In have a lot of windows in which I want to have plantation style shutters.
The cost for commerical units is going to bust my budget, so I am
considering making them (the old make or buy decision).
Anyone have advice on how to make the slates? Referencing some shutters I
already have in my house, the slats are 4.5" wide, 1/2" thick in the middle,
and then taper down to about 1/4" (double taper on both edges). I'm trying
to think of a way to accurately reproduce the profile on a table saw or
router table. So I'm looking for some sort of jig, source for slat
materials, or process to use?
Any suggestions?
Thanks
Dan P.
This guy sells plans, and a video, IIRC ... may be worth checking out.
http://www.gerryandkaren.com/plantation_shutters.htm
Here in Houston, the average window treatment with plantation shutters is
about $1K each. I was lucky and saved the virtually new ones that were in
the house we tore down to build this one. I had to re-work most of them to
make them fit the new windows, but managed to do that with seven of them,
for a considerable savings.
During the process of re-fitting, I was amazed at how little there was to
them, and how easy they would be to build. These were top dollar units and
they are held together with miter joints and sheet rock screws. Our slats
are as you describe ... I would look for a commercial source for the slats
if possible, but it would be interesting to see how the guy with the above
plans handles the slats.
Good luck.
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/24/03
"Danp"wrote in message
> In have a lot of windows in which I want to have plantation style
shutters.
> The cost for commerical units is going to bust my budget, so I am
> considering making them (the old make or buy decision).
>
> Anyone have advice on how to make the slates? Referencing some shutters I
> already have in my house, the slats are 4.5" wide, 1/2" thick in the
middle,
> and then taper down to about 1/4" (double taper on both edges). I'm trying
> to think of a way to accurately reproduce the profile on a table saw or
> router table. So I'm looking for some sort of jig, source for slat
> materials, or process to use?
>
> Any suggestions?
> Thanks
> Dan P.
"Danp" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> In have a lot of windows in which I want to have plantation style
> shutters. The cost for commerical units is going to bust my budget, so
> I am considering making them (the old make or buy decision).
>
> Anyone have advice on how to make the slates? Referencing some
> shutters I already have in my house, the slats are 4.5" wide, 1/2"
> thick in the middle, and then taper down to about 1/4" (double taper
> on both edges). I'm trying to think of a way to accurately reproduce
> the profile on a table saw or router table. So I'm looking for some
> sort of jig, source for slat materials, or process to use?
>
> Any suggestions?
> Thanks
> Dan P.
>
>
I looked into this a couple months ago but never actually did the
project. I found that at least one online place will sell a kit, or
even just the slats, but that their price was pretty much the same or
higher than just buying an unfinished shutter. I did find one online
hobby store that sells basswood strips in what looked like good sizes
(like 3"x1/4") for much less money (like $30 per shutter for something
in the 18"x72" size). I hadn't noticed the double-tapering on any of
the shutters that I saw online - is that a normal feature or something
special with yours? If you can live without that then it will be much
easier to build or source the materials.
Good luck and let us know how it turns out!
-Matt
On Fri, 29 Aug 2003 04:47:30 GMT, "Danp" <[email protected]> wrote:
>In have a lot of windows in which I want to have plantation style shutters.
>The cost for commerical units is going to bust my budget, so I am
>considering making them (the old make or buy decision).
>
>Anyone have advice on how to make the slates? Referencing some shutters I
>already have in my house, the slats are 4.5" wide, 1/2" thick in the middle,
>and then taper down to about 1/4" (double taper on both edges). I'm trying
>to think of a way to accurately reproduce the profile on a table saw or
>router table. So I'm looking for some sort of jig, source for slat
>materials, or process to use?
>
>Any suggestions?
>Thanks
>Dan P.
>
I once saw a program where Norm built some shutters -- well, maybe louvered
doors. It might have been this one --
http://www.newyankee.com/getproduct3.cgi?9905. I recall he made a jig that
seemed essential to making this work, since there are so many cuts that
have to be offset just so to hold each slat. I don't specifically recall
him making the slats, but I assume he did. Maybe it would be worth it to
you to spend the $25 for the video. While I might normally just go for the
drawings on a Norm project, if I were doing this particular project I might
spring for the video. HTH. -- Igor
Danp wrote, wondering if this is really what he meant?
> In have a lot of windows in which I want to have plantation style
> shutters. The cost for commerical units is going to bust my budget, so I
> am considering making them (the old make or buy decision).
>
> Anyone have advice on how to make the slates? Referencing some shutters I
> already have in my house, the slats are 4.5" wide, 1/2" thick in the
> middle, and then taper down to about 1/4" (double taper on both edges).
> I'm trying to think of a way to accurately reproduce the profile on a
> table saw or router table. So I'm looking for some sort of jig, source for
> slat materials, or process to use?
>
> Any suggestions?
> Thanks
> Dan P.
Most good harwood lumber shops sell them already cut in long lengths. Most
are made of basswood a very light wood, carvers love to use. I think for
the time involved you might consider purchasing them.
Rich
--
You can lead them to LINUX
but you can't make them THINK.
Atten: Micro$oft Outlook users, please take me
off of your address books!
Email, remove the DOT
Michael Stephenson wrote, wondering if this is really what he meant?
> The latest issue of Handy - published by the Handyman Club of America
> (Sept/Oct) has a plan for plantation shutters in it. They use a special
> bit
> set and a Pin Kit that is sold by Woodline. Try www.woodbits.com or
> www.handymanclub.com for more information.
Ever use those bits by Woodline? I would'nt, cheap pieces of crap made in
China.
Rich
--
You can lead them to LINUX
but you can't make them THINK.
Atten: Micro$oft Outlook users, please take me
off of your address books!
Email, remove the DOT
On Fri, 29 Aug 2003 21:49:04 GMT, Igor <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>I once saw a program where Norm built some shutters -- well, maybe louvered
>doors. It might have been this one --
>http://www.newyankee.com/getproduct3.cgi?9905. I recall he made a jig that
>seemed essential to making this work, since there are so many cuts that
>have to be offset just so to hold each slat. I don't specifically recall
>him making the slats, but I assume he did. Maybe it would be worth it to
>you to spend the $25 for the video. While I might normally just go for the
>drawings on a Norm project, if I were doing this particular project I might
>spring for the video. HTH. -- Igor
Looking further at Norm's site I found this answer to a question posted
juts last month:
Norm,
I need to re-build some fixed blade outdoor louvered shutters. I was told
that the New Yankee Workshop did a TV program on how to set up the jigs for
routing the frames for fixed blade louvers. Please send me back information
to obtain a copy of the show or literature concerning this show. Thank you.
Jon Ford
202 Wildrose
San Antonio, Texas 78209
Reply -- The Jigs project, #0101 includes a jig for mortising louvered
doors and shutters. The video and plans are available on our website.
In article <[email protected]>,
Danp <[email protected]> wrote:
>In have a lot of windows in which I want to have plantation style shutters.
>The cost for commerical units is going to bust my budget, so I am
>considering making them (the old make or buy decision).
Go for it. I've done 5 window's worth now and will do another few this
winter.
http://home.insightbb.com/~sepost/shutters.html
>
>Anyone have advice on how to make the slates? Referencing some shutters I
>already have in my house, the slats are 4.5" wide, 1/2" thick in the middle,
>and then taper down to about 1/4" (double taper on both edges). I'm trying
>to think of a way to accurately reproduce the profile on a table saw or
>router table. So I'm looking for some sort of jig, source for slat
>materials, or process to use?
About the only safe way I can think of is a shaper with a power feed.
I've seen articles on doing this with a tablesaw but the thought of it
terrifies me.
--
Scott Post [email protected] http://home.insightbb.com/~sepost/