Window Brace #5 - Cranes (Chip Carved)

[kitaye]

Here is the latest window brace in my series. This one sports two different styles of cranes. It is going to be used in the bathroom.

One come from Wayne Barton, the other comes from....can't remember her name. I've altered the pattern somewhat on the second one. The pattern used dashed lines for the outline and I used solid lines for the outline. The pine branches on the second side are my own pattern.

The pattern on the long riser is a basic pinwheel pattern. Every 5th or 6th pinwheel alternates.

Pine 1/2" x 15" or so.

[Joy]

Beautiful job! I really like the heron and pine cone side.

[kitaye]

Thank you Joy.

[Irish]

This fascinated me and caught my attention that I worked back through your other threads. So very nice and what a great idea. I grew up in an old house built before the Civil War and recognized your stick immediately. But, I would never have thought about decorating one with chip carving or relief carving. Thanks for the ideas.

Susan

[kitaye]

Thanks Susan. Glad you liked the idea. I saw them at the 1860 historical village about an hour from here and knew they were perfect for our old house. Some times the simplest ideas are the best, in my mind.

[Irish]

May I ask??? Did you adjust your window brace to 'fit' your windows? If I remember the window sills of our old house were not today's standards for depth from the front of the sill to the inside lip nor in wood thickness.

So I am courious ... my sister just bought a very old farm house above Pittsburg and this would be an excellent present for her house warming ... as to what dimension you used for the lower catch.

Thank you!!!!!

Susan

[kitaye]

I cut the original 5 braces using the same pattern I made from one of the downstairs windows. The windows upstairs are different sizes but for the most part can use the same pattern. Well, except the bathroom which will need a shorter brace with a deeper notch for the window sill.

I measured the height of the window at its most open point, which in the case of the larger downstairs windows is almost 15 inches. I wanted at least 1/2" lips for each step and I wanted 4 steps plus the top. Using those requirements gave me the height and width.

To make the notch at the bottom I measured the depth of the deepest sill. Again, in our case each window seems to be different so the deepest works for all the windows. I made the notch about 1/3 the width so it would be good and stable since the cats are always trying to pull the windows down on themselves. 1/3 of the width pretty much lined it up with the riser of the 4th step.

[kitaye]

I could only post 5 pics in the first post so I split them up. PLease pardon Crissy in the first shot. She is being a pain today.

To use the lower steps we have to turn the brace around so the notch faces outside, or the bottom of the brace has to be up on the lip of the sill. To use the top as a step, I turn it 90º so the long riser is against the window frame.

I hope that explains it and that I actually answered your question, lol. Ask if you need to know anything else.

[Irish]

Your instructiona and measurements guides are wonderful. Thank you for taking the time to add the great photos. I knew immediately that your brace was a great solution for those older style windows that had lost their weights so no longer stayed up by themselves.

The only question I have now is how I am going to find the time to get to my bandsaw .... very big grin. I really am excited about doing several for my sister's new home, she is going to love them. Her home is so new to her and she has never lived in an old house so I doubt she even knows she needs or wants them yet.

Thanks! Susan

[kitaye]

I used scrap pine because it was cheap and easy to get at the time. If I were making these as a gift I would probably go with something of a higher quality. I hope your sister enjoys them as much as we do.