow and round surfaces, as in Fig. 4.

The block is then cut to these lines, producing a shape as shown in Fig. 5 - in which it must be remembered the side a, and also that directly opposite, are cylindrical surfaces.

The elements of the molding are now marked from the edges, and worked with gouge, spoke-shave, and planes specially shaped for the purpose. In practice a straight portion of the rail is worked on the same block with the wreath, a h and g h', Fig. 1.

Hand-Rail

Ex. 35.

Hand Rail 266

Fig. 1

Hand Rail 267Hand Rail 268

Fig. 3

Hand Rail 269

Fig. 4

Hand Rail 270

Fig. 5