What angle do you cut a handrail?

Start by cutting a 45-degree angle on one end of the stair railing and rest this end on the floor. This cut is for the short return to the wall.

Do handrails need a return?

Handrail extensions must return to a wall, itself or the walking surface. Note: While it is a common practice to leave a gap between a wall return and the wall, some inspectors have rejected this as they consider it a return toward the wall and not a return to the wall.

Why do handrails need to return to wall?

Handrail returns are the individual segments connecting the end of a railing to the wall, a newel post, or a surface (like a sidewalk). Returns help protect individuals from the sharp edge of the rail; they also serve as a support system for individuals with mobility issues.

How do you join two handrail pieces together?

You could also use a rail bolt to join the two pieces by inserting it in a T-slot under one side of the rail, or by drilling two perpendicular holes, and filling the exposed hole with a plug if it would be too visible to have an exposed T-slot. Rail bolts are simple, strong, and can be tightened as needed.

Where should a handrail start and end?

The railing must be continuous, starting at the nosing of the upper landing and extending at a minimum to the nosing of the lowest step or “riser”. For optimal safety, whenever possible the handrail should run the entire length of the Nosing Line.

How do you cut a handrail return for stairs?

Repeat for the bracket at the bottom of the stairs. Repeat Steps 6-10 for all remaining brackets between the top and bottom brackets. Miter cut a 12-inch long section of the remaining hand rail stock at a 45 degree angle for the hand railing return at the top of the railing.

How do you cut a handrail with a miter saw?

Mark the edges as rise and run, then connect the marks with a straight line to form a right triangle, then cut it out, and you’ve got a pitch block. To cut the angle of the handrail, place the hypotenuse, or rake, of the pitch block against the fence of a miter saw and adjust the blade angle to match the rise side of the pitch block.

How do you cut a 90 degree cut for hand rail?

Measure the distance between the installed hand rail and the wall and transfer that measurement to the miter cut section and make a pencil mark. Make a 90 degree cut–straight up and down, at the pencil mark. Dry fit the return to check for proper fit between the end of the railing and the wall. Place wood glue on the face of the mating miter cuts.

How do you make a handrail out of a bubble?

Set the handrail on the posts and mark the distance from the bottom post where the cut needs to be made (typically about 4 inches), leaving enough at the top to make a second cut. Either hang a plumb bob from that point or set a level on it and center the bubble. Draw the cut line along the string or the edge of the level.