These alder stair newels were turned for a customer in the Colorado Springs, CO area. They measure 5 1/2 inches X 44 inches. The newel cap is not shown but will match the handrail sample sent to me (below). Obviously the newels are over-the-post newels. The newel cap (with matching handrail profile) will be mitered to receive the handrail.
We were just contracted by a customer to make these poplar balusters and starter newel for a home in Connecticut. The post-to-post newel has an octagon base middle and top. The top id quite narrow and will require the handrail to attach horizontally. As such, an up easing will have to be used. The handrail attaching on the rake angle would be too wide for the newel top. The newel measures 8″ at the widest. The design is based on the image from a magazine article and came off quite nicely. The balusters are a based on the image from the same magazine article. The pattern was a common pattern used at the turn of the last century and prior to.
I did not turn these. My partner in crime (turning crime that is) turned these. Great job Walter!
These fluted newels went to a customer in Aspen, Co. The large fluted newels are 7 inches in diameter. The shorter non-fluted newels are 6 inches in diameter. I questioned whether they really wanted the flat capitals on top of the newels. It will probably become a place to set things on top of – cups, clothes, etc.
I felt sorry for the installers knowing there was no suitable place to attach the handrail. The installer was forced to “cope” the handrail to a round, fluted profile, not the easiest method I could think of to say the least.
fluted newel
We have uploaded a few photo album sets on various places on the world wide web. I thought some of our customers might like to see them in total – nothing like a picture to get the creative juices flowing. The pictures contained in the album below are a random set of the stair newels and other wood turnings we have produced in our Baton Rouge, LA shop. Some pictures are of “one offs” – newels that were turned for one customer and never produced again. Others have been produced multiplied times over. You can follow the link below to see a good sampling of our stair newels.
I occasionally like to look at newel and baluster designs online to “rev” up my creative juices since I often am called upon to design both for my customers. I found this beauty on Jerry West’s Flickr account and thought I would post it here. Hat’s off to him for a fine design and execution. You will enjoy seeing some of the other pieces he has posted in his account. Click on the link below the image.
walnut newel
These stair newels were made for a customer in North Carolina. They were designed to emulate a pair of cherry kitchen island legs that someone else had turned for him some time back. The newels were going into three stairways that he was in the process of redoing in his 8-10 year old home. They are crafted from mahogany and are 6″ wide X various lengths to accommodate his unique situation. As you can see they are over-the-post designs with newel caps that will match 6310 style handrails. For an explanation of how these caps attach to the handrails you might like to visit here: Installing newel caps
Rope Twisted Newels
These poplar stair newels were created for a customer to be painted. They are over-the-post newels that sport red oak newel caps that will be joined to a 6310 style red oak handrail. Though the newels are painted, the handrail and newel caps will be stained. I have a good article with images on explaining how to join a newel cap to a handrail/handrail fitting. You can read it here: Newel Cap Joinery.
The smaller newels are 5 1/2″, the larger are 7″ at the squares. They can be seen on my web site here:N105 fluted newel - N109 Fluted newel
Over-the-Post Fluted Newels
Pictured below is one of the latest sets of stair newels we have turned out in our shop. These are turned from 8/4 mahogany in two different sizes. The larger 5 1/2″ newel will be used foro the base of the stairs. The 3 1/2″ newels will be used for landings and balconies. It’s hard to tell but there are five pieces that are split in half which be used at terminal points of the handrail. They will be attached directly to the wall. These are , of course, over-the-post newels and will require a handrail fitting attached to the top of the newels to attach to the handrail.
mahogany stair newels
The image below depicts a Gothic newel design I’m working on. I got the idea from the fence (really the fence post) that surrounds the old State Capitol building in Baton Rouge, LA. I love the pattern and hope to add it to my newel designs eventually. I still have to come up with a cap and proper base.
gothic fence post
gothic fence post
gothic_newel
The shank or shaft of the fence post is four sided. It alternates bead and cove (better seen in the bottom drawing)
This is a balcony detail that I really like. Most balcony rail heights are only 36inches high because of the minimum height code requirement. Consequently most installers cut the newels down to accommodate the rail height. This little drawing depicts a way to keep your newels long by adding goose neck fittings to the handrail. The newels are then kept long and tall. Makes for a nice show don’t you think?
balcony detail
