Why you should make your own stair railing
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- Опубліковано 17 лис 2021
- Nobody builds these it seems. Why not? Let's see if we can do it ourselves...
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Decades ago, my older brother bought and painted some stock for outdoor railings at Mom's home. Sadly, he passed away and my sister hired someone to do some carpentry on her home. The painted stock sat in the basement. As time went on, I bought that home and the stock was still there. I needed another railing in front for stairs in a hill. I added some of my own stock and staggered the wood from end to end. The final length after assembly was 24 foot and it came out beautiful. After taking a picture of it in the shop, it went outside to its new place and I mounted it on new posts. I am not a young man anymore but to this day, my older brother still takes my hand on those stairs.
Beautiful work. He is proud of you, man.
My utmost respect, mate.
Very well said
Thank you for sharing friend.
I’m sure you did him proud 👍🏽, this was one of my good reasons for taking up woodworking as a hobby, I want my friends and family to remember me every time they see a furniture piece/heirloom I made for them, even though we can’t live forever we can sure remind our loved ones that we’re still here. God bless or whatever you believe in and good work.
My house was built in 1910. The whole stair well was built with hand tools. The stair rail is walnut. Each spindle was hand turned and hand dovetailed into the treads, which are pine. When I refinished them I could tell they all had slight differences that you can only see when you hold them next to each other. After scrapping off the buckets of paint and restoring the whole stairwell it now looks amazing. I am now just finishing the closet under the stairs. Even though I did not build it from scratch, I feel a sense of accomplishment in restoring it to its original glory.
Anyone who wants to tackle a project like this should consider it even though it is a lot of work.
Grandpa was a professional, hand wood turner. His European boyhood apprenticeship, was under the watchful eyes of men born in the late 19th Century. He was piece-working by his 16th birthday and paying for anything rejected. His completed pile was counted and examined at the close of every (12 hour) day.
You could take two separate posts or balusters, slice them in half and hold them together, with nearly no differences. Only sharpe and crisp corners distinguished his work from automatic lathe production.
If you're able to distinguish slight turning variations, you're most likely looking at a youthful production piece or from some turning shop with high-production rates and lower quality-control standards.
As Grandpa was teaching me, he threw quite a few of my pieces in the trash heap.
Literally made my own staircase and banister using nothing but hand tools. Manual hand tools. Every single spindle was hand made and fitted using mortice and tenon joinery.
It took me nearly six months. 🤣
What I learnt was that cheap chisels go blunt on contact with hardwoods, almost instantly.
They're a fun challenge, for sure! My first two "real" woodworking projects were (gulp!) expensive figured mahogany trim for a hearth, and a handrail for a stair well.
I went really, really slow and used up a lot of pine scrap checking and rechecking tool settings and making jigs, but it all turned out well. I think a large part of my enjoyment was how difficult I found the entire process, and the sense of accomplishment I felt... and still feel, nearly a decade later.
My father installs railings for over 40 years. He doesn't prepare them though... Specially these ones with special shape like this one, which he buys.
So for me it was great to see this process!
I’m a long time woodworker, 40+ years in vintage building restoration. I’m now handicapped and have modified my woodworking shop so I can work in it. I’m making modifications to my American Foursquare house so I can continue to live in it. Your video about handrails is timely because I now need assistance besides my cane and the handrail to go upstairs.
I regularly build my rails in place...makes attachments easier.
Laminated veneer lumber for a core is strong and long.
Some stock chair rail moldings (i.e. 390) can be used for the sides in a pinch...
Need plenty of clamps!
Manufactured stair parts are expensive and often poor quality.
Great video!
I got a lux helical cutter from Stumpy's link, after thinking about it for years. I couldn't be happier with it.
GREAT info. Makes sense to laminate and shape rather than trying to buy and expensive block that you are going to cut away quite a chunk. P.S. I made a picture frame using your multiple router bits last week. So thanks for that as well. 😎
Yes the complex moulding video was one we all need to try out. I am going to give a go very soon now. (I am currently rebuilding my router cabinet replacing the top and insert)
I wish I could work in your shop. It always looks like a good time with these project. I restored our stairs this past year and It was so fun we actually had the same idea and added copper plates.
Wiping with a damp rag will also cause the flat mark caused by the bearing to almost disappear. It also raises the grain slightly, which is sanded off. At least, that's how I do it. Don't know if it saves time or anything.
I replaced my janky 70s painted stair railing with a maple and 1/8 inch aluminum sandwich. Pinned it with aluminum pins and epoxied. Came out like a giant knife handle and is rigid like metal. I love it and it matches the kitchen cabinets.
I have no plans to ever build a staircase or railing, and this video was still fascinating. Very well done, thank you for taking the time.
Absolutely top-rate video on an entire process. I love how your planer is positioned to be an outfeed extension of the jointer. It's something I'll give attention to as I put my shop together next summer.
Yeah, at first I thought he was jointing and planing at the same time! I think I might move some stuff around to do the same!
Thanks so much for this one. I’ve got a hemlock railing project in my new home and it has to be perfect. I was locked up over how to get started until now. Can’t wait to start!
Thank you Stumpy, I've followed you for years, along so many other woodworking channels. Between knowledge given and entertainment in a channel I can enjoy both, but as far as my knowledge evolved in these years (opening my shop next year hopefully), you're definetly and without a doubt a must stop for everything I need to refresh my mind on. In my humble opinion, you are, hands down, the most usefull, clear, simple teacher, with no bs but still full of an insane quality lessons, on youtube. The way (most important) and the fact that you have approached every aspect of woodworking in these years is for me priceless.
Sincerly thanks again, a fellow from Italy.
Giorgio
As always, great tutorial on making the handrail for your home. The copper riser is a classy touch. God Bless.
A hand rail was one of the first things I made over 50 years ago. Very good video
I watch every video... What I love is even when I think I dont need to watch something... I learn so much and am more inspired! Thank you for taking the time to keep us all inspired to make sawdust and take on new things
I did this when I had some leftover hickory flooring. Made the Newel posts and balusters from poplar, square cross-section and painted white to match the risers. Handrails also from painted poplar, topped off with a half-inch layer of hickory. Hickory accents between the balusters along the floor, surrounded by painted poplar. To this day, I consider it my crowning woodworking achievement.
I have been doing a lot of railings this past year. Along the way I got the idea I could make make own. After watching your video I am now motivated to do so. At the price of railing these days it could very well pay to do so. I have a big custom staircase coming up in March. Looking forward to it and making my own railing is now the plan. Thank you for your great videos. I always look forward to the new ones.. And thank you for the link to the Whiteside router bit!!
This is spot on, ironically just did this very project about 3 months ago. Made handrails out of Walnut, very cool.
James, what a great video, very informative. Additionally, thanks for the education on how stair rails are made.
That must feel satisfying. Beautiful work!
I love the attention to detail in the planning. Not just how to put the railing together but things like how the profile will be routed. One only needs to not pay attention to those things once, to realize the value in that level of planning. See ya next time.
Thanks for sharing those tips and the make!
Just received and starting using those bora bar clamps and what a game changer. I’m pumping out cutting boards at record pace for me. Still slow compared to the pro’s I’m sure. They are easy to use and allow fine adjustment for lining things up. I couldn’t be happier. Thanks for sharing the products you use and trust.
Every video this channel realeses is getting better and better am just addicted watching and learning from the pros of woodworking
Despite this being way above my skill level, I really enjoyed seeing how it was done. I will look forward to the videos for the rest of the staircase. I would love to see the same kind of video for cabinet doors. Thanks!
We have several cabinet door videos on our channel
@@StumpyNubs thanks James. I will head there this weekend!
Amazing craftsmanship James
I have a Victorian with a wrap around porch and replace the wood railings (40" long Each) about every 5 years...I have found that full size jig really allows me to turn them out quickly and accurately. It necessitates using 3/4 plywood base...but allows quick and accurate placement of each spindle and allows you to pick up the entire assembly for installation between "pillars". Admittedly not anywhere near as nice as your work...but I do route and cut all pieces from simple dimensional lumber...quotes I've received for duicsting work were in the thousands ( porch is 80 lineal feet). Great video...especially timely given paucity of skilled labor...
Nice video. I made my own railing from alder about a year ago. I cut the groove with a dado instead of a router, and the side routing with a hand-held router and a jig to hold it rail and router steady, which worked except for one wobble that I decided I could live with, (with a little extra sanding). Seeing your video makes me want to build a router table now. Seems a better way. Thank you for your videos!
Awesome idea , and yes it depends on the type of tools to get it done , but you idea are awesome
Thanks for sharing with us James, that’s a great looking handrail and a fantastic tutorial. Fred. 🙏🏻🙏🏻👍🏻👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻✋🏻✋🏻
That is absolutely fantastic work! You mentioned how you don't need to have one piece wood for creating this handrail and you are completely right.
The laminated pieces actually make more stable construction that won't twist or crack.
Fantastic! Thanks again for the info and entertainment
Can't wait for the next part! Great informative video.
My grandfather “finished” newly built houses in the early 1900’s. Installing window trim, staircases etc.
He said he’d go into a house and there would be the millworker and a pile of rough cut lumber. Usually poplar.
He would plane and saw all of the tiny pieces to make the staircase. The more ornate stuff was milled. But the majority of the trim work he built.
His tools were a brace and bits, handsaws from a rip saw to a coping saw. Various planes. Some were homemade as well as the special profile blades. Different hammers and chisels.
The chest he’d built himself. Perhaps 4’x30”x18”. Every tool had it’s own compartment.
He got paid $100 and it took all winter. He said his mother-in-law marveled when she calculated he made a dollar a day! When at that time wages were 2 or 3 dollars a week.
The rest of the year he built houses.
He passed his chest on to my dad. Over the years the tools dwindled away or rusted.
Dad was no carpenter. But the biggest hazard was me and my brother. A regret I have today.
Really interesting process indeed, James! 😃
Thanks for sharing!!!
Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊
Appreciate your instruction and videos 👍
Another awesome video...thank you!
Great to see all the guards in use in your machine shop.
Fantastic videos. You do a great job. Hope you keep making videos, I’ve learned a lot and I appreciate it 👏
Great video, cheers
Excellent job!!! Greetings from Portugal
Nice, Informative. and useful. As always.
Thanks a great video !!
Beautiful! I've installed stairs before that were red oak. Repaired some which needed the volutes to extend past the three steps beyond the wall, and return them to the spiral end on the outside of the lowest step. I have no idea why the previous 'trim carpenters' thought they could just run a return to the wall and leave no railings for the lowest three steps sticking into the room.
It was lots of fun even though I had to use pre ordered parts the general contractor had bought - and here's an interesting point. Where the new bannisters met the installed bannisters, because they were the same manufacturer but differing lot numbers - THEY DIDN'T MATCH!!!
Talk about profile sanding and scraping! But it came out beautifully if I say so myself...
Another point for some. Red oak splits during machining about 23% of the time. White oak about 27% of the time. Make sure you get enough.
This is so easy, but it's just one of those things you just don't think about...like washing your garage door lol
Love this!
Thanks for sharing 👍
Cool!!! Nice Rail!!! Thank You!!! 😎👍😃🙏🤘🔥
Great video always wondered about how there made in a shop.
I made my own hand rail with the Sears molding kit that you use on a table saw, I built a u shaped jig to hold the wood to the blade .I ran 250 ft for a porch.
Thanks. I am just about to make my own.
When I built my basement bar, I built the Chicago style bar rail in a similar fashion, but I used some plywood on the parts which could not be seen to reduce costs!
I have nothing to say really, but I appreciate your content, and wish to help with the yt-algorithms.
In 50 + years I never really worked with fine wood working , I had to buld or fix a few small things , I could weild a hammer and chisel , drive a nail , cut form work for concreting with a circular saw , jig saw and befor battery tools drag a brace and bit hand drills up telephone and power poles , used a lathe booth wood and metal , but , I prefered steel or alloy . It would be fair to say my wood working skills were RAG ( Rough as guts ) didn't need to be pretty but did need to be done and quick .
So I recently had to start repairing and building things at my folks place as they are now beyond the work themselves , stairs and doors and other assorted items that have seen their better days and some weren't that well built or square anyways as i am finding . I have found the intricacies of wood enjoyable and the expirience of building something or even repairing the stair rail and step treds and cupboards also enjoyable , and I realized , that Patience is what I was missing , all those years ago .
I came across your YOU Tube Channel and must say thank you for the informative and entertaining videos , You have taught this old dog a few new tricks .
P.S , I saw an older video and I also did a bit damage to my hand 17 years ago , my right hand needed an op to fix two broken knuckles and a cut tendon , took years to get full movement back and some times it just aches in the cold and there are still nerve endings that are sensetive . So I can understand and sympathize with you and hope your hand is healing well .
Almost every stairbuider of the past, made their own handrail and everything else. They left us many fine examples as a testimony of this fact.
Actually the specific manufacturing of handrail was often a specialized branch and separate job (a trade to be taken seriously, beginning with a youthful apprenticeship .)
If you really don't want to use factory parts made from downfall (scrap) then you need to make the parts yourself. You also don't have to use generic parts, designed to fit everywhere (when in reality, really fit nowhere.)
Then we might talk about custom, circular stairs and geometric staircases that really require custom handrail.
Be careful though, you might become to fixated on doing nothing but custom work (because you can) while ignoring standard work that pays the bills
Been there, done that.
Looks amazing and way out of my talent level.
Awesome
Thanks much.
Looks like I can use my large shutter bit and my raised panel bit too do a similar style I think, I haven't gone to try it yet.
Nice, makes me want to replace those crappy contractor grade rails in my house. I even have a friend with a table saw, planer and joiner!
If you haven't already, could you please do video about Greene & Greene finger joints.
I just took apart an old handrail and baluster set up, raised the upper guardrail to code, pre painted most of it and reinstalled. It had a really long railing that was 2 pieces joined by a square nut and bolt system. Really cool how the forefathers of woodworking did things..
On the subject of making one though..
Of course I have a 15 inch planer I paid good money for but can not get it adjusted properly and I have an old delta bench jointer which I tried using but, have no idea if its working properly and of course there is nobody I know of in the Harrisburg Pennsylvania area that works on this stuff or at least does house calls.. the planer was a beast to get in my shop and I likely knocked it out of wack in moving.
Paying the yard to do the milling is way too much which puts this task out of reach currently
The square nut is an early example of the handrail bolt, invented for butt- joining handrail pieces. This followed the early (19th Century) geometric, handrail drawing methods, which where based, solely on butt-jointed pieces. The drawing method didn't really work for the former, handrail scarf-joint.
The wrench-tool was known as a punch or "chaser." Or two separate tools.
Sometimes the bolts had a swell in them below the threads. This was designed to jamb in the bolt-holes.
The star-nut is also part of that period and still in use today.
BTW, raising an old handrail to modern handrail height, code requirements, is only required in all-new construction (or so I understand.) Many architectural features may suffer if you do this .
nice!
Cool
Great. Well over a year after I saw the prices of oak railing at Menards, and also balusters, etc at the bottom end, this shows up. Yeah, I'm not paying the about $100 for the railing piece only. Nope. Let alone the rest of the stairway.
About 30 years ago, I had done a complete stairway, but not the railing, in ash. Having ash in the inventory again, I decided to make this one as well, for a new addition's basement.
This inventory of ash was from my own trees, killed by ash borer, harvested by me, taken to a sawmill, and air dried for a few years.
So a year and a half ago, I went to my pile of native ash, planed a bunch of boards, and set about making the stairs. I completed the stairs and the boards against the wall, and then looked at what it would take to make a railing.
I took pictures and measurements of the commercial railings, and translated it to what I could do. The commercial railings were laminated, so I decided to do the same. That makes it possible to do with the one-inch lumber.
Short story made short, it is all done and looks gorgeous. And the cost out of pocket was only for screws and hardware, plus varnish.
Oh, I counted the number of individual pieces to the complete job, the main railing as one even though laminated, and it is about 100. That includes the bottom 4 ft of baluster work.
Thanks for the video, anyway. And now I will watch it. :-)
Looking forward to seeing the installation. Thank you for another interesting video.
I made 2 hand rails for my moms house out of leftover wood from my front door I made for my house.
cool
You've done a beautiful job, but it made me nervous just watching you work. In fact I just glanced down at a comment from elitearbor and he says how difficult he found the process. I'd be OK trying it with pine, but definitely nervous about risking expensive oak. I noticed how slowly you advanced the workpiece James, and even stopped on at least one place. Did you have a secret to prevent burning?
It's not difficult if you take the time to install the featherboards, etc. If you get some burns, just take a final light pass to skim the surface and clean it up.
Not sure of a better place to post this... but could you do a tips video on how to safely cut thin strips on a tablesaw? Like something 1/8" thick for an edge banding, for example.
Most cases if you need more than 5-10 m of certain wooden profile it's cheaper and more reliable to get right material and router bits than gamble with mass produced quality not to say wood sortiment match.
I am not a proper tradesman who has the access or the money to use these more expensive machines such as router and planer tables but I still want to do DIY stuff like this. The most expensive power tool I have is probably the mitre saw I own which I didn't even buy which belonged to my uncle and that is only worth like $200
You can make hand rails with hand tools. Hollow and round planes will do the job just as well as a router.
Great video! Im currently renovating the house my wife and bought together. Theres a really cool spiral staircase that goes to the basement but it needs work.... Im trying to figure out a way to make the handrail for it that wont be an absolute nightmare to try and do... one of the reasons I havent crossed that burning bridge yet... haha
I did railing on a spiral staircase a number of years ago. I ended up cutting a curve in to 3 foot long sections of wood, gluing the sections up, and then gluing those sections into a spiral. A lot of wood is wasted doing it that way and a good, sturdy template is a necessity for this.
@@criswilson1140 Good to know!
Ive also seen a few videos where people have made a clamp set up and soaked wood to flex it into the needed curve. So it holds the curve when it dries.
@@thehumantoeRD I tried the water soak bending and steam bending, both in a form, but could never get a repeatable bend due to the spring back when I took them out of the form. Plus, it was a scary amount of force to get the 2" thick wood to bend.
End grain glued is stronger than long grain glue because the glue has more surface to penetrate into.
This timing is amazing, I'll be installing treads, risers and a rail very soon. Would you mind giving me a bit of a sneak peak? What finish do you suggest for treads? (they're staying wood, no carpet or runners or anything).
I used Varathane poly. Durability was the most important factor in this case.
@@StumpyNubs That's what I'm after as well, thanks for the tip.
Thanks for the very informative video. I always pick some helpful info that I either hadn't thought of, or really clever idea to achieve an end result. One question though, what are your thoughts on cutting slips into the top "feather board" the get more of a feathering effect like the yellow feathering boards. Is this completely unnecessary and overkill. As always thanks again and will eagerly await your next video.
It worked fine as it was
Hey James. Great job as always.
I've been searching your cool tools videos looking for the carbide rasps that you often show but I haven't had any luck. Can you please tell me what brand they are and where to get them? Thanks and keep up the good work
Dura Grit Carbide Sanding Products: (Use Coupon Code: STUMPYNUBS): duragrit.com/home.php
100 percent pure nubberie, (James) I noticed what I thought was a Harvey shaper ( in the background of the video) , but you used a Sawstop in the video, I also Notice that you have the Harvey dust processor (which I have and like very much) so I like the Harvey Stuff and find it to be of good Quality and well thought through (Engineered) but expensive.(buy once, Cry Once) can you go in to detail about the Harvey/bridge City tools you have?...and buy the way this summer I put Carpet squares in my shop and I love it.
I don't have a Harvey shaper. There are two standalone cast iron router tables (SawStop and MLCS). I recently got a Harvey cast iron router table wing for my table saw, which is the Harvey Ambassador 4hp with the gold top. I also have their smaller dust collector, their smaller lathe and both of their bandsaws. All are great machines!
As a carpenter in the netherlands i would like to ask why you left te ends of the planks you glue together to get length straight. i have always learnt that when lengthening a piece of wood (we call it welding) you have cut the end at least 10 degree or more
I don't believe this was necessary since the butt joint wasn't the only thing holding the pieces together. They were laminated on other pieces, staggering where the ends met.
Beau
I'm shocked nobody has commented about you staggering the joints yet. "But James, didn't you see the Patrick Sullivan end grain video?!" 🙄
(Although I gotta be honest, I _would_ love to see Patrick or Matthias test some constructed rail like this with and without staggered joints. I can't help but be a nerd like that.)
One person did. But I'm tired or explaining it. So I didn't bother.
What product did you use to make those copper risers? They are awesome!
Plywood covered in copper flashing.
If the specialty bit is out of reach, run the stock over the table saw blade at 30 to 40 degrees. Use both rail guids to secure a temporary fence. Set blade height up just enough to get the hand grip groove. Several graduated passes is best. A smaller diameter blade is better I think but it is a choice. Definitely follow his instructions to make passes on both sides before making an adjustment so the center remains centered.
How about a curved railing video? I've got a crude method I'm sure you could teach me a better way that doesn't involve a cnc
Hi! Where'd you source the copper stock, for the risers?
How do like the Grizzly jointer? Is it the helical spiral cutter head style?
Great process for making hand rails.
I bought it with straight knives so I could put a nicer LuxCut II helical head (Mywoodcutters.com) in it instead of the Grizzly helical head. It's a great machine for the price.
Im curious bout the carpeting in the shop, any purpose / reasoning?
Another great video, is that your shop?
Yes
@@StumpyNubs nice
Which is the link for tour buddy with the helical cutter heads stumpy? Lots of links but all Amazon.
Thanks.
It's the Mywoodcutters.com link
I have an off topic question but one that might make for a good video. I recently can't into possession of an antique wash stand that has the old style colored varnish on it I could never recreate. However, the top came loose and has cupped upward, like a bowl. How would I flatten this out without damaging the finish?
You can't flatten that back out. The fibers on the top have permanently compressed after all that time. Even if you could swell them back up with moisture, the finish has sealed them up.
I'm surprised you didn't make something designed around an older railing or making it obviously unique vs using the "generic" design found in the big box stores. Is there a requirement to use that standardized design sold in every supplier?
Someone probably already suggested scarf joints for the parts? Thanks
Not necessary in this case.
I made my own hand rails, but it's just pine, about the size of a 2x4, with a roundover. Seems like in the US everything needs to be super ornate.
No harm in having a plain product as the outcome, as long as it works well.
However, in my opinion, the world would be a poorer place without such needless ornamentation.
The shape of this rail isn't just decorative, it is comfortable and easy to grip.
True!
Is there a potential problem with expansion and the joints separating when gluing pieces together with the growth rings perpendicular? How big would the prices need to be to be concerned?
All the grain runs in the same direction
To expand what Stumpy said, careful board selection to make sure the grain is all running in the same direction.
@@StumpyNubs Yes, the grain runs along the length of the handrail. The difference in expansion that I’m referring to is between how much the wood expands tangentially along the growth rings vs radially out from the center of the log. From what I saw in the video looking from the end of the handrail, the top piece has the growth rings going left to right and the bits glued on the bottom, to make the rail thicker, the growth rings run up and down. Compare this to the two bottom pieces being rotated 90 degrees so that they also have the growth rings running left to right, more like how it would be if the handrail was made from one solid board.
@@jamanjeval These pieces are 1 inch to 1.5 inches wide. The movement across that is very minimal.
Link for jointer/planer blades missing....
It's the Mywoodcutters.com link
They seem kinda like a pain in the ass to make