These balusters were turned for a customer in San Francisco. The sort of odd thing about these is that although the center diameter is 1 3/4 inches the square ends (not shown) are 1 1/4 inches. That is why I am turning the center area separately. The square top and bottom will be added after.
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!
This set of Sapele exterior balusters went to a custom in Colorado Springs, CO. I thought they were somewhat unique. The original balusters were turned probably in the 20’s and these were designed to match the existing balusters (the white one). Ultimately they wound up on an exterior balcony in downtown Colorado Springs. They are only about 20 inches high by 3 1/2″ in diameter.
Sapele, by the way, is a import form Africa that looks much like mahogany but not as expensive. I weathers well out side. That is, it is rot resistant.
Sapele exterior Balusters
These are exterior balusters for a home in Atlanta. They measure 3 1/2″ X 30″ 170 pcs. They were designed by the architect, Laura Depree. The wood is Sapele, an African import that is very similar to mahogany. It holds up quite well outdoors and does not have a tendency to bleed through the paint as does Spanish Cedar.
Sapele Balusters 3 1/2\
These were ordered from a repeat customer in Mass. The twists are called rope twists as opposed to the more popular barley twists. Since the balusters were tapered I recommended the shallower rope twist. There are around 220 balusters for two stairways in this home. I hope to get pictures of the finished project. They usually do a beautiful job.
These are in soft maple.
These balusters went to a home in Aspen. I wanted to go to help with the installation but the contractor said I wasn’t needed. Oh well – maybe next time. These are large 2 1/2″ balusters that I think came out very well. I posted an image of the newels that went with this project but will post again.
These are exterior balusters that I reproduced for a customer on the East Coast. They are crafted in Spanish Cedar. Spanish Cedar is an import from South America that has gained in popularity among millworks companies in the US. Twenty years ago mostly boat builders used this wood because of the resistance to decay. I remember seeing SCedar in huge widths and thicknesses and lengths. You can still buy it that way but not as readily. If the smell doesn’t kill you, it is a fine wood for applications exposed to the weather. The downside is its tendency to bleed through the paint. A good oil primer is a plus.
The dark baluster is the original but you already knew that.
In this little video I am turning two different large (2 1/2″) stair balusters. the first was for a customer in Mississippi. I really love the heavy vase shape with the one inch pin tops. They are in poplar.
In the second part of the video we are turning red oak balusters for a customer near New Orleans. The red oak used was from his own property. He had been saving it for some time to use and finally got around to bringing the wood to me. I had turned a similar pattern in 1 3/4″ but modified the pattern to accommodate the larger 2 1/2″ size.
These balusters were actually turned by a friend of mine in Massachusetts. I designed them to replicate those in the Silas Dean Museum – a historical home named after Mr Dean (he was apparently some significant American figure). Staircrafters in Washington State installed the three stairways and graciously sent final pictures (before the painters got to them).
There are actually three different balusters here – a plain, a barley twist and a fluted twist.
The last stairway to the third floor has plain only
A close up right off the lathe.
The image below is a set of alternating balusters crafted for a customer a year or so back. The profile of the balusters is the same except for the center part.
The twist on these is called a barley twist as opposed to rope twist in the post below.
These are 1 3/4″ at the squares with a 3/4″ pin on top.
Below is a finished project with square top balusters. Thanks Jess for the final pictures – Anera Group
