Iron is durable, decorative and simple to cut.
Balusters are the vertical pieces that hold up a handrail along the sides of a stairway. They can be made out of wood, but many home stairways have balusters made out of iron. This metal is strong enough to allow the balusters to be relatively thin. If you are installing a stairway with iron balusters, you will usually need to cut them to fit. Removing a rail held up by iron balusters also requires some cutting work. In either case, a few basic power tools can do the job. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Mark the location for the cut on the baluster using a piece of chalk or the edge of a screwdriver. Always add 1 1/2 inches to the length of your baluster to allow for the ends being inserted into the stair treads and handrails.
2. Buy or rent a cutting tool. You can cut a baluster with an angle grinder if it has a metal-cutting blade attached. A cut-off saw with a carborundum blade also works well. Best of all, if you can get one, use a portable band saw with a metal-cutting blade, as this will produce fewer sparks. You can rent all of these tools from large home improvement stores.
3. Set up a cutting area outside or in a garage. Cutting metal will send sparks flying, so it's not a safe thing to do inside where flammable materials might catch a spark and ignite.
4. Put on safety glasses and gloves. The sparks from cutting metal can damage your eyes and burn your hands.
5. Plug in your saw and turn it on. If you are using an angle grinder or a cut-off saw, just lay the baluster down and cut into it with the blade at a 90 degree angle to the baluster. Press firmly and let the blade bite through the metal. Watch out when the baluster is cut, as the blade will suddenly have no resistance; it's easy to accidentally dig into the floor or a workbench. If you are cutting with a bandsaw, start the band and lay the baluster across the deck of the saw, then grab both ends of the baluster and push it slowly against the saw until it is cut.
6. Smooth the cut ends of the baluster with a file. Wait a few minutes before doing this to allow the end to cool after being cut.
Tags: angle grinder, baluster with, ends baluster, iron balusters, metal-cutting blade