Making balusters from wood with your own hands video

The classic design of fencing for staircase structures is figured wooden posts. Making balusters is a rather complex process that requires high precision, as well as compliance with certain technical standards and rules. After all, they perform not only a decorative function. Balusters are, first of all, a supporting structural element of the fence that supports the railing. Hand-made support posts will become an exquisite decoration of any interior. For their manufacture, pine, birch, oak, and beech wood are often used. Wooden posts can be given different shapes. Unlike concrete products, on a pliable wooden surface, you can depict the most elaborate patterns or carve figures inspired by nature itself. Before answering the question: “How to make balusters?”, Let’s try to understand their types and features.

Making a screw baluster

Recommendations for installing balusters

Before starting work, the master needs to remember the simple rules for installing the staircase structure:

• maximum distance between balusters 150 mm;
• For any assembly methods, be sure to use a layer of wood glue - this will protect against unpleasant squeaking when loosening threaded connections and will increase the reliability of the connection;
• maximum railing height 900 mm;
• installation begins with the installation and fastening of the outer support pillars of the span;
• At the ends of the balusters, holes are pre-drilled, the diameter of which is 2–3 mm smaller than that of self-tapping screws and studs.

You can make balusters yourself, but you need skill in working with woodworking machines and performing painting work on wood. Simple flat stands can be made by any home craftsman who knows how to work with a jigsaw and a grinding machine. We recommend that you first practice and make a simple fence on a terrace or in a garden gazebo, and then start building a complex staircase structure.

DIY technology for making wooden balusters

If desired, you can make balusters for the stairs yourself

The classic design of fencing for staircase structures is figured wooden posts. Making balusters is a rather complex process that requires high precision, as well as compliance with certain technical standards and rules. After all, they perform not only a decorative function. Balusters are, first of all, a supporting structural element of the fence that supports the railing.

Hand-made support posts will become an exquisite decoration of any interior. For their manufacture, pine, birch, oak, and beech wood are often used. Wooden posts can be given different shapes. Unlike concrete products, on a pliable wooden surface, you can depict the most elaborate patterns or carve figures inspired by nature itself.

Manufacturing of concrete balusters and their installation

Concrete supports
Concrete supports are used to construct stair railings, fencing for balconies and gazebos. They are used to decorate facades. Making concrete balusters with your own hands, for example for a staircase, is not difficult. The main thing is to adhere to a certain order.

1. Preparatory stage - purchasing cement, preparing sand, preparing tools, etc.
2. Making molds for casting. To speed up the process, one mold can be designed to cast an entire section of fencing.
3. Preparing the solution for pouring.
4. Pouring concrete into molds and reinforcing it.
5. Drying the supports and removing them from the mold.

To install fences, first of all, mark the steps and drill installation holes in them. The diameter of the drilled holes should be slightly larger than the diameter of the reinforcement protruding from the base of the support. Then concrete is poured into these holes and the posts (or an entire section) are installed in place. In this case, each support or section is plumbed vertically. Excess concrete is removed.

After the concrete in the holes has hardened, railings are attached to the fence - they are put on the reinforcement protruding from the top of each post or section.

Wooden balusters: design and functionality

Before answering the question: “How to make balusters?”, Let’s try to understand their types and features.

Design features and types of wooden balusters

To suit the design decision, you can make wooden balusters of any shape and texture. However, in the design of support posts for filling fences, there are three parts:

• base - the bottom of the column;
• body - the middle part, usually made with decorative elements;
• the upper support part, on which the fence handrail is attached, is symmetrical to the base.

Baluster structure

According to the manufacturing method, balusters are carved, turned and milled. Depending on your wishes, they can be given any shape. Most often they are:

• in the form of a square or rectangle;

Square balusters

Flat balusters

Spiral balusters

Cone-shaped balusters

Square posts are the simplest option, suitable for making railing supports with your own hands. Using a jigsaw, flat balusters are cut from the boards according to the template. More labor-intensive and complex to make are carved posts, which require manual application of various ornaments. The use of special carpentry machines greatly simplifies the production of wooden balusters. Using modern multi-axis numerical control machines, columns with fine threaded elements are created.

Turning balusters on a CNC machine

The main stages of making balusters

Having your own small workshop, as well as following the established rules for making support posts, you can decorate the staircase structure with your own hands. To do this, the master will need a lathe or drill, a metal rod for fastening a wooden workpiece, sharpening, flat or semicircular chisels, and paint and varnish materials.

Important!

When carrying out carpentry work, safety regulations must be observed. When working with machines, it is recommended to use gloves and special devices to protect the torso, eyes and neck.

First of all, you need to decide on the material for making balusters. In this case, you need to take into account what material the staircase structure itself is made of, the fastening features, and also observe the general architectural style of the room.

Balusters should harmoniously complement the architectural style of the room

The shape of the baluster is pre-developed. In accordance with the dimensions of the fence, the parameters of the columns are calculated. Next, blanks with a square cross-section of a given size are made from the edged boards using a machine with circular saws. If you have a cross-cut saw, it can be used to quickly saw blanks to length, removing wood defects and chips.

Before manufacturing, decide on the shape and size of the baluster

A lathe is used to form the support, body and main part of the baluster. If necessary, it can be replaced with a mechanism built with your own hands from an electric drill.

Drill lathe

A machine with a copier greatly simplifies the process of making balusters. First, prepare a template and fix it on the machine next to the workpiece. A special roller moves along the template, giving the same shape to the wooden blank. After giving the column the intended shape according to the approved sketch, they begin to perform decorative work. The carving or ornament is applied manually, treated with impregnations, painted or varnished.

After you have given the baluster the required shape, you can begin to carve and treat the surface with an antiseptic and varnish

Features of manufacturing flat balusters

To make flat supports for railings with your own hands, you will need a marker, paper, a jigsaw, and boards. To process finished products you will need sandpaper or a sanding machine, antiseptic, varnish and brushes.

To construct a drawing, use a large sheet of paper on which a real-size rack template is drawn.

To begin, select a template for the balusters

With the help of voids in wood, various patterns can be formed. A paper template is cut out along the contour, placed on the board canvas and outlined with a marker.

If you have decided what your baluster will look like, cut out a template from paper or plywood

Next, place the template on the canvas from which the baluster will be cut and trace it with a marker or pencil

Next, a baluster is cut out using a jigsaw along the drawn lines. The resulting blanks are thoroughly sanded. Sharp contour transitions and places difficult to reach with a grinder are best treated with fine abrasive sandpaper. Finished wooden fencing parts are coated with an antiseptic. Then the varnish is applied and left until it dries completely and harmful fumes disappear for about 1.5 days.

After you have made the balusters, you can begin painting work.

Manufacturing of concrete balusters for fencing

To install fencing for external stairs, it is more advisable to use concrete elements. The production process is greatly simplified by the availability of ready-made plastic forms with the most popular sketches in construction stores.

Today on the market there are many molds for casting concrete balusters

If the existing assortment for some reason does not fit the main design, the mold is made by hand.

Advice!

Before you begin making supporting elements, you should study the process of making concrete mortar.

There are two options for making concrete supports. When beating balusters, a wet mixture of cement and sand is used. Before placing the mixture into the mold, iron pins are placed at the top and bottom for subsequent installation of the finished products. They should protrude by 8 and 5 cm, respectively. The form is placed vertically and, adding small portions, the concrete solution is compacted by blowing with a pipe. After filling, the mold is removed and the column is left in a vertical position for final hardening.

Baluster beating technology

To cast concrete columns you will need a mold with a lid. A solution of standard consistency is poured inside and the mold is closed. The workpiece is rotated in a horizontal position to ensure uniform filling. After 2 hours, the mold is removed and the baluster is dried.

Casting concrete balusters

Wood products are less resistant to environmental influences compared to concrete fencing elements, so they require special care and careful cleaning. To extend the life of wooden structures made by yourself, it is necessary to use special antiseptic and antifungal agents.

In order for wooden balusters to last longer, they must be regularly treated with protective agents.

Different types of wood are susceptible to rot to varying degrees, so even after protective treatment you need to monitor the level of humidity in the room.

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Metal balusters

Metal balusters must be at least 4 cm thick
Metal balusters are a beautiful decorative fencing for stairs and flights of stairs. A metal support can be made of the following materials:

• Stainless steel. Resistant to corrosion and withstands large temperature changes.
• Cast iron. Such columns can be given any shape; they do not lose their original appearance for many decades. Cast iron elements go well with any materials.
• Iron and its alloys, for example, balusters made of profile pipes, etc.

All metal balusters have high fire resistance and strength. When processing metal, it is relatively easy to give it any shape.

Processing methods

Metal for balusters is processed by cold or hot forging, as well as stamping.

The stamping method involves the production of a large number of identical parts necessary for arranging large areas. In most cases, it is waste-free and therefore economical. When using automatic machines, the cost of balusters is minimal.

When making metal balusters with your own hands using the hot forging method, the workpiece is initially heated to a certain temperature, which allows the metal to be forged. Hand forging metal is a long and expensive process, but it allows you to obtain an exclusive fence.

Cold forging is a cheap and widely available method for making balusters. The material is processed on special machines using various cutting tools. With this type of processing, heating of the metal is not required, manual labor is reduced to a minimum.

Installation of metal balusters

Metal fences can be of any size. To make them look aesthetically pleasing, the thickness of the supports should be within 4-8 cm.

Installation of metal structures depends on their location, weight, and overall dimensions. There are 4 types of fastening:

• concreting;
• anchor;
• flanged;
• anti-vandal.

Anti-vandal fastening is used when arranging street barriers. Concreting is used when it is necessary to install heavy cast iron fences. An anchor type of fastening may be needed when installing small-sized fences.

The easiest way to attach metal balusters is electric welding.

Sets of ready-made metal balusters are always sold with fastening elements for any material: hinges, brackets, support fastening parts, bolts and self-tapping screws.

How to carve a baluster with your own hands?

You either need a lathe (there is also a CNC one, there are simpler ones for home use), or you need this kind of lathe attachment (attachment) for a drill.

We harvest wood, bars (timber) that are dry, without knots or cracks.

Balusters are not machined in a single copy (a baluster is one of the elements of the staircase railing), that is, we determine their quantity.

It makes sense to immediately make a template for making balusters; all balusters will be made according to this template.

Next, we fix the workpiece (block) in a lathe, or attachments for a drill.

We turn on the machine (drill) and use turning semicircular chisels (cutters) for rough processing of the workpiece.

First, use a semicircular cutter to give the workpiece a cylindrical (round, rounded) shape.

Next, on this blank using a pencil (focusing on the template, see

above) make marks for the shaped cutouts of the baluster.

That's it, then the cutter makes notches according to the marks.

The last stage is finishing grooving, grinding.

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Mounting methods

Regardless of the design, balusters for stairs are secured in three main ways.

On a tenon or dowel

This method will allow you to quickly install the staircase structure. Furniture and other wooden structures are assembled using cylindrical dowels. For better fixation, wooden parts are additionally glued with PVA wood glue or other compounds. Holes are drilled on the staircase structure and at the end of the balusters and connected using wooden cylinders.

The disadvantage of this method is that the connection is permanent, and if it breaks, you will have to drill out the remaining dowels and repeat the assembly. To fix a fault in the structure, you will need to completely remove the railing and make repairs, so this type of connection is rarely used.

On a stiletto heel

It is possible to attach balusters to a stud in structures of any complexity. This is one of the most popular ways to assemble a stair railing. A hole along the length is drilled in the baluster into which a mounting pin is inserted. When working, mark the fastening points on the steps or deck boards, and drill larger holes for free passage of the studs.

A groove is drilled on the side of the end part of the step in the center of the hole to install the fastening nut. Before assembly, for better fixation, a layer of glue is applied to the parts, tightly connected along the marking contour and the thread of the metal rod is tightened. It is more difficult to secure the fence to the railing. To do this, it is recommended to use special screw-in hinges. With the help of such a device, the structure is easily and quickly connected; just press the handrail tightly and secure it with a nut.

Self-tapping screws

The most universal method of installing staircase structures and railings to steps and strings is using self-tapping screws. In this case, several assembly options are used:

• with fastening through balusters;
• using a base plate;
• using direct fixation of parts and assemblies.

Each method involves fastening wooden balusters through steel plates that securely hold the segment. This is due to the use of 4 support points (screws). With the help of a decorative detail of the baluster it is possible to hide the attachment point.

On a staircase that is not equipped with risers, the parts are fastened together on the underside without disturbing the overall appearance of the structure. To secure the racks to the bowstring, rotating elements are used, which allow you to fix the balusters to the side of the stringer. Using this technique, it is possible to expand the usable area of ​​the steps by placing the structure at the end of the staircase or fence.

Advice! When trimming and adjusting balusters, it is important to prevent chips and cracks on decorative parts. To do this, you will need to wrap the ends with tape or tape. After this, when trimming with a hacksaw or jigsaw, the likelihood of chipping is reduced to zero.

Methods for making balusters

Making balusters will not be difficult for you if you have woodworking skills.

Balusters are vertical supports that are important elements of the staircase. They perform a number of functions:

• balusters are needed to support the handrail;
• they are designed to ensure the safety of people climbing stairs.

Balusters are an important part of room decor. They consist of several structural elements. The base is a stand that is installed on the steps. Speaking about the central part of the vertical racks, keep in mind that their functions are exclusively protective and decorative.

Baluster manufacturing technologies

To produce wood racks you will need a machine. The following production technologies can be mentioned:

1. The most common type is the production of turned products.
2. Milling. In this case, cutting is done on the racks. Decorative elements adorn the product.
3. Wooden balusters with carvings. Today, carvings are not applied manually, but by processing the workpiece on high-precision machines.

If you look at the cross section, you can distinguish the following shapes:

The device of a machine for milling balusters.

In addition, flat racks are often made, which are widely used in public buildings and private homes. Flat balusters are installed tightly to each other. This approach allows you to create quite complex ornaments that are large in area.

The production of flat balusters from wood does not require much time. The process begins with preparing workpieces of the required size. Additionally, you need to select a pattern and then create a design based on it. After this, take a sample and apply a contour to the workpiece. Next, you must take a jigsaw and cut out the workpiece. Then start finishing, using cutters to process all the elements of the balusters.

Carry out the work so that all parts are symmetrical. When the process is completed, glue the elements and install the structure. Cover the balusters with varnish.

How to choose lumber for the production of balusters

The final cost and performance characteristics of the product depend on the choice of lumber. Craftsmen advise making balusters and steps from the same type of wood, this helps prevent deformation of the structure in the future.

For the production of posts, it is better to choose lumber from the following wood species:

• nut;
• beech;
• oak;
• ash;
• larch,
• pine.

Cutters for making balusters.

To produce wooden balusters, it is better to buy lumber from hardwood. For example, oak is very suitable; it is wear-resistant. Oak is not susceptible to rotting and will last a long time. Twisted columns are made from it.

You will get almost the same product from beech wood. It is plastic, which is important when processing products. Beech elements can be easily bent. The blanks are impregnated with various compounds, this increases their service life. Finished balusters are varnished.

Among the disadvantages of beech, it is worth noting that it is deformed during the drying process. Beech is excellent for simulating mahogany and walnut products.

Ash wood can be used to make stands. Externally, this tree is similar to oak, but is considered less durable and hard. The wood is quite elastic and dense. Ash does not rot, which significantly extends the service life of products.

Birch. Balusters are made from it the least often, since this breed has average density characteristics. Wood tends to crack and is also susceptible to rotting. However, a birch product is easy to glue, polish and paint.

Balusters can be made of larch. When finished, they have a brown color or tint. This species is less durable than oak. However, over time, strength increases. Larch is almost not deformed, but sometimes drying can cause internal cracks.

Wooden balusters are also made from pine. The material is easy to polish. The products are resistant to temperature changes. The disadvantage is that the paint penetrates the wood unevenly, and this leads to a decrease in the quality of the coating.

Production stages

Variants of baluster shapes.

Balusters come in different shapes. Because of this, the techniques for making balusters with your own hands are different and have their own characteristics. For example, flat balusters are made from polished boards, or bars are used in their work.

Carefully cut the board. Using the template, transfer the outline to each piece. After that, cut out the elements. To get the job done faster, use a jigsaw.

You can assemble several pieces of board and securely fix them in place. Apply a contour to the upper section and cut out the blanks. This way you will receive several products at once. Process the cuts and sand with sandpaper.

Another way to produce products with your own hands is to work with solid timber. Once it has been given its general shape, you can cut it into several elements. Next, the workpieces need to be processed. The construction of a staircase from such elements will not be very difficult.

To produce square posts, first buy timber of the required cross-section, then cut it into pieces of the required height. The balusters will be processed by hand. As for round products, bars are needed for their production.

Using a machine for making balusters will speed up the work.

Video about making wooden balusters:

Variety of shapes

A beautiful baluster, regardless of whether it is wooden or plastic, will decorate the stairs in the house. The design of the decorative stand is conventionally divided into several parts:

• the lower part, which is attached to the step or floor covering - the base;
• the central segment with decorations and carvings is the body;
• The upper support is designed to connect to the railing and increase the area of ​​the joint.

Important! When making or purchasing ready-made decorative parts, you need to decide on their length. The size depends on the height of the staircase railing, but the balusters should have a small margin in length to make corner cuts when joining with the overall structure.

According to their shape, wooden products are divided into cylindrical, ellipsoidal, rectangular and figured.

A cylindrical baluster made of wood is a classic type of product on which various decoration and decorative elements are made. The pattern consists of various differences in thickness. Such parts can only be made with special cutters on a lathe.

Elliptical or rectangular balusters are made according to a sketch using a jigsaw. Various designs are made on the body using a manual milling cutter or CNC machines.

Figured stands with elements of hand-carved wood are made from expensive types of wood (hard fruit or exotic).

Manufacturing of flat balusters

No less attractive, but more affordable to make with your own hands, are flat balusters. To work, you will need boards of the required thickness or sheets of plywood, templates and a jigsaw.

The essence of the method is quite simple - flat products are cut out of wood using a jigsaw using a jigsaw. The figured pattern can run only along the edges of the baluster or along the entire canvas of the workpiece.

The production of flat balusters for stairs is carried out in the following sequence:

1. Creating a sketch. There are quite a lot of designs and ornaments for slotted carvings on the Internet. The life-size pattern you like is transferred to cardboard or paper.

2. The cut out template is applied to the workpiece, and the outline is outlined with a pencil.
3. The pattern is cut along the contour with a jigsaw. In the through pattern, holes are first drilled with a drill so that the jigsaw file can be inserted.

   
   Cutting flat balusters on a special machine

4. The edges of the product are processed with sandpaper or using a special attachment mounted on a drill.
5. When installing balusters on stairs, the products are glued together with glue. After the glue has set, the railings are glued onto the flat balusters.