When a construction worker or woodworker uses the term
truing a post, it could mean two different things. We're going to focus
on the method used for building handrails, but the other one is actually
used, while making the post.
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Stair Handrailing Problems
The picture above provides you with a view of two posts, if you're
looking at them, from directly above. It's not uncommon to find a slight
variation, over long distances or even smaller ones, when building
anything.
If you install a wood newel post at the top and bottom of a six-foot
long handrail and you're having problems with the posts, connecting
squarely to the banister, you will need to true the posts.
How Do You True Two Posts?
There are different ways that you can make individual posts line up
correctly, squarely and perfectly straight with the other ones. The most
effective way I found is to install the banister and then simply turn
the newel post into its position.
However, this might making some adjustments at the bottom of the post.
There's a good chance that you will need to readjust the structural
connecting point, for the newel post, before you can continue building
the rest of the handrail.
This isn't going to be easy and the difficulty for truing a post is
going to depend upon how well you have assembled the stairway handrail
system, up to this point. If you've done a great job and your newel
posts are extremely sturdy, this could take some time.
Doing It Right The First Time
Make sure that they're perfectly straight and line up, the first time.
You can do this by using a straight edge or a long level. Set the
straight edge next to the side of the newel post and make sure that they
line up perfectly, before finishing any structural attachments, to the
rest of the stairway.
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