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+-- Thread: Let's talk about Balusters (/showthread.php?tid=7351091)
Let's talk about Balusters - TFM - 11-04-2019
I'm restoring a Victorian house and would like to replace my porch railings (which are simple turned spindle balusters) with flat sawn balusters similar to the one in this picture. I figure I'll need around 50 of them which would be very costly if I purchased them from some of the suppliers I've found in internet searches. So, being a woodworker, I thought I might try cutting the patterns out myself. Has anyone done this and if so can give me some guidance or tips? I'm also wondering if a CNC machine could crank these out?
Tim
RE: Let's talk about Balusters - Roly - 11-04-2019
(11-04-2019, 09:56 AM)TFM Wrote: I'm restoring a Victorian house and would like to replace my porch railings (which are simple turned spindle balusters) with flat sawn balusters similar to the one in this picture. I figure I'll need around 50 of them which would be very costly if I purchased them from some of the suppliers I've found in internet searches. So, being a woodworker, I thought I might try cutting the patterns out myself. Has anyone done this and if so can give me some guidance or tips? I'm also wondering if a CNC machine could crank these out?
Tim
Depends on what pattern you like, this one
![[Image: how-to-build-flat-sawn-baluster-railings...C898&ssl=1]](https://i2.wp.com/www.prettyhandygirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/how-to-build-flat-sawn-baluster-railings.jpg?resize=511%2C898&ssl=1)
would be easy to cut out. Roly
RE: Let's talk about Balusters - Splinter Puller - 11-04-2019
pattern following bit with a router to clean up blanks you rough cut with a jig saw. It will just take a bit of persistence. Make a decent pattern and get to work.
RE: Let's talk about Balusters - TFM - 11-05-2019
(11-04-2019, 01:26 PM)Splinter Puller Wrote: pattern following bit with a router to clean up blanks you rough cut with a jig saw. It will just take a bit of persistence. Make a decent pattern and get to work.
Splinter, I have very little experience with (electric) routers. What is a pattern following bit?
RE: Let's talk about Balusters - TFM - 11-05-2019
(11-04-2019, 01:26 PM)Splinter Puller Wrote: pattern following bit with a router to clean up blanks you rough cut with a jig saw. It will just take a bit of persistence. Make a decent pattern and get to work.
Never mind Splinter, I saw some examples on Utube. Me thinks the key to this is an extremely smooth and accurate pattern. Thanks for the tip!
RE: Let's talk about Balusters - Stwood_ - 11-05-2019
Mark one, then stack 4-5 together and bandsaw those all at once. Repeat......