How to Build Oak Interior Handrails

Adjust the router table fence to rout a 2-inch board and lock it in place. Adjust the height of the round-over bit to rout the full profile of the bit into the board. Lock the bit in place.

Place the oak board flat on the router table and guide it through the router in a steady motion. Move just fast enough to allow the router to cut through the wood. Rout the remaining three corner edges of the board in the same manner.

Sand the routed edges of the board with a fine-grit sanding pad until they are smooth. Always sand in the direction as the wood grain.

Brush on two even coats of wood finish using a natural bristle brush. Allow the finish to dry four hours between coats. Allow the final coat to dry for 24 hours before using it.

Measure 28 inches up from the bottom stair tread and mark it against the wall with a pencil. Repeat this process from the top stair tread.

Stretch a chalk line from the bottom pencil mark to the top pencil mark with the help of another person. Snap the line in the center to transfer the line onto the wall.

Slide a stud finder along the chalk line and mark the location of each wall stud onto the wall with a pencil.

Center a metal handrail bracket over each wall stud along the chalk line. Drive the screws that were included with the brackets through the mounting holes into the wall studs using a screw gun.

Position the handrail over the brackets. Drive the screws included with the brackets through the mounting holes into the bottom of the handrail using a screw gun.