Instructions
Things You'll Need:
- 6-by-6-by-10-foot lumber (one for every two railing posts)
- Miter saw
- Pencil
- Tape measure
- Handsaw
- Router
- Router bit "V" groove
- Band saw
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1
Cut a 6-by-6-by-10-foot post in half. Use a miter saw to cut the post in half. If the saw will not cut all the way through the post, finish the cut with a handsaw. The 10-foot post will make two posts for the railing.
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2
Mark the post with a line that is 1-inch down from the top of the post. Tilt the miter saw to 45-degrees and cut the beam at the mark. This will make a beveled top on the post.
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3
Mark the post at 1 inch and at 2 inches down from the bevel cut. These marks indicate the location of two decorative grooves. Place a "V" router bit into a hand-held router. Measure the distance from the center of the bit to the outside edge of the router plate. This is the distance that you will set the fence away from the reference line to cut the groove. Clamp the fence so that it is square to the post, and set the proper distance from the reference line. Router a "V" groove along both reference lines on all four sides of the post.
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4
Measure and mark one side of the post at 7 1/2-inches from the bottom of the post. Measure in from that mark on one side of the post 3 1/2-inches. This marks the area of the beam that you will notch out to attach the post to the deck.
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5
Cut the 3 1/2-inch by 7 1/2-inch portion of the post out using a band saw.
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6
Cut and prepare the remaining posts needed for your deck.
