(another...) 1400 Question

[GreenGA]

I no longer own a router which is why I am asking the question.

I have a project coming up and I need to make some rails and stiles out of 6/4 or 8/4 stock.  Would the 1400 work well in this application?

Thanks.

 

[Daviddubya]

Seems to me it depends on what cut you plan to make on those rails and stiles.  I'd probably want to rout rails and stiles on a router table rather than free-hand.  Can you give us some details?

 

[GreenGA]

Seems to me it depends on what cut you plan to make on those rails and stiles.  I'd probably want to rout rails and stiles on a router table rather than free-hand.  Can you give us some details?

The details, as of last night, are this.

I need to build a couple/few planter boxes that will sit on a deck/patio and can hold about a cubic yard of dirt and they want all four sides of the planter boxes to look like a door.

Another requirement is to build a deck railing that will be constructed of 1/2" lexan panels framed, again, like a door.

The last is three storage benches that can support two, rather large, individuals at the same time.

However, since last night I was thinking...  Perhaps I could provide the look of rails and stiles but it could be built up from two pieces.  The rear piece would be rabbited to allow the panel to sit in the rabbit.  The front piece, routed to look like the face of a rail/stile would be attached.  All the strength would be in the rear piece with the panel.  The front/face piece would be decorative.

Does any of this make sense?  If so, there goes my excuse to get a router... :'(

 

[nickao]

Seems to me it depends on what cut you plan to make on those rails and stiles.  I'd probably want to rout rails and stiles on a router table rather than free-hand.  Can you give us some details?

The details, as of last night, are this.

I need to build a couple/few planter boxes that will sit on a deck/patio and can hold about a cubic yard of dirt and they want all four sides of the planter boxes to look like a door.

Another requirement is to build a deck railing that will be constructed of 1/2" lexan panels framed, again, like a door.

The last is three storage benches that can support two, rather large, individuals at the same time.

However, since last night I was thinking...  Perhaps I could provide the look of rails and stiles but it could be built up from two pieces.  The rear piece would be rabbited to allow the panel to sit in the rabbit.  The front piece, routed to look like the face of a rail/stile would be attached.  All the strength would be in the rear piece with the panel.  The front/face piece would be decorative.

Does any of this make sense?  If so, there goes my excuse to get a router... :'(

Below is a simple method. You can add what you need to make it look stile and rail, but the theory is the same.  Some carpenters encase all 4 sides of the glass/plastic, others use a groove instead of the built up radius pieces as shown in the pic.. If you use a groove instead of building up around the glass it is really tough to replace the glass. A lot of guys do not enclose the sides of the glass panels  in fear strong winds are more likely to crack the plexi. So make sure you buy the grade you need for the job. If you are encasing all 4 sides get a thicker Lexan if  you can.

Notice how simple it is without even a rabbit.

Here is the link to an article I got the pic from:

Railing Article

I do not agree with everything in the article, but it is a start. Mainly I prefer to frame in the rail posts and have them come through the deck from the bottom rather then  notching the the rail posts and hanging them over the side.