You can replace your wood spindles with iron ones in your stair rail with these step-by-step instructions. Save your old wood spindles if you can for another project, donate them or saw them in half to remove them if your stair rail is one solid piece. You can find iron rails, or balusters, from online retailers and your local home improvement store. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Remove your wood spindles from the top down by cutting them in half with a hacksaw, jigsaw or band saw. Pull the two wood pieces free and remove any exposed nails in the stair rail and the floor. Some stair rails are made with wood fillers fitted between the spindles. Remove and save these rails by first taking out the filler situated on the handrail between the first spindle and the top post. A chisel may be helpful in removing the filler piece. Push the top spindle towards the top post to remove it. Work your way down the stair rail, removing the spindles and the fillers until you reach the bottom.
2. Spread wood putty in the nail holes and let it dry. Sand any damaged surfaces and repaint or re-stain them before you place the iron ones.
3. Drill notches in each spindle hole on the stair rail to hold the iron ones in place, if necessary. The design of your iron rails will determine if you need to take this step. For stair rails with removable fillers, you may need to install an iron bracket made to fit your stair rail to hold the iron ones in place, or you could have your iron rails designed to fit between the fillers.
4. Tape each iron rail at the top, just below the fitting to protect against dripping glue. Dry fit the rails before you begin installing them with epoxy. Work from the bottom of the stair rail up. The actual rails should be installed by inserting them into the top then into the bottom stair rail or the floor. Trim your iron rails with your saw as needed, always from the bottom.
5. Fit the baluster shoes onto the iron rails before gluing them into place. Mix the epoxy according to the manufacturer's instructions. Spread a small amount in the top and bottom holes on the stair rail and the floor. Insert the iron rails into the top first, then slide the baluster shoe in place. Remove the painter's tape after the epoxy is set.
Tags: stair rail, iron rails, iron ones, your wood spindles, rail floor, stair rail floor, your iron