Looking for professional advise for attaching railing to ballisters and creative ways to make this project look sharp. My first question is: What is the best way to fasten the upper rail to the posts? Pocket screws from underneath or? My second question is: I’m using clear hemlock, what other type of wood would look sharp as a complement with the railing? I’ll try and post pictures of the project as soon as I can download them to the computer. Dave
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It depends on the railing system. FIrst off, I'm assuming that these balusters are square at the top, not something that should be drilled into the rail.
Many rail systems have a plow for the baluster tops, and a filler that fits in the plow between the balusters, sort of a pressure block. In this case I shoot a nail to hold the top, then fit the filler in. Nail with 18 ga. gun brads.
If there's no filler, I use screws. Putty for paint grade, plug for stain.
Opps!
You're right there is a filler for the balusters...I meant fastening the rails to the newels post. I'll try and get some photos on later today. Any ideas on finishing like a urathane etc.?
Thanks Dave
My mistake too, you did say you were fastening rails to posts.
Anyway...
There are several ways. The best way is with the traditional rail bolt, with star nut and plugs. This is also the biggest PITA. When I have to do one with these, I add a short dowel to the joint,above the rail bolt, for alignment and to prevent twisting. You only need about 1/4" projection on the dowel.
Pocket screws will work, but use a a fairly thick screw, and about three inches long. Not drywall screws! One with a washer head or similar will work best. Flatheads and bugle heads will sometimes split the wood as they are drawn up. Again, a dowel added to the mix will help keep things in line.
Unless there's no other way to do it, don't run a screw through the newel into the rail. The endgrain won't hold it well, and then there's the issue of an ugly plug.
Here's mine.
http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=71635.1&search=y
I used screws & glue from underneath to fasten rail to posts.
Since it's Jatoba & very rich & dark I used a dark putty & felt marker to hide the screws.
If it was exposed I would have used plugs.
“How many observe Christ’s birthday! How few, his precepts! O! ‘tis easier to keep Holidays than Commandments.” —Benjamin Franklin
It depends if your rail system is a post to post or an over the post style. In he first like mentioned before a rail bolt works well and a 3" screw from the other direction with a wood plug. For the over the post style you will or should have an easing that makes the transition from your stair angle to your post which is level. We get our stuff form L.J. Smith and there easing come with a little corrugated piece of metal that you wrap around the 3/4 in top of the newel post and with some glue tap the easing on.