Installation Guide

42
If you are using round forged iron balusters, you may drill
a small hole through the baluster and insert a small
finishing nail into the wood. Or, you may fit the baluster
into a hole of the same size drilled into the tread and allow
it to turn.
Angle shoes are used beneath the handrail and where the
baluster connects to the treads, and also on installations
where a knee wall is used (see Fig. 17-9). A set screw on
the side of the shoe will hold it in place.
Forged iron newels are installed differently depending upon
their locations:
Starting step: Cut a square hole into the tread and riser
plates. The hole must be a good, tight fit around the
newel. A mortising bit is very helpful for cutting this
square hole.
Intermediate landing: Drill two holes in the side of the
newel and attach the newel to the riser. This is the easiest
and strongest method (see Fig 17-10).
Balcony: Cut square holes into the floor. Then, depending
on under-floor access, either screw the newel into a joist
(similar to the way an intermediate newel is screwed into
a riser) or attach the newel to the front of the balcony
with screws.
Angle shoe under handrail
Angle shoe and kneewall
S TEP
B.10c
SECTION B
FIG. 17-9 - Angle shoe usage
4
1
If you use shoes, you may decide to drill a round hole and
not chisel it square. This hole will be the size of the
diagonal measurement of the baluster and will be hidden by
the shoe (some shoes have set screws to hold them in
place). We recommend using epoxy in the hole. You may
apply the epoxy in one of two ways:
(1) If you have only a few steps to install, you may
put the epoxy in the hole before the baluster.
Apply a small amount of epoxy—you don’t want it
to overflow when the baluster is inserted. Then,
put the shoe on the baluster and place the baluster
in the hole. Continue up the staircase.
Important: the cure time for epoxy is approximately
15 minutes, so you must proceed with speed once
you’ve started!
(2) If you have several steps to install—or if you don’t
feel comfortable with scenario #1—then place the
baluster in the hole before applying the epoxy. Put
the epoxy in the hole between the baluster and the
side of t
he hole (see F
ig. 1
7-8). Do no
t get
epoxy on any wood surfaces that you are going
to finish.
Glue
SECTION B
S TEP
B.10c
FIG. 17-8 - Setting a square baluster in a round hole
FIG. 17-10 - Mounting forged iron newels on intermediate landings
Riser