FTF #54 How To Install Handrail Posts, Quick And Easy 

You put more time and effort into that post than a lot of guys put into complete houses. You are very professional. Great attention to detail!

Tip for cutting threaded rod and bolts. Have a nut on the end you plan to keep (maybe both ends) so that when you are done cutting you can slowly turn the nut over the cut end to repair the threads. Don't fully remove the bolt until the threads feel correct. Just work the nut almost off and then back on and back and forth to clean up the threads.

Six years later the algo brought me here. Brilliant option for setting posts, waterproofing the ends. Thank you for posting!

I know this is a 4 year old video but I only found it a few weeks ago and I keep coming back to watch it. I've tried, seems like, every kind of deck post install possible but have never been really satisfied with them. This intrigues me, so tomorrow I will be using your system to install 6 post on a small porch. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.

I've been in carpentry for many years and your teaching is great!! The way you explain the reasoning as to why this way is better than notching the decking around the post makes it last much longer and easy to repair years from now. Great work!

Well I've just spent my Saturday morning here in the UK watching quite a few of your vids. I am in awe of your skill level and if you don't mind me saying in someone so young. Your attention to detail and drive to do it right is a thrill to watch and I feel privileged to see you in action. All the very best to you and your family. Regards Mike

I just happened across your site and for a DIY'er such as myself who uses the old school concept of work smarter not harder, this was incredibly helpful! I have found many ways to save time and energy over the years and dealt with ridicule for my techniques, but they ALWAYS passed code and provided me with happy customers. Thanks for posting this and I look forward to reviewing the rest of your videos! Oh, also, thank you for tip on the wood files!!

I'm a tradesman carpenter as well and I love your attention to detail,it's what makes a mediocre job a great job,love your work

Larry haun was nailing down the last wall of the entire house, when that post was finished. But this is still phenomenal work and the attention to detail is *mwaaa*!

All you Nay Sayers. I have always done mine the old fashioned way or code way and I will say this. I recently built two decks. One a refurb and one completely new. I have always hated notching so I experimented on the refurb. I could push against, and snap right off, the old way. now with only this method and doubling the sill and screwing them together I could not even bend one over. Thank you samuraicarpenter for this great idea.

This video just solved the issue I was having. Going from a wood rail system to a vinyl rail system. Now the post trim will work for me. To much rain and sun(heat) in Jersey this summer. Thanks.

Good job dude. Love the way you mix modern and traditional methods for an optimum finish. Also good to see you working outside in sunshine rather than snow. 😎

That half lap corner detail is still the most brilliant thing I've seen!

You do amazing work and make it look awesome and super enjoyable at the same time. Thank you as this is a great tutorial. Keep em coming please. Very much appreciate your work, attitude and approach.

It is so good to watch someone who cares about doing things so precisely.

Bud been in the trade my whole life, And still learning!! Love your work!!!

That is some insanely great detail. 👍👍

Never thought of that application on an exterior deck. I do use that method on my interior newel posts on stairs. I'll have to try it sometime... when I'm not pressed for time that is.

I appreciate the way you think outside the "normal" construction box to create unique ways to attack problems we all know about but seldom take time to rectify. Just because it's always been done this way!

It's great that you put so much pride in work that s going to never get noticed by average people. Great craftsmanship sir

Hey Samurai You do a very professional job I like

This carpenter is fantastic at his job and so passionate and makes it fun to watch , His got an old head on young shoulders , I take my hat off to him , He is a real interesting guy . I love watching him !!!! From Michael Patrick .

Samurai’s rough and ready is everyone else’s perfect. Great vid as always.

Did this on a post i put in for my garden gate last night. Looks awesome!

A short length of hardwood dowel ripped down the center to fashion a semi circle makes for a good spacer inside your pocket hole and provides a flat surface for your washer.

A hole drilled even 6” deep into the bottom of the post requires a certain amount of luck to ensure that the rod and side hole are sufficiently aligned. This is a great idea for line posts as an alternative to setting posts through the deck or side mounting. I think a couple of jigs would make this more of a production technique. Some steel bushings set into thick solid stock using a drill press would make the post and deck drilling much faster, more accurate and damn near foolproof.

I just watched your CORNER video and subscribed… your work/skills speak for themselves. I’ve been doing this +30 years and the techniques in one short clip show what you can continue to learn. OUTSTANDING!

VERY COOL FIXTURE FOR DECK POSTS . I WAS TAUGHT TO LEAVE POST COME UP THROUGH DECK AND CUT DECK AROUND POST. THE WAY YOU DID THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN TO DO AND WILL TRY OUT ON MY NEXT BUILD . THANKS FOR THE TIP. GOD'S SPEED. FROM OHIO .

You've got a beautiful life brother. I love your videos.

I would love to see some side-by-side load testing for this method vs. the standard 2 through bolts through the side of the rim joist.

Samurai, you are a genius! Thank you for taking the time to make these videos. I like how you think and your attention to detail. Yoi shigoto o tsudzukeru.

I did about the same with my support posts for my patio cover. Solid as a rock. Nice job. Love your work.

I like the detail you put into the edges of the post and the top. I know that most customers don't appreciate the detail you put into your work and don't want to pay for it, but that's what makes you stand out above the competition. I don't what customers are like up there in BC, but here in Buffalo NY, there is a small segment of people who want to pay for the extra detail you put into all of your work. An elderly American missionary to china who did a lot of embroidery once said to me that that the back side of an embroidered piece is just as important as the front side as far as how it looks. That is how I do all of my work and will never get rich by doing it that way.

you do nice work, thanks for sharing

Man, I feel like I'm going to make my dream come true and build my workbench and make a new passion go alive :) Thank You for all Your inspiring videos!

Perfect! I have an older deck that, though otherwise sound, needs new posts and rails. Going to give this a try. Thanks!

" Quick And Easy" Damn, I like to what "time consuming and difficult" entails. Might have to be a multi-part series.

Samurai has so many building inspectors and engineers watching and commenting on his videos. I wonder how many people actually do this stuff for a living and know what they are talking about. When you do this type of work every day all day you develop an ability to make things that work.

I love that you take the time to explain everything as you're doing it. SUBSCRIBED!

This technique works like a champ! Solid as a rock! I just did this with 6x6 Cumuru posts. Used a wax end grain sealer for my end cuts instead of rubber. It was the fastest post install I’ve done out of three decks. Highly recommend it.

Magic schmagic. Bloody great work.

Good technique! Appreciate the craftsmanship!!! See too many guys just slap things together these days.

Well, I came looking for advice to install railings. I found an artist. Who has mastered his craft. Well done partner. Wish I could afford your services!

I used to do renovations and I can honestly say I've never seen such a post held in that way before. Way to do it.!!!

I heard that your bearings are bad in the DeWalt. I had the same thing happen to me. so I took them out cleaned them up looked for damage there was none. the grease had just dried out not a very good quality. I used a great synthetic grease and now my saw will start at below 0 if need be. you can get the seals off by using a fine pick then they'll snap back in place you might want spin them up to there will be some loss of grease just clean up and put back together. Nice job on the post and an inspiration for us all watching. I have the same Affliction you do perfectionism is a hard thing to live up to every time but I seem to do it as you do. thank you for your ideas and tutorials you make all of our work a little better.

Codes vary all over the country. In PA we have 1,256 various jurisdictions to deal with. 90% adopted the ICC codes but many with their own ordinances voted into law so always check with your AHJ. A variation would be to use his hollow chisel mortise in the shop to get the flat hole first then drill up into the void. It can then be plugged with a square 'Dutchman" with waterproof glue. They make those bolt and barrel quick connects for furniture and newel posts but that wouldn't work outdoors I don't think unless you can get it in ss. The base end grain can be primed or sealed to stop moisture migration, too but the membrane is a new twist. Wonder how well that galvanized coating on the all-thread will hold up in his damp environment with the tannic acid of the cedar. If no budget concerns, get 316 ss and it will last a century. What wasn't shown and is critical is the sub base the all thread nut and washer bear on. If this is thin or weak it could fail as the failure mode for this post system is tension on the rod which would tend to act as a lever. The force transferred might crush the fibers of the joist sufficiently that if it isn't dead center drilled it might fail. We've had a LOT of deck failures in the East with a lot of injuries so this is serious. One way to strengthen this system is to enlarge the footprint of the post by using a 6"x6", which spreads the load at the deck boards like a plinth. Nice to see a craftsman taking the time for little details. What you need to make for Alec Steele is a caddy for his hammers and drifts with a side holster for his water bottle and one on the other for his farrier's brush. Perhaps a rack, much like a bit index to hold all his hardies and fuller mandrels. Make it M&T in Greene x2 style. Enjoy your work Sammy.

I used this method two days ago. Perfect results! I did take extra time but worth it. I used a post sleeve after installation but my posts are secure and sturdy. Thanks for the idea.

genius way of setting posts. I have a large deck I'll be starting at my own place and will certainly be doing it this way. Great job!

I'm still waiting for the "quick and easy" part

Love the membrane trick. Wish I had thought of that when I built 3200 sq ft deck (40 X 80) for my parents house.

Your attention to details is unbelievable. Great work.

I like the shaping of the post. It's attention to detail that makes the difference between a good job and great job.

Sadly, I'm competing with 2 other quotes usually when I'm budgeting for a customers new deck and there is no money to pay me for my time to apply these thoughtful methods that do require you to slow down and create real woodwork. I did a full college apprenticeship and don't often have time to work the way I was trained.

..."Quick and easy"...2 days and 16 hours later one post installed.

Nice to see someone actually do things right. Thank you.

Love your videos Samurai, I'm a 26 year member of carpenters local #1977. I'm a metal stud and drywall carpenter and find what you do facinating! Greetings from beautiful Las Vegas Nevada brother!

I've never seen anybody build a deck with wood that looked so green before😥

Great looking job! I guess my only potential concern is with boring a hole completely through a load-bearing span. I know it is a double rim joist, so it probably is fine, but still I just wonder what an inspector or an engineer would say.

This dude is a master carpenter it's quick and easy to him not the average homeowner

An Amazing technique with exceptional Craftsmanship! Well done, Sir!

Alec Steele says he wants a tool vest like yours for his hammers and chisels.

I'm always expecting the samurai to say "Damn I'm Pretty" Johnny Bravo style lol

Your wood working skills are awesome!!

I started doing carpentry 30 years ago and I just want to say you do very fine work.

This dude obviously gets paid by the hour.

Looks great! But quick and easy?!🤣🤣🤣

I'm glad to see you wearing hearing protection and it was a good video to help us young Samurai

Thanks, I wish that I knew of this method thirty-five years ago but it's never too late. Nice job you are doing there, Jesse.

“How to install handrails quick and easy” (in the event you have tons of professional woodworking tools, or own a carpentry business)

Pocket Screws?!? * Sharp intake of breath while clutching at pearls * :)

Unbelievable craftsmanship!

Great work! If the deck has a slight pitch to shed water, cut the post bottom to match that angle. Less shimming to get to plumb. Enjoyed the video!

insane in the brain. ...

In my experience the inspectors arent smart enough to tell which way the job is done once it is finished.

I love how you connect the post with all thread. Nice job

Thank you for sharing. Really nicely done. Your customers must be happy!

Samuriason what's your plan on the corner having post set back looks like 6 to 8 in

Pocket screws and needing shims? Starting to speak my language now!

Awesome video & info, thanks! Beautiful post, love the extra effort. Well done! And thanks for the lapel mic, superb audio! Can't believe how many videos are destroyed by short-sighted audio!

Nice job! Done neatly and professionally. I like your tutorial videos

more like Free Tip Saturday

wow, posted 1 minute ago and already 41 views when it opened for me. someone has got fans with nothing else to do. (yeah, I know, I am apparently in that group)

That was cool. I like the method that seems like that would hold up long-term. Deck is coming along nicely.

Quick and easy - whips out a whole workshop of tools that 99% dont have

You'll have to tighten that bolt over time as the joist shrinks.

"Super quick and convenient", that looked like a lot of time and effort for a deck post. Pilot hole + long lag bolt= done

that is a great technique--I'm getting ready to resurface our deck and refit handrails--thank you!!

ive done posts all kinds of different ways. never thought of doing them like this. awesome. and excellent video

what is quick and easy about that?

Double sided tape on the bottom of the post and four 18 gage brad nails toed in through the bottom of the post into the decking is all you need. more time to drink! no leaning on the rails!!!!

Love the POST idea...can't wait to try it out.👍👍

You make some great videos. I will probably be doing my own deck project, and I like the way you finished off that post.

Nice system but it wont pass inspection here in California.

“Not” quick and easy.

Love the craftsmanship! Work to be proud of for sure. I would plug the hole even though it’ll be covered up by the rails to prevent water intrusion.

Very good Idea. Working on a large deck myself and will try this on my railings. 👍

Why in the hell you want a post right there instead of the corner?

I personally feel like that's a lot of bullshit..but, to each his own.

Very helpful. I've been looking for something like this...thank you!

Hello Samurai, I'm from BRAZIL, I'm impressed with your work, I started working with wood a short time and I'm learning a lot with your videos, I thank you for the generous varieties of detail that you pass people like me, love this kind of activity, I see a lot of whimsy and good taste in their work, stay with God, a strong hug. Obs: I'm waiting for the next videos ........