Does anyone out there know of an easy way to surface mount a fixture on a rounded surface? The application is; we have wall sconces that are required to be mounted on round steel columns. This is real easy for an archetect to draw on a flat sheet of paper but not so easy to accomplish during installation. I think going to a fabricator and having a flat spot made that matches the curve of the column and has a center hole for the box may be the only way. Right now I am fishing in a pond of knowledge to see if anyone knows of a MFG that may make something like this!
Rounded surface mounting
- Thread starter guesseral
- Start date
- Status
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- engineer
guesseral said:
I can think of four or five ways to do this. Some ugly some not so ugly.
How much ugly is acceptable?
I'll tell you what I do on the log homes that I wire. During rough in, I leave the box projecting 3/4" from the surface of the log. When finishing, I cut a 3/4" thick wood board from the same material as the logs. I make it a little longer and wider than the base of the fixture and round or bevel the corners for looks. I then saw a round hole thru the the board (a little larger than the diameter of the box) on center where the fixture mounting screws will attach to the box. I then draw a pattern of the fixture canopy on a thin piece of sheetmetal, cut it out with snips and saw a round hole (same diameter again) thru it on center with the fixture mounting screws. I then place the board over the round beam and use finishing nails to attach it to the log directly over the box. I then lay the sheetmetal pattern on the board and attach it. The sheet metal will cover any combustible wood that is exposed under the canopy. I then install the light fixture. This makes a fairly good looking installation, and my customers have always accepted it. I know that it sounds pretty "labor intensive", but it's figured in the price. If you've ever wired a log home, you know that a lot of things are "labor intensive". If i was attaching to a round steel column, I would just cut a piece of sheet metal the same pattern as the fixture canopy and use it to close the back of the canopy when attaching the fixture to the box.
hope this helps
steve
hope this helps
steve
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Guess, I wouldn't let the designer off the hook that easily. Bug him to design a way to install it, or give you parts or part numbers that conform to a proper installation.
- Location
- Massachusetts
LarryFine said:
Yeah I got to admit I would RFI this issue to death.
A few 'stupid' suggestions from me might prompt the Architect to come up with something they like.
If they expect unusual ($$$) parts they would likely be written up as an extra.
bkludecke
Senior Member
- Location
- Big Bear Lake, CA
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I agree with hillbilly. We have wired hundreds of log homes and sometimes the builder will provide a flat spot to mount the lights & outlets; when they don't, we have to grind the log flat or fabricate a piece to fit. Lately we have started to used an Arlington ceiling fan mount for a sloped ceiling. It is made of plastic so is easy to form-cut to the shape of the log or column and can be painted to blend in.
Bob on the left coast
Bob on the left coast
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
bkludecke said:
Sounds like Arlington has to come up with a new product for log homes. Do you want to take the credit for the idea or should I?
bkludecke
Senior Member
- Location
- Big Bear Lake, CA
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
You go ahead, Infinity. I don't want to mess up my perfect record of lost opportunities.
Bob on the left coast.
Bob on the left coast.
allenwayne
Senior Member
Wait a minute isn`t it . Beauty is in the eyes of the BEER HOLDER.........hillbilly said:
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