How to Install a Handrail Using a Miter Box

A mitered handrail adds a finished touch to a stairwell.

Although handrails on stairs are a necessity to provide stability and safety to stair climbers, utility doesn't have to translate into an unsightly addition to your stairwell. Careful selection of a handrail that fits the design of your home is the first step to installing a pleasant looking handrail, using a miter box to create tight, clean joints is the second step in making sure your handrail looks nicer than a chunk of wood slapped against the wall.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Miter box
• Hammer
• 1.5-inch nail
• Wood glue
• C-clamps
• Carpenter's saw
• Handrail
• Mounting fasteners

Instructions

1. Measure length of handrail you need. Handrails ship in standard lengths, though these might not suit your stairwell perfectly. Using a tape measure, measure the length of wall upon which you plan to hang the handrail.

2. Cut handrail to fit. Mark off the same length you just measured on your handrail. These marks should be on the stair-side (rather than wall-side) edge of the handrail. Angle your cut so that your measurements are on the long side of the rail, use the miter box's 45-degree cut to angle both edges. You'll be left with a handrail with a long edge and two angles that face inward.

3. Cut corner pieces. Using the 45-degree angle that opposes the one used on each end of the handrail cut the edges of the corner to fit snugly against each end handrail. Standard mounting hardware is flexible enough to mount a handrail 3-3.5 inches from the wall. Split this difference by cutting corners to 3.25 inches. Use the perpendicular cut on the miter box to square off the end of the corner that will attach to the wall.

4. Fit corners on handrail. The mitered sections will fit cleanly together into a 90-degree bend. Apply glue to the edges of the handrail and corner and fit them together. Tack the construction together using a single 1.5-inch nail on the underside of the handrail. Clamp the joint together and allow glue to dry.

5. Using your mounting hardware, affix the handrail to the wall so that the flat edges of the corners are flush with the wall.

Tips & Warnings

• If you plan to paint or finish your handrail, do so before you mount it to the wall.

References

• Online Tips: Mitered Handrail Corners
• Ron Hazelton: How to Build a Porch Stairway
• CP StairMasters: Stairway Systems