First, how are balusters connected to stair treads. Second, I am looking for ideas for making my own handrail.
A little background:
I built my stair stringers with really pretty 2 X 12 YP which will be exposed. No skirt. I made the treads from select 1-1/8″ plywood. I trimmed the front edge and return w/1X2 YP. The treads are 42″ wide. The risers are D grade 1 X 8 yp. I will finish all this the Waterlox that I finished our pine floors with. That should explain why I simply don’t go out and buy oak hand railing and etc.
Edited 10/5/2009 6:45 pm ET by borgward <!– BORGWARD1 –>
Edited 10/5/2009 6:59 pm ET by borgward
Replies
"First, how are balusters connected to stair treads. Second, I am looking for ideas for making my own handrail.?"
Mortises, Dowels, toe nailed, or inset and face nailed.
I'm sure there's more, but you've got your dowel screws, dowels, dovetails, and nails.
Look on the L J Smith site for ideas.
What style or look are you going for with the house? SYP handrail is available, but it's usually a small profile, and used on a wall and not with balusters.
And, SYP balusters may be another challenge, unless you like square or have a lathe?
If you could show some pics of your project, it would help a lot.
We'll have a kid
Or maybe we'll rent one
He's got to be straight
We don't want a bent one
He'll drink his baby brew
From a big brass cup
Someday he may be president
If things loosen up
"SYP balusters may be another challenge"Do you mean buying them, or watching them warp?
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Buying... no reason for them to warp any more than most of the oak ones I've put in.http://www.tvwsolar.com
We'll have a kid
Or maybe we'll rent one
He's got to be straight
We don't want a bent one
He'll drink his baby brew
From a big brass cup
Someday he may be president
If things loosen up
Typicaly, a dowel in end fits to a hole drilled about 1/2" deep or so.
I have seen guys use a lot of toenails from a finish gun along with glue. I'm not sure that holds over time and meets horizontal load demands.
Since this almost sounds like an open unit, you may be able to drill and screw up from the bottom side of the treads. not sure on that.
Yellow pine has a grain that nails want to follow, so I would avoid the toenail method and use doweled ends.
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!