A few fasteners in the right place can fix a wobbly post.
"Turn post" is a common term for a freestanding newel, the outside post on a stair rail system. Turn post handrail problems come about slowly; joints loosen over time and once a joint becomes loose, it is more vulnerable to further loosening under the daily pressures and stresses the turn post bears. Turn post repairs, short of a complete restoration, will not always bring back the original stability. If the wood is sound, a good repair job can be expected to return adequate stability and save on a complete deconstruction of the stair rails. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Figure out exactly what the problem is.
Analyze the problem. See how the parts fit together. Understand where the joints have lost integrity. Test the stresses that the post and rails undergo. For a wobbly turn post, find the sound wood members at the base for anchoring the repair.
2. Reassemble all parts to the original position. This can be tricky. In a case where a turn post has two rails attached, place one rail in the proper position; then bend back the post to insert the second rail, being careful to keep the first rail aligned. This may require a few tries bending the post back the other way or putting the other rail in first. The insert areas may need to be made clear of dried glue or splintered wood.
3. Drill holes to avoid splitting the wood.
Drill the holes. To keep all parts in the proper position, duct tape may be necessary. Check the wobble and decide where the support needs to be. When possible, repair anchors should be placed in a hidden area underneath the rail or in a less visible place on the post. The base of the post needs to be anchored to the structural wood under the step. It is best if the post base can be anchored from two directions. Using an exacting method, drill the appropriate size hole for the fastener used. Three types of fasteners are recommended depending on the strength of repair needed: finishing nails, stainless steel screws and hardwood dowels. When drilling, test to make sure the hole is being drilled into good wood.
4. Glue the joints. Load a gluing syringe and get the glue in wherever possible. Bend the post around to open up the spaces where the syringe can be inserted. Flood the drilled holes deeply with glue. West System is the recommended gluing method for structural repairs.
5. Drive in the fasteners. Keeping all parts from moving around during the actual fastening, let the fastener find the hole that was drilled. Keep the opposite side secure and drive the fastener in tight.
6. Clean the excess glue as soon as possible.
7. Inspect the repair and double check that all parts are going to dry in the proper position. Leave the repair undisturbed until the glue is completely cured.
Tags: proper position, Drill holes, post base, post rails, Turn post, wood Drill, wood Drill holes