Bending stairs handrail.

Soldato
Joined
1 Aug 2003
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Cheshire
We have an old house, original oak bannisters. The upstairs hall has a rail ~4m long that is bowed.

What is the approach to straighten it in situ? I don't realt want to take it apart as I'm concerned about damage that may be caused.

Clamp angle iron to both sides and leave? Some method involving steaming? Dampen the concave side before clamping perhaps?
 
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Depending on the length of the bend / twist, some G clamps and something straight and stronger than oak, clamp either end and use one in the middle to pull it back, you'll probably have to pull it back more than straight for when it springs back so don't think you can just pull it back straight.
 
I suspect you will never get it anything like straight, you might get a slight improvement but it will mean having a bit of metal clamped to it for years and then as soon as you take it off it will spring most of the way back.

Old houses are full of character like this!
 
You could probably get it straight if you softened it with steam and then clamped it straight. You'd have to make a steam box, which is basically just a ply box with either a kettle or ideally a wallpaper stripper hooked up at one end and a vent in the opposite end.

Probably a lot more messing about than its worth and there is no guarantee it'll even work. Plus it would then need refinishing.

I think either living with it or getting a replacement made would be your best bet. I can't think of a way to do it in situ, im almost certain it'll just keep springing back to its original shape.
 
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