Great looking plantation shutters, excellent job. I simply re-sawed 5/4 poplar, planed, sanded, and bull nosed leading and trailing edges of louvers. From a few paces off you can not tell if they are flat or elliptical louvers. Instead of setting up a jig i used solid brass eyelets to connect louvers to tilt rod. Did not want to spend the time setting up jig for staple gun. Look and work great. I also used tension springs instead of screw to tension louvers. Found a good source for these plantation shutter parts at shuttermedic.com
Plantation shutter madness
- Thread starter DynaGlide
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DynaGlide
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[member=71535]BeekATL[/member] Thank you for the kind words.
I have the first shutter glued up in clamps.
I'm pretty pleased with how it functions and looks. The louvers picked up a squeak from the last time I dry fitted. .must've happened during the priming process. There's some little imperfections that I'm sure only I'll notice. The wife seemed happy with it so I guess that's good. I'll need to work on my process before doing the rest. I used Titebond II Extend and found it pretty runny. I need the open time it affords to deal with all the louvers and I like that it dries clear but I'm open to suggestions. When I'm working with the shutter pieces, the stiles and rails aren't able to stay horizontal and the glue runs out the bottom of the joint which I'd like to avoid. I might try to adjust my workflow on the louvers so I can switch to regular Titebond II. Other issue is the clamps are marking up the primer but I think that'll clean up. Probably wrap them in tape on the next one.
I have the first shutter glued up in clamps.
I'm pretty pleased with how it functions and looks. The louvers picked up a squeak from the last time I dry fitted. .must've happened during the priming process. There's some little imperfections that I'm sure only I'll notice. The wife seemed happy with it so I guess that's good. I'll need to work on my process before doing the rest. I used Titebond II Extend and found it pretty runny. I need the open time it affords to deal with all the louvers and I like that it dries clear but I'm open to suggestions. When I'm working with the shutter pieces, the stiles and rails aren't able to stay horizontal and the glue runs out the bottom of the joint which I'd like to avoid. I might try to adjust my workflow on the louvers so I can switch to regular Titebond II. Other issue is the clamps are marking up the primer but I think that'll clean up. Probably wrap them in tape on the next one.
It's been 10 years or so since I finished my last one in the old house but I do not remember glueup issues. I had the louvers all stapled to the rod at that point so they were a unit but still had to have their pins inserted in both sides during assembly. If I was making them today, I think I might put a domino in the center but without glue and use a screw above and below it with plugs hiding the screws. No glue. It would be plenty strong and it would eliminate the glue open time concern/issue.
DynaGlide
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[member=45813]JimD[/member] Thank you for the insights.
I worked out my assembly issues. I changed the clamps I was using to the quick clamps from Bessey to set the position of everything then I transfer it over to parallel clamps to dry overnight. The quick clamps are a lot easier to work with when slowly drawing parts together accounting for the louver pins. The squeak I had on the first shutter was due to a little bit of paint on the louver pins from priming. It'll work itself out over time on the first shutter but the second one I glued up is just about perfect after knocking everything off the pins before assembly.
I came across this video today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=312&v=5SB4GFLFoqY
Now I know how the big guys do this stuff. Pretty cool to watch. I did post on my Instagram a short video showing the second shutter opening and closing. Very pleased with it.
I worked out my assembly issues. I changed the clamps I was using to the quick clamps from Bessey to set the position of everything then I transfer it over to parallel clamps to dry overnight. The quick clamps are a lot easier to work with when slowly drawing parts together accounting for the louver pins. The squeak I had on the first shutter was due to a little bit of paint on the louver pins from priming. It'll work itself out over time on the first shutter but the second one I glued up is just about perfect after knocking everything off the pins before assembly.
I came across this video today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=312&v=5SB4GFLFoqY
Now I know how the big guys do this stuff. Pretty cool to watch. I did post on my Instagram a short video showing the second shutter opening and closing. Very pleased with it.
Sparktrician
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DynaGlide said:
Great job, Matt! [smile]
DynaGlide
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Matt here. Haven't thrown in the towel yet.
Today was meant to be the finish everything day. Best laid plans and all of that. The morning was eaten up by these control arm hooks:
By the time I had all of those in and after a few four letter words it wasn't until 1PM that I had my spray 'booth' set up. I took it all down for the past two weeks so my wife could go back to parking in the garage. It isn't pleasant to setup alone. To tackle spraying these assembled I went with cup hooks screwed into the bottoms of each shutter. Cheap hangers doubled up and hung on a returned/open box coat hanger tripod thing from Amazon Warehouse. Counter balanced it with two of the old shutters. It wasn't the most stable setup but hey it worked.
It took me a while to get into a groove of how to spray something with so many pieces all the while it wanted to sway on the coat hanger depending on where I was spraying. Fun stuff.
They're all resting in the shop with one coat of S-W ProClassic Alkyd. I'll put the second and final coat on in a few days.
Today was meant to be the finish everything day. Best laid plans and all of that. The morning was eaten up by these control arm hooks:
By the time I had all of those in and after a few four letter words it wasn't until 1PM that I had my spray 'booth' set up. I took it all down for the past two weeks so my wife could go back to parking in the garage. It isn't pleasant to setup alone. To tackle spraying these assembled I went with cup hooks screwed into the bottoms of each shutter. Cheap hangers doubled up and hung on a returned/open box coat hanger tripod thing from Amazon Warehouse. Counter balanced it with two of the old shutters. It wasn't the most stable setup but hey it worked.
It took me a while to get into a groove of how to spray something with so many pieces all the while it wanted to sway on the coat hanger depending on where I was spraying. Fun stuff.
They're all resting in the shop with one coat of S-W ProClassic Alkyd. I'll put the second and final coat on in a few days.
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Matt, - only someone who has done what you have, can fully appreciate your accomplishment - first time around - no less! If there is a more challenging piece of woodwork to paint than these movable plantation shutters - i don't know what that would be.
My hat's off to you for your patience and persistence - really!
Perhaps you feel like posting a "Lessons learned" to share with others here on the FOG. I'm sure it would be helpful and inspire others.
Hans
My hat's off to you for your patience and persistence - really!
Perhaps you feel like posting a "Lessons learned" to share with others here on the FOG. I'm sure it would be helpful and inspire others.
Hans
DynaGlide
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[member=167]neilc[/member] Thanks Neil! I'm still loving the vac sys cart. It saw a lot of use on this project. I store my TSO PGS in the middle section. It's the perfect place for it.
[member=61691]TSO_Products[/member] Thank you Hans. I think I will do a wrap up post when everything is done. There was a very long list of firsts for me during this. I learned a lot and am happy to share.
[member=4105]tjbnwi[/member]
I strip it down after every session. Seems like the only way to make sure it's clean. Takes about 10min in the utility sink.
The good news is painting is done. The finish on the frame pieces is fantastic but I wonder if I put enough on the louvers. It is so tricky to get them coated while installed.
Matt
[member=61691]TSO_Products[/member] Thank you Hans. I think I will do a wrap up post when everything is done. There was a very long list of firsts for me during this. I learned a lot and am happy to share.
[member=4105]tjbnwi[/member]
I strip it down after every session. Seems like the only way to make sure it's clean. Takes about 10min in the utility sink.The good news is painting is done. The finish on the frame pieces is fantastic but I wonder if I put enough on the louvers. It is so tricky to get them coated while installed.
Matt
DynaGlide
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I've started in on the install:
There's some tweaking to be done. But overall I'm pleased. The wife hasn't seen them up yet. We're having her parents over tonight for her mother's birthday. I'll be cooking up some lamb chops to celebrate.
I think I'll sit back and enjoy them for a bit before I make any more adjustments and finish painting the hanging strips. Still have to do the children's play room, but those can wait after I saw my son raking a toy car on the shutters that are in there now.
There's some tweaking to be done. But overall I'm pleased. The wife hasn't seen them up yet. We're having her parents over tonight for her mother's birthday. I'll be cooking up some lamb chops to celebrate.
I think I'll sit back and enjoy them for a bit before I make any more adjustments and finish painting the hanging strips. Still have to do the children's play room, but those can wait after I saw my son raking a toy car on the shutters that are in there now.
Sparktrician
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What an improvement, Matt! Well done! [thumbs up]
DynaGlide
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[member=7493]Sparktrician[/member] [member=53905]Gregor[/member] [member=4105]tjbnwi[/member]
Thank you for the compliments. And to everyone else that has followed along.
I went ahead and installed the rest of them to get them out of my shop.
And with that I can put this behind me. Now to not think about shutters for a good long time. I have some things I want to do to my workshop during the holidays before starting in on an office overhaul. I'm sure I'll be starting another thread when the time comes. It'll involve removing a closet, building a built in desk, some flooring and drywall work. Should only take me about 5 years to complete at the rate I work. ;D
Thank you for the compliments. And to everyone else that has followed along.
I went ahead and installed the rest of them to get them out of my shop.
And with that I can put this behind me. Now to not think about shutters for a good long time. I have some things I want to do to my workshop during the holidays before starting in on an office overhaul. I'm sure I'll be starting another thread when the time comes. It'll involve removing a closet, building a built in desk, some flooring and drywall work. Should only take me about 5 years to complete at the rate I work. ;D
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Matt,
what a wonderful and tasteful enhancement to the traditional architecture of your home. Anyone can start a project - but you finished it - beautifully!
Enjoy! while we look forward too your next thread.
Haas
what a wonderful and tasteful enhancement to the traditional architecture of your home. Anyone can start a project - but you finished it - beautifully!
Enjoy! while we look forward too your next thread.
Haas
