How to Make a Wood Handrail Jig

Having a handrail or fence installed in your property can be expensive. But with a few basic tools, you can assemble a handrail jig in your own free time to assemble things like wood handrails all by yourself. It's a much cheaper alternative to having a professional install your handrails. Building the jig usually consumes less than an hour of your time and is a great way to hone your woodworking and carpentry skills.

Oriented strand board plywood
2 2 by 4 by 96 inch lumber
Spindles
2 saw horses
Metal clamps
Jigsaw
Power drill
Screws
2 gauge blocks

Instructions

- 1
  Lay a pair of 2 by 4 boards and several spindles across a pair of saw horses. Lay two plywood boards across the spindles and 2 by 4 boards. Clamp a 2 by 4 board on the edge of the plywood to secure it in place.
- 2
  At one end, clamp a spindle to both pieces of the plywood.
- 3
  Clamp another spindle to the front of the plywood.
- 4
  Carefully lay out the two pieces of plywood so the distance between the 2 by 4 and the clamped blocks is the dimension for the overall height of the railing section.
- 5
  Cut a pair of 2 by 4 boards to the length you require and place them against the wood blocks on the edges.
- 6
  Lay down a pair of gauge blocks to establish the position of the first wood spindle. Secure the wood spindles in place with screws.
- 7
  Position the remaining spindles in place and secure them with screws. Repeat this until you have about ten to fifteen spindles in place.

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