Stair Baluster Installation with Wooden Spindles

Рет қаралды 210,909

6 жыл бұрын

For this stair baluster installation, I worked on the landing section at the top of the staircase first. This is easier as the wooden spindles are installed first, then the handrail is placed on top. It’s a process of stacking parts. The angled baluster sections are more complicated because the handrail is already installed.
See the playlist of all the videos in this staircase makeover project - • Staircase Makeover
When I moved on to the angled sections, the most challenging part was determining the length of the balusters when they were plumb. I ended up making an extendable baluster jig that I could put in place, make sure it was plumb, and then lock it to length. I then transferred this jig to a spindle to draw my cut lines. The jig needs to be centered on the spindle, so by adding measurements on each end, it became easy to center the spindle.
Once I had the stair balusters cut, I could put them in place with a wooden fillet strip in between each one. This let me see how the start and end of the run looked so I could get equal spacing between the spindles and the newel posts. Once I cut my starter fillet strip, I was ready to install the run for stair spindles. I glued them in place with carpenter’s glue and if the spindle wasn't a snug fit, I also drove a finishing nail through the spindle into the handrail.
We hope you enjoy this video. If you've got questions, leave a comment on the video. We're happy to respond to your comments and questions.
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#balusters

Пікірлер: 67

@dianarodriguez4582 3 ай бұрын

That homemade jig did it for me!! I just subscribed to your Channel- this is exactly how I will be updating stairs with baluster from now on. The best DYI video ever 🤩

@peterkiernan1668 6 жыл бұрын

Great video, the spindle jig is a great idea.

@HomeImprovementWoodworking 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the feedback Peter!

@RKSingh-pi4dq 2 ай бұрын

Thank You for posting this

@zacharynelson47 4 жыл бұрын

This is arguably the best DIY video I've ever seen. Thank you SO much for your work

@Kaodusanya Жыл бұрын

this isn't DIY dude is a professional at this point.

@Christhecarpenter345 4 ай бұрын

Absolutely amazing video!

@Parafinn1970 6 жыл бұрын

Beautiful finished results - thank you for sharing.

@HomeImprovementWoodworking 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the feedback!

@JonDunnmusician 2 жыл бұрын

Love the careful jig

@HomeImprovementWoodworking 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Jon! Scott

@raymondsmit4495 Жыл бұрын

Well done, great video. Love your work.

@diamondsdavid 8 ай бұрын

This is a perfect video clip. Thank you.

@Kareemc866 3 жыл бұрын

omw finally a video tutorial that gets stright to the point. thank you sir for this wonderful tutorial.

@HomeImprovementWoodworking 3 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for your comment. Scott

@alandecker8912 3 жыл бұрын

very nice clean looking work

@davebrittain9216 Ай бұрын

First time viewer, really good video! I have to figure out how to make mine so that I can remove it for clearance when a large piece of furniture needs to get into the basement. It is going to be fun... hmm. It is a house I am just finishing up to sell too so I don't want to put a ton of time into it as the market is ready right now.

@Remodelaholic 7 ай бұрын

Great instructions! Thanks for sharing!

@Tomscores 2 жыл бұрын

Exceptional finish 👍🏻

@HomeImprovementWoodworking 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Cheers!

@loopylucyfur 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you fixed the upside down one before the final fix!! 🤪😉

@HomeImprovementWoodworking 3 жыл бұрын

Good eye. Yeah, I didn't realize when I started that I did that. Scott

@seanocarolan359 3 жыл бұрын

Spindle jig is a great idea - one suggestion though - perhaps cut the bolt and use wings nuts for ease of loosening.

@HomeImprovementWoodworking 3 жыл бұрын

Great idea! Thanks for sharing that Sean! Cheers. Scott

@mm111303 Жыл бұрын

Great vid thanks

@GR018 2 жыл бұрын

Very nice.

@thefirstkingridge 5 жыл бұрын

Just subscribed. You run a great channel. Nice work.

@HomeImprovementWoodworking 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I appreciate that. Scott

@Intel1100 Жыл бұрын

Outstanding

@HomeImprovementWoodworking 11 ай бұрын

Thank you!

@christophervillar4387 4 жыл бұрын

Very well done sir truely nice and accurate work.incompared to my stair we spend thousands for the hardwoods.but the result is very frustrating.the carpenter doesn't know how to fit and to measure it's steps until it's too late he already cut all the woods.with its wrong calculation.thank you for sharing these beautiful craftmanship.

@HomeImprovementWoodworking 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Nathalie. Sorry to hear about the challenges with the carpenter you hired. Thanks for posting a comment. Scott

@ricwi11i 5 ай бұрын

Every staircase is different, so what are the cut angles of both ends of the jig?

@hugopelcastre9189 Жыл бұрын

EXELENTE

@A5cension Жыл бұрын

Definitely making that jig. I might just make it out of thick cardboard.

@HomeImprovementWoodworking Жыл бұрын

Yes, that would work too. Glad you found it helpful! Scott

@suesych7715 7 ай бұрын

Question: I'm thinking of removing all my wood spindles from a shoe rail and replacing them with narrow metal spindles into the existing shoe rail. Do you know if this is possible? Thank you.

@flattenedfrog 2 жыл бұрын

Newbie question ... in general, if everything is done properly, should all spindles be the same length? Great video!!

@vanityremodel1530 4 жыл бұрын

I hope he is making money. Great stuff

@HomeImprovementWoodworking 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you. Scott

@user-oz7gc9bi7w Жыл бұрын

Hi, do you have a downloadable guide/template to be able to make the jig you have for measuring the spindles? thanks

@thomascranston8503 Ай бұрын

How did you get front baluster with shorter mid section than the longer one at the back of the tread? Make them your self or order them that way so that the bottom squares line up and the top squares line up with the handrail?

@jeffalan6339 Жыл бұрын

Nice video. The job looks like a pro did it. I am s finish carpenter, only thing I yet to do is staircase handrail. Your dad is right. In doing you best always. Being self employed your reputation is on the line. I thought once to never think "good enough" I'm a professional being paid better earn it, as to do a job look like a serious DYI er did the job.

@HomeImprovementWoodworking Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing that Jeff! Scott

@NK-gz4mi 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome video, love the idea of jig, just made mine. What kind of glue did you use?

@HomeImprovementWoodworking 3 жыл бұрын

I use Lee Valley Tools Cabinetmaker's glue

@UhtredRagnarson43 2 жыл бұрын

Great stuff. do you do set the handrail before the balusters? Or, can you lay the handrail on top of the balusters after you put them in?

@HomeImprovementWoodworking 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Chris. You can do it either way, but it's easier to install the handrail first, especially on a long run. When you have loose balusters and you try to attach the handrail, it can be frustrating dealign with so many moving parts. I hope that helps. Scott

@gardenrose264 Жыл бұрын

The jig is a good idea. I wonder if you can buy them on Amazon?

@Kaodusanya Жыл бұрын

it takes 2 seconds to make,

@rahlert 2 жыл бұрын

Did you use a nail gun for this at any point? If so, what type of gun and nail? Is a brad different from a nail?

@dp1275 Жыл бұрын

I have out of date stairwell exactly like yours. My problem is that the dog chewed one of them and it needs to be replaced. I could cut where the chew is and pull out both ends and buy another spindle However, i don’t know how to get it in. It look’s important. Can you give me ur opinion please?

@HomeImprovementWoodworking Жыл бұрын

Yes, cut the spindle and pull it out. There’s likely a dowel in the bottom. The new spindle will have one too. You will need to cut the top angle to fit. Glue the dowel at the bottom and nail the top. Hope that helps

@user-zc8zj5it3c 3 жыл бұрын

How would you replace broken spindles? Do you have to take the whole rail apart?

@HomeImprovementWoodworking 3 жыл бұрын

Using the way I installed these spindles, it would be very difficult to replace a broken one. One way would be to cut the replacement spindle slightly shorter than the others so it could slide up into the handrail and have clearance to drop into the shoerail... the pocket in the shoerail would need to have a spacer at the bottom to prevent the top from dropping out. Does that make sense? Scott

@chrisy.9775 2 жыл бұрын

How do you calculate the angle of the cut on the top and bottom of the spindle?

@Kaodusanya Жыл бұрын

probably based on the angle of the stair rail to the posts.

@marksaxton5001 4 жыл бұрын

When I removed my spindles, I found that they have been somehow "stapled"in to the rails at top and bottom. I am assuming that the entire section was Pre-fab'ed. I'm still at a loss of how it was done? Have you ever runinto this type of situation? How was it made? How did you remedy it? Any advice would be appreciated. PS...Also, is 45 degree cut on the slanted spindle sections a fairly standard angle?

@HomeImprovementWoodworking 3 жыл бұрын

The angle on the spindles isn't 45 degrees as the railing is parallel to the stairs. Stairs have a tread that is longer than the riser, so a staircase isn't at a 45 degree angle. I haven't seen spindles stapled at the top and bottom, but that could have been done by the installer. It's common to have a brad nail in the top, but not in the bottom as it's usually a mortise and tenon joint (round dowel into a round hole). To remove the spindles, you're going to have a very hard time. I'd demo them - cut them in the middle and pull them apart - and replace with new ones. If you're patient, you might be able to wiggle them loose, but you will likely break a lot of them. I hope that helps. Scott

@marksaxton5001 3 жыл бұрын

@@HomeImprovementWoodworking Thanks, bud. I have removed several of the chewed up spindles, measure them against my new one, and STILL can't seem to get the exact cut to fit them. I'll measure 2-3 times, mark the spindle, cut it and STILL be off a degree or two. I just don't get it. What can I possibly be doing wrong? Is there a caulk or putty that can be used in the small gaps that occur if you are off a degree or two? I'm going nuts! Thanks!

@HomeImprovementWoodworking 3 жыл бұрын

Mark Saxton if you’re using a quality miter saw, you should be able to dial in the angle to partial degrees. Part of the measurement is making sure the length matches. If the spindle is too long, the tips of the pointed ends won’t touch, if it’s too short, the heels of the angle won’t touch. I hope that helps. I offer video advice sessions if you’d like a 1-on1 session. Scott

@johnnytrenkamp9647 Жыл бұрын

Where did you buy these from?

@ric6142 6 жыл бұрын

Phew, I thought you messed up the second spindle on the right at 4:00. Turns out it was only the dry fit

@HomeImprovementWoodworking 6 жыл бұрын

Ric yep, it's like the saying "measure twice, cut once". I test out the fit of the parts before gluing and nailing anything - learned from a mistake on an important project years ago