Mitred Handrail: With amazing invisible joinery 

Thanks for all the encouragement Brother! Good luck with the door builds and glad to hear you're enjoying your work so much. God bless.

I appreciate that you noticed these things. Thank you for leaving comment. Happy New Year, Scott

Thank you so much Timothy! Love passing on the knowledge.

Thank you Ron. So encouraging for me to hear this.

Thank you so much! You as well.

Thank you for the compliment and for reaching out with your questions. Your angle cuts sound right. Check out my video on stair math to review and that will help. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qbch-YD7S98.html As far as the domino joints go, your domino will always be perpendicular to your angle cut. Best thing to do is practise on some scrap lumber pieces before you "take the plunge" on an expensive piece of railing. Hope this helps, Scott

@@scottearlsmithFTC Cheers! Thank you for sharing all your knowledge with us! God bless!

@@axbxa You as well! Thanks for watching. Scott

Thanks Brad. Yes you can use a dowel. I show this in one of my Lamello Invis videos. It's shown in this one around the 8 minute mark. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-wVvFFUwtHnk.htmlsi=yqHkD4qjXnAthwFh Cheers, Scott

@@scottearlsmithFTC thank you. Keep up the good work

Thank you! That’s what I’m shooting for!

@@bradmeintz7684 Thank you Brad. That's my plan. Slowly getting traction on RU-vid but I think if I hang in the channel should do well. Thanks for the encouragement, Scott

You are probably right. You may find my video on stair math helpful. Towards the end I do a drawing and show all the stair and railing angles. Here's the link: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qbch-YD7S98.html

@@scottearlsmithFTC Thanks for the reply. In the video on stair math, I see that the stairway was 38 deg. At the top of the stairs, the cutoffs are 19 deg each (and the part you actually are using is 71 deg), so I think that you are only speaking about the amount you cut off of the longer piece, as you can clearly see that the resulting joined piece is going to be (90-19)*2 = 142 deg. Likewise at the bottom of that stair is 52 deg or 26 deg each, which results in an angle of (90-26)*2 = 128. So I think that the stair math, for expedience, calculates the angle of the cutoff, not the resulting angle of the piece that's actually used. So I think I get it...

@@kshuf8426 Yes. I keep it simple though. The system I use enables me to determine the setting on the saw. That is practically what I need to know on the jobsite. Thanks for the questions. They help the algorithm. (Now there's another confusing topic!) Cheers Scott

@@scottearlsmithFTC Great youtube channel by the way. I really like the Domino XL and I think a lot of your viewers would love to see a video tutorial about why the domino is so useful and how to use it in a variety of ways and angles. I know you showcased the domino on some projects with it on your channel but maybe more of a video about the tool, it's various features described generally, and some how-to tips. Thanks!

@@kshuf8426 Thank you. Glad you're enjoying the channel. I appreciate the encouragement. I may do a Domino vid at some point. I've had other requests as well. Cheers Scott

Paint-grade poplar would be an ideal situation to simply glue your mitres (plain carpenters glue). I've done this in the past before I owned those tools. Simply use masking tape to hold the joint together while the glue dries. Add a few brad nails, or trim screws (either U2 or GRK) for extra securing if you like. I'd wait for the glue to set before I put a screw into the joint though. I've also used 23ga. pins to hold the mitres tight. Another tool that would be really beneficial is a Collins mitre clamp. Here's the link: collinstool.com/tools/4-pack-miter-clamps-pliers-kit/ Good luck with your Mom's stairs and railings. Scott

P.S. What part of the country are you in?

@@scottearlsmithFTC Thank you for those tips, Scott. I feel much more confident moving forward with the project. I’ve used the spring clamps for baseboard, but wasn’t sure if they would be up to the task for handrail. In all honesty, I was hoping you would say, ‘No, beg your mom for the Domino’, in which case I would have had some proof to show her! Although it might be dissappointing having one now that our renovation is basically complete, and I could have used it for all of the wainscoting. One final question: since the clamps probably wouldn't work for the 37 degree joints, where the rail changes from rake to level and wraps around the landing, would you just toe-nail brads to clamp the joint while the glue dries? I’ve experienced shifting when trying that method on other projects, but I am going to experiment with the masking tape as well. I figure it might need some additional pressure for the glue to set properly. By the way, I'm in Kelowna, BC, and I genuinely appreciate your help!

You can tape that joint up nicely using a little imagination. You could use a bit of CA glue as well to help hold the joint. You’d have the same issue with a domino unless you combine that with the Lamello Invis, and buying both would be a bit expensive. Of all the tools out there right now, I would say the Domino is one of the best. Definitely my favourite tool. There’s a big “cringe” factor when you buy one, but you’ll find all kinds of uses for it. I’m out at hunt camp right now and it’s quite cool out. Hopefully Kelowna is a little warmer. All the best, Scott

​@@scottearlsmithFTC That’s sound advice Scott! I presented these ideas to my client (mom), and while she is relieved that we can forgo speciality tools for the hand rail, she did raise one objection that I never considered. If I joined the entire railing as one piece through the top flight, landing, and bottom flight, it would be difficult to disassemble it in the future to create clearance for moving large objects through the stairwell. I was thinking about it, and I might experiment using those rail bolts that have one threaded side and one coarse side for these two connections. I’m considering bending them to a ~37 degree angle in my vise. They appear forgiving when it comes to adjusting the connection a 32nd" in either direction to line the joint up before cranking them down. I'm aware that they sell zip bolts that adjust to various angles as well, but I do have several of these traditional bolts on hand from our guard rail project. I only ended up using one, for the half newel, on that job, so my experience is still limited. Is this worth pursuing or should I save myself the trouble? It’s cold in Kelowna, but it’s not east-coast cold! I am expecting our first snowfall any day now. Hoping for good luck in your hunt. Brayden

Thank you! Glad it was helpful. I appreciate your comment.

@@scottearlsmithFTC hi there, I’m 72, I believe you are a lot younger, I believe carpenter an joiners of mine and your era ar the last of a dying breed unfortunately

@@trev2417 That's for sure. I know there are very few carpenters doing the kind of work I do in my area. But I'm 63 and can't do it all. You know the feeling. However, I enjoy the work so I pick the right job and customer and keep moving forward. Thanks for the comment and good luck to you. Hope you're still working the tools to some extent.

Thank you. I will adjust that next time.

Thank you sir. Just looked at a winder-staircase job this morning in a nearby town. The customer wants no risers (open stair concept) so that adds to the complications. Your video was very helpful.