Building Wooden Balusters

Balusters provide character as well as support to any balustrade. While balusters are most commonly purchased pre-made, many homeowners are now opting to make their own. However, because of the load-bearing nature of the baluster, it is important to build an object that is solid and will endure against the conditions you plan to have your balustrade in. A balustrade that is primarily for decoration indoors can be made of softer, more decorative wood, and does not have to be as solid. A balustrade that will provide support, either for people or for some other object, will need to be made of a stronger, perhaps less attractive, wood. However, it's still possible to create attractive, personalized balusters while meeting these criteria.

Process

Step 1 - Decide on Materials and Design

You can make a baluster out of virtually every kind of wood. However, the kind of wood you use depends on your own needs. Balusters for indoor use can be made of softer, less durable woods such as maple, but balusters that will be used outside (such as in a deck) would be best made in pressure-treated lumber.

In addition, you must decide before you begin your project what you want your baluster to look like. You can decide on a very simple kind, or you can create a very intricate design. The more intricate you make your design, the more difficult it will be to carve, and the more difficult it will be to maintain uniformity among your balusters. More complex designs will also require more tools.

Step 2 - Carving

In order to create your balusters, you must first use your router to carve a dummy baluster. With the router, you can hollow out areas or round out edges and corners. You can achieve many pleasing designs with the router alone; however, for very intricate designs, you will probably require additional tools. When you're satisfied with the design, you can use sandpaper to smooth out any coarse edges and rough spots. You can spin it on a lathe and sand it, or you can keep it stationary while sanding it. If the design of your baluster is simple, using the lathe will be a good time saver. However, if your baluster has many complex edges and intricate designs, it is better to sand it by hand, as this will allow you a much higher level of precision.

Once you have your first baluster finished, you can use it to create a template and then duplicate. If you do not wish to design your own baluster, you can create a template from a purchased baluster.

Step 3 - Finish

Once your balusters are finished, you can seal them, stain them or paint them according to your designs. As when you were choosing the kind of wood, you will need to be sure that the seal you are treating the baluster with is compatible with the environment you are putting it in. More delicate woods will require more maintenance, and it is important that you frequently check on your balusters to be sure that the integrity of your balustrade is not being degraded.