Plantation Shutters.

[Britman]

I quite fancy making some plantation style shutters as it seems easy enough.

Just wondering if anyone has made them and have any tips?

Also the louvres, on most pictures I've seen the are all slightly curved (profile), does this matter?

Cheers.

 

[MikeJhn]

The fixing of the louvres into the stiles varies, most difficult is blind recess's in the stile and fixed width louvres, assembly can be a nightmare, and over width slats recessed onto the stile all aesthetics in reality, never seen any louvres with a curve, probably an optical illusion.

 

[Agent_zed]

by curved I assume you mean the profile. Looks a bit like an aeroplane wing. I think this is to allow it to sit flatter against the one below.

I've started (and stalled) building full shutters for the outside of my house. I've done a solid one and the other half decided she wanted a louvred section at the top so I'm about to start on that soon.

I'm hoping my plan works but I've bought 4mm brass rod from B&Q to make the pins for each louvre to pivot on. I wasn't going to shape the louvres that much, I will probably just do a bit of a round over on the edges. It doesn't matter to me that they will protrude slightly when they are shut as it will be on the outside and won't hit anything etc.

Attached pic shows the solid shutter. The top bit in the next one I make will be louvred. I'll have to make it slightly differently as I will need to only cut a channel for the lower panel and leave the top section.

 

[Agent_zed]

Is this the curve you mean https://le-de.cdn-website.com/8a34e...ep/multi/opt/GettyImages-184597334-1920w.jpg?

 

[Britman]

Is this the curve you mean https://le-de.cdn-website.com/8a34e...ep/multi/opt/GettyImages-184597334-1920w.jpg?

Yes, profile as @Agent_zed mentioned.
Rockler have a router bit that has the profile but I don't think it's available in the UK.

@Agent_zed I too was thinking brass rod with a nylon washers.

 

[undergroundhunter]

I'm in the middle of making some for my living room. The Louvres are profiled, I got my router but from Amazon. I'm using the correct Louvre tilt pins as the provide a little tension, so you don't end up with floppy shutters.
Rockler have a shutter wizard which you enter some basic measurements and they produce you a measured drawing, my only gripe is that there is no option to do it in metric.

This post has reminded me I've procrastinated enough on this project, I need to get back on it

Matt

 

[Britman]

I'm in the middle of making some for my living room. The Louvres are profiled, I got my router but from Amazon. I'm using the correct Louvre tilt pins as the provide a little tension, so you don't end up with floppy shutters.
Rockler have a shutter wizard which you enter some basic measurements and they produce you a measured drawing, my only gripe is that there is no option to do it in metric.

This post has reminded me I've procrastinated enough on this project, I need to get back on it

Matt

Have you decided on the timber choice for the louvers?

 

[Cabinetman]

Sorry to hijack your thread @Britman
I haven’t made any but I will have a couple of dozen to do next year, both solid panel and Louvre— (downstairs and up) for two houses.
Questions 1 what wood to use?
And 2, I have seen too many shutters that have sagged, and some of them at least must have been properly M and T’d, obviously the joints must be good and a properly waterproof glue be used. Anyone got experience on this?
I don’t want to make all those Shutters and watch them sag in a couple of years lol.

 

[undergroundhunter]

Have you decided on the timber choice for the louvers?

I've used quarter sawn sapele for the whole job, the shutter is going in a west facing window so I wanted something stable.

 

[undergroundhunter]

Sorry to hijack your thread @Britman
I haven’t made any but I will have a couple of dozen to do next year, both solid panel and Louvre— (downstairs and up) for two houses.
Questions 1 what wood to use?
And 2, I have seen too many shutters that have sagged, and some of them at least must have been properly M and T’d, obviously the joints must be good and a properly waterproof glue be used. Anyone got experience on this?
I don’t want to make all those Shutters and watch them sag in a couple of years lol.

Are you making external shutters? If so wallybois on YouTube makes them in France, he has some very good information, jigs and tips.

Matt

 

[johnnyb]

I made some fixed ones. See bevel slat shutters post

 

[Britman]

How hard can it be, I mean if Norm has made some

 

[duke]

Sorry to hijack your thread @Britman
I haven’t made any but I will have a couple of dozen to do next year, both solid panel and Louvre— (downstairs and up) for two houses.
Questions 1 what wood to use?
And 2, I have seen too many shutters that have sagged, and some of them at least must have been properly M and T’d, obviously the joints must be good and a properly waterproof glue be used. Anyone got experience on this?
I don’t want to make all those Shutters and watch them sag in a couple of years lol.

Ian I think a wood with very straight grain is ideal , one that comes to mind is Poplar or possibly Fir. I have never made any so my thoughts may be blowing in the wind.

 

[Cabinetman]

Ian I think a wood with very straight grain is ideal , one that comes to mind is Poplar or possibly Fir. I have never made any so my thoughts may be blowing in the wind.

Ok thanks duke, hadn’t considered Poplar shall have to look at longevity re weather. I’ve only ever used it for interior joinery before, but good as it’s a nice timber to use.
Ian

 

[duke]

Oh, exterior shuttering Poplar is not the best to use! Second thought it may be fine, what about western white Cedar. Trying to think of native woods from the USA and Canada.