A box newel is one way to elegantly support a stair rail.
A newel post is the terminal post at the top or bottom of a stair case. There are two primary types. Solid, or turned, newel posts are typically cut from a single piece of wood. Box newel posts are built up from separate pieces of lumber to create a square, hollow column that is usually trimmed with wood mouldings at top and bottom to give the post detail. The mounting procedure most commonly used is to install a block of wood to the step and slip the post over it, fastening it to the block. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Measure the inside dimensions of the newel post at the bottom from front to back and left to right. Cut a piece of 2-inch-thick lumber to fit snugly inside the bottom of the newel post. Cut the dimensions 1/16 of an inch smaller than the measurement you took in each direction.
2. Position the block on the step, centered where the post will be located. Bore pilot holes, one in each corner of the block, with a 1/8-inch bit. Drill through the block and into the top of the stair. Use a countersink bit to countersink the top of each pilot hole slightly to make sure the mounting screw will be flush with the top of the block. A countersink bit cuts a cone shape at the top of the hole to allow room for the screw head.
3. Drive one 3-inch treated deck screw through each pilot hole in the block. Tighten the screws until the heads are flush with the top of the block.
4. Fit the newel post over the top of the block. Make sure that all four sides of the post are flush with the top of the stair. Drill two pilot holes on each side of the post, 3/4 inch up from the bottom and 1 inch in from each corner, so that that they run parallel to the stair top and into the edge of the block.
5. Drive one 1 5/8-inch treated deck screw through each hole in the post. Run the screws in until the heads are flush with the face of the newel post. Cover the screws with the base moulding of the post. Nail it in place with two finish nails on each face.
Tags: newel post, flush with, deck screw, deck screw through, each corner, each pilot
