[Illustration: Fig. 104. Cutting Wreath from Plank.]
[Illustration: Fig. 105. Wreath Twisted, Ready to be Moulded.]
Fig. 100 is a plan of a few curved steps placed at the bottom of a stairway with a curved stringer, which is struck from a center _o_. The plan tangents _a_ and _b_ are shown to form an acute angle with each other. The rail above a plan of this design is usually ramped at the bottom end, where it intersects the newel post, and, when so treated, the bottom tangent _a_ will have to be level.
[Illustration: Fig. 106. Twisted Wreath Raised to Position, with Sides Plumb.]
In Fig. 101 is shown how to find the angle between the tangents on the face-mould that gives them the correct direction for squaring the joints of the wreath when it is determined to have it ramped. This figure must be drawn full size. Usually an ordinary drawing-board will answer the purpose. Upon the board, reproduce the plan of the tangents and curve of the center line of rail as shown in Fig. 100. Measure the height of 5 risers, as shown in Fig. 101, from the floor line to 5; and draw the pitch of the flight adjoining the wreath, from 5 to the floor line. From the newel, draw the dotted line to _w_, square to the floor line; from _w_, draw the line _w m_, square to the pitch-line _b″_. Now take the length of the bottom level tangent on a trammel, or on dividers if large enough, and extend it from _n_ to _m_, cutting the line drawn previously from _w_, at _m_. Connect _m_ to _n_ as shown by the line _a″_. The intersection of this line with _b″_ determines the angle between the two tangents _a″_ and _b″_ of the face-mould, which gives them the correct direction as required on the face-mould for squaring the joints. The joint at _m_ is made square to tangent _a″_; and the joint at 5, to tangent _b″_.
[Illustration: Fig. 107. Finding Bevel, Bottom Tangent Inclined, Top One Level.]
[Illustration: Fig. 108. Application of Bevels in Fitting Wreath to Rail.]
In Fig. 102 is presented an example of a few steps at the bottom of a stairway in which the tangents of the plan form an obtuse angle with each other. The curve of the central line of the rail in this case will be less than a quadrant, and, as shown, is struck from the center _o_, the curve covering the three first steps from the newel to the springing.