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Installation Instructions
 
Installation
SPAC should be softened by heat when fitting to the core. Concentrated hot air from a portable hot air blower and fabric nose through which the handrail is fed (Fig.1), or immersion of the handrail in a water tank at a temp. of 88°C is suggested.
  Fitting
Softened SPAC is lipped into place commencing at one end of the core rail. To ensure a neat and smooth fit around the bends, the handrail should firstly be passed over the outer edge of the core and then quickly lipped over the inner edge. With small diameter bends, particularly when working in low temperature conditions, it is advisable to bind the fitted handrail at the bend with canvas adhesive tape. The handrail will then remain in the correct position while cooling, Fig. 2.
  Straight Welding Procedure
  1. Ends to be welded should be cut at right angles with a fine tooth saw, then heated over approximately 600mm at each end until sufficiently soft to lie straight and flat.
  2. Timber former pieces the size of the core rail and 150mm long should be inserted to prevent deformation of the handrail surface during welding. Keep the timber formers 5mm back from the end of each rail.
  3. Place the rail ends firmly against each side and in the centre of the heated welding blade. When the ends of the rails are sufficiently soft, gently slide them upward from the blade to form a joint.
  4. Ensure that the inside of the handrail is cleanly trimmed.
  5. Welding blades must be cleaned with a wire brush after each weld, otherwise the black deposit left on the blade will mark the next join as well as making welding more difficult.
Terminal butt end welding procedure
  1. The fitted handrail should be cut to finish 6mm beyond the end of the core, to allow the welding iron to be pressed against the handrail without touching the core.
  2. Cut a butt end piece from a softened length of plastic.
  3. To weld the butt end to the plastic, use the technique described for straight welding, except that the welding blade itself is drawn away from the handrail.
  4. After welding, while still soft, trim the end piece to rough shape. Smooth finish when cold.
Mitred corner welding procedure
  1. The softened SPAC should be lipped over one edge only of the core to enable measuring for the mitre cuts to be made.
  2. Mitre cut timber, former pieces can also be used for measuring.
  3. The pieces should be welded as with straight welding.
  4. The section should be reheated and fitting completed.
  Finishing
When the complete plastic is fitted, the outer rough welded edges should be trimmed with a knife. A medium, then fine file and emery cloth should be used to give a smooth neat finish at the welded joints. Fine abrasion marks left by the emery cloth can be erased by applying T.H.F. solvent. The solvent should be left to dry.
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All fixing dates are strictly adhered to.
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