Replies

1. 
   bd | Feb 28, 2007 04:17pm | #1

   Norm Abram did a show on building those within the last couple of years, I think. Ordering plans from the New Yankee Workshop may give you all the info you need......just recalled, Norm did a interesting jig using his stapler to attached the adjusters to the blinds. Don't know if that's covered in the plans or not.

2. 
   ChipTam | Feb 28, 2007 05:01pm | #2

   I'm not clear from your post whether you want to build the shutters yourself or you're looking for someone else to build them at cheaper price.  I'll assume the former.

   About 25 years ago, I built around 40 exterior shutters with moveable louvers for our house.  Interior shutters should be about the same.  Two articles (one in FHB and the other in FWW) were very helpful.  I don't have the exact citations but I'm sure a search will turn them up.

   You may want diffferent hardware for interior shutters.  But, for my exterior shutters, I purchased the hardware directly from a factory in Penn.  However, I tried to get a couple of extra pair a few years ago and they no longer sell retail.  You can get the same hardware through Renovator's Supply but it's quite a bit more expensive.

   If you were actually asking the later question, you should know that there's more to them than meets the eye.  That's not to say they're all that difficult to make but there are a number of jigs which you'll need to construct.  You'll also be surprised just how much wood and labor time goes into each shutter.  I know that I could not have made them commercially for the the price folks were charging 25 years ago.

   Chip Tam   

    

    

    

3. 
   cscwem | Feb 28, 2007 05:24pm | #3

   are you talking about plantation shutters?

4. 
   rgmoose | Feb 28, 2007 07:05pm | #4

   I am starting the same project. I just got Norm's drawings and video. They do make use of a stapler for the slats and special knives for a moulding cutter for the slats. I think the shutters will work with flat slats. He does give you all the drawings for the special jigs required. The process seems pretty straight forward. Norm does mention that it is a lot of work for 1 set of shutters but worth the effort for multiple sets. I have six sets to make so I am going to give it a shot. It appears as if painting them will be the biggest challenge.

1. 
   Kevin | Feb 28, 2007 10:39pm | #5

   It appears as if painting them will be the biggest challenge.

   I painted/finished movable-louver shutters for a living almost 20 years ago. Painting them was by far the most challenging thing I've ever painted/finished, and I'm still painting and finishing for a living.

   The really big ones we did like for huge windows in a room with vaulted ceilings took up to 20 minutes of constant spraying to finish. But... the finish was flawless when we were done. The company (which is still in the business - Woodfold-Marco in Oregon) inhabited the high end of the market, so flawless was just part of the job. Cheaper quality shutters don't look the same and more than likely aren't nearly as demanding to paint.

   I wish I could give you some pointers that would be helpful but it's really something that I'd have to show you. Suffice to say that it involves frequently moving the louvers to different positions and painting from both sides in order to get the inside of the rails to look perfect (ie. no shadow lines from overspray/incomplete coverage). Nitrocellulose lacquer with some creative manipulation via nonstandard thinners would make the task significantly easier. That's how we used to do them back in the day.

1. 
   rgmoose | Feb 28, 2007 11:53pm | #6

   Thank you Kevin. Advice and encouragement are always welcome.