Newel post

[suityou01]

Got the keys to my new house today/

One job I have to do before I can move the tribe in is put in a decent hand rail on the stairs with spindles.

The newel post at the bottom of the stairs has been hacked off and is just a stump. I obviously need a new Newel post.

Does anyone know how to fit? Do I try and dowel joint a new post on top of the stump, or replace the stump?

Anyone who has done this or knows how it is done could they post here please?

TIA

[Gonzo]

Anyone who has done this or knows how it is done could they post here please?

TIA

Most posts on this forum are ill-informed ranting, are you sure you want to be asking a bunch of IT people that question?



This is the first time in my whole life that I have ever heard the term "newel post".

[threaded]

Ah I know a bit about Newel Posts. I've done up many an old house, it's a bit of a hobby/plan B. My current project was built in 1600.

Do you know why so many old houses have them 'hacked off'?

Well, in olden days they'd be hollow and the original house plans and some coins (often gold) would be put in before a cap was put on it at the house finishing ceremony.

Usually there is some dowel arrangement, but they're all different (even on a side by side pair of terraced Victorian houses I did they were different). Unless you're a bit good at the DIY, I'd get an old fashioned carpenter in 'cause the biggest problem is they're, where they fit in at the bottom, part of the structure of the staircase. So if you get it wrong, you mess up the first step on your stairs (and I've seen the result of that several times too and for some reason the first step looking odd is about the worst thing on stairs, any other step can be dodgy, but the first one is a deal breaker)

I've seen one that was sliced off and they put a thick dowel up the middle, but they had teenagers and it was broken a week later, so they repaired that and banned the kids from sliding down the rail and it's lasted.

[Board Game Geek]

Suityou posted : One job I have to do before I can move the tribe in is put in a decent hand rail on the stairs with spindles.

I'd see this as an opportunity to apply Darwinism and watch Natural Selection at work.

[oraclesmith]

I've done three of these; ie. drilling a hole in the stump and setting a new DIY store post into it. It works OK, but it's never as good as solid post properly jointed into the stairway.

Also, a lot depends on your ability to drill an accurate vertical hole into the old stump. If it's a bit loose or out of true it will look pants.

[Grinder]

How about cut it off square, then get a bolt-down fence-post support. Probably strong enough but not that pretty. Certainly a quick solution.

[suityou01]

How about cut it off square, then get a bolt-down fence-post support. Probably strong enough but not that pretty. Certainly a quick solution.

Thanks for all the posts. I went to Wickes, who have a Newel post fixing kit for such an occation. It's half screw and half nut and bolt. You screw it into the stump and then drill a reciprocating hole in the new post. Then in the side of the post you drill a half inch circular hole to the middle about 4 inches up the post. Use a lock cutting bit for that.

Then pop the post onto the bolt poking out of the stump. In the side hole you can see the top of the bolt. Screw in your locking nuts using a 19 mil ring spanner (I actually glued between the posts for good measure)

The result is the whole assembly is held together tighter than a nun's chuff. You would not be able to tell they are two seperate pieces of wood.

That was my target for today, but it actually went so well that I installed the base board, handrail and half the spindles. Looks fab. The missus will be very pleased (she needs cheering up as at 41.5 weeks pregnant she is fed up)

[xoggoth]

I always find DIY most satisfying if I can save money by using old stuff I have hanging around from something else. Surely you must have an old bedpost or bit of garden fence or something you can stick on with superglue? That's how I'd do it.

PS 41.5 weeks? Is she an elephant? Not that I'd blame you, I would.

[suityou01]

I always find DIY most satisfying if I can save money by using old stuff I have hanging around from something else. Surely you must have an old bedpost or bit of garden fence or something you can stick on with superglue? That's how I'd do it.

I've a mental picture of your house. Sofa is 3 ford escort seats bolted together.

[Bagpuss]

Did you celebrate by having a Fanta?