Thanks Jamie, I've got my fingers crossed that i'll be able to make posts in the future that are just as strong, but where every one of them looks different. That'll be the tough part.

Jake Balcom
Mettle Design
Lincoln, NE

Thanks Frank, yea there is more brawn than looks to this rail, but the goal was to match the moulding in the windows(Macintosh style?)which is the rectangular design in the panels. Pretty straight forward.

Jake

Jake Balcom
Mettle Design
Lincoln, NE

Thanks Rich, although much of the thanks should be going to all of you on Artmetal since most of what I know now is an accumulation of knowledge from everyone here.

Jake

Jake Balcom
Mettle Design
Lincoln, NE

Thanks Chuck, the clients were pretty happy. Their builder told them that a metal railing wasn't feasible/possible, so when I told them it wouldn't be a problem and that they could have what ever design they wanted(could afford), they were pretty happy. I guess the builder had had some bad experiences in the past with metal railing contractors, so now he just tells people it's not possible. Bad for business, but I'm doing my best to change that image in the heartland.

Jake Balcom
Mettle Design
Lincoln, NE

The railing looks great Jake. The newel post is excellent!
I've done something strangely similar in the railing I'm finishing now. As soon as I have the newel post together I'll post it....some kind of esp thing....
Anyway, congratulations on another beautiful railing!!!!
SteelyJan

Thanks Janet, I'm excited to see your posts. I couple of projects ago I began to wonder if it would be possible to make posts appear "lighter" and quickly ran into strength problems. It seems to be a really fine line. These ended up working and looking great, but they are still pretty stout.

Hope all is well out east

Jake

Jake Balcom
Mettle Design
Lincoln, NE

Thanks Mele, It wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be, I used a 3"x3"x3/8" piece of angle iron, laid with the open angle facing the table(point sticking up)as a jig and it worked out really well. I had figured a whole day for the two posts, but with the jig it only took a few hours. You win some and you lose some, and this time I won. Usually it's the other way around, lol.

Jake Balcom
Mettle Design
Lincoln, NE

Jake,
Nice clean crisp looking design. End posts are great.

www Metalrecipes -- heat and beat to the desired shape, repeat as necessary.
warren

Thanks Warren, I am really happy with both their looks and performance. It can be a super drag being one of the last people in line to work on a project. Everything is already shiny, painted, etc so hope fully this new concept with those beefy base plates will make my life a little easier.

Jake

Jake Balcom
Mettle Design
Lincoln, NE

Thanks Paula, I had two thoughts for the caps on the end posts, one was what you see here and the other was to make a pyramid shape with sheet metal like you usually see. I was slight worried about it looking dangerous(even though the same edges and corners would exist with the other design), but the client kind of wanted something different looking and chose this design. It's fun to have clients that like to be different.

Jake

Jake Balcom
Mettle Design
Lincoln, NE

I don't' think it looks dangerous.... you're fortunate to have clients like that...it makes it more interesting as an artist
Paula
Guthrie, MN

I love to see the work of a person who knows how to finess a job! I'm proud of you. Keep it up and you will soon be rich and famous :o})~

Nic East, Jim Thorpe, PA USA
Creativity begins with a novel thought.

Thanks for the great compliment Nic. I'm waiting patiently on the rich and famous part, lol. I just realized how much your little symbol at the end of your post actually looks like you with your mustache turned up and goatee. Your portrait from a keyboard. Hope all is well in PA

Jake

Jake Balcom
Mettle Design
Lincoln, NE

Thanks for the nice comments Dave, the solution actually came from a lot of trips and stumbles before it, but those don't usually make it on the Artmetal site, lol.

Jake

Jake Balcom
Mettle Design
Lincoln, NE