Fixing loose stair balusters?

[jmhill]

Hi,

I have an oak staircase some of the balusters are loose and rattle. The gap on the loose ones is tiny, less than a millimetre on most. I want to avoid taking them out and refitting them. I could glue them at the bottom but this would be tricky at the top. Is there a trick to shimming them, or something I can use to shim them with so the shim won’t show?

Thanks,

Job

 

[foxhole]

You could secure with a panel pin, I have used a pin pusher to insert into pre drilled holes on the sticks, then push up into rail. Heads can be driven in with nail punch ( large masonry nail makes a good punch) pin hole can then be hidden with a colour matched wax stick.

 

[jmhill]

Hi,

Thanks do you mean drill the baluster at an angle so the pin goes into the side and out of the top, or bottom?

Jon

 

[big-all]

if you are varnishing or painting them you could be over generous in those areas work it in and clean up the excess with the brush

 

[foxhole]

Hi,

Thanks do you mean drill the baluster at an angle so the pin goes into the side and out of the top, or bottom?

Jon

Yes that’s correct.