July 28, 2022To resolve a safety concern a handrail for 3 steps in our backyard garden was finally finished and installed.It started with two 6 X 6 and a 2 X 6 treated wood that were recovered from a neighbor who just replaced his deck.The tops of each 6 X 6 post was cut 20 degrees on four sides. To join each post the 2 X 6 was set in a dado in the top of the each post. Since the top post sat on the patio slab it was anchored on the concrete with four angle brackets. The bottom of the post sat on the heads of the Tapcon screws that attached the angle brackets to the concrete. This will keep the bottom of the post dry.Since this post sat on the ground a piece of 3/4 inch plastic (the blue in bottom photo) was attached to the bottom of the post as a rot deterrent before it was installed.Placing the bottom post was interesting since it would be placed on the end of a cinderblock wall that was on both sides of the steps. I'm hoping that the method that I used here is going to work. I decided to use a liberal amount of liquid nails between the post and the cinderblock. I also use mechanical fasteners to attach the post to the cinterblock. On one side of the post I used modified straps and Tapcon screws.The other side of the post was anchored with angle brackets and Tapcon screws into the cinderblock.The handrail was made with a length of 1-1/2 inch EMT.To attach the handrail brackets to the handrail lengths of hardwood were turned to fit inside the EMT into which 2 screws were driven to attach the handrail bracket to the EMT. To finish the ends of the EMT end caps (green) were turned out of 3/4 inch plastic and installed with clear silicone caulk to keep water out.Plastic contoured pads (yellow) were also made to fit between the EMT and the handrail supports to stabilize the connection.The project was considered finished with the installation of the handmade copper caps secured with 2 bronze screws.View of handrail from top . and view from the bottom.All wood parts were primed and finished with 2 coats of high gloss latex. The copper post caps were sprayed with lacquer.Now SWMBO is happy and likes the handrail.Thanks for looking. Comments and questions appreciated and welcomed.
July 28, 2022To resolve a safety concern a handrail for 3 steps in our backyard garden was finally finished and installed.It started with two 6 X 6 and a 2 X 6 treated wood that were recovered from a neighbor who just replaced his deck.The tops of each 6 X 6 post was cut 20 degrees on four sides. 
To join each post the 2 X 6 was set in a dado in the top of the each post. 
Since the top post sat on the patio slab it was anchored on the concrete with four angle brackets. The bottom of the post sat on the heads of the Tapcon screws that attached the angle brackets to the concrete. This will keep the bottom of the post dry.
Since this post sat on the ground a piece of 3/4 inch plastic (the blue in bottom photo) was attached to the bottom of the post as a rot deterrent before it was installed.Placing the bottom post was interesting since it would be placed on the end of a cinderblock wall that was on both sides of the steps. I'm hoping that the method that I used here is going to work. I decided to use a liberal amount of liquid nails between the post and the cinderblock. I also use mechanical fasteners to attach the post to the cinterblock. On one side of the post I used modified straps and Tapcon screws.
The other side of the post was anchored with angle brackets and Tapcon screws into the cinderblock.
The handrail was made with a length of 1-1/2 inch EMT.To attach the handrail brackets to the handrail lengths of hardwood were turned to fit inside the EMT into which 2 screws were driven to attach the handrail bracket to the EMT. To finish the ends of the EMT end caps (green) were turned out of 3/4 inch plastic and installed with clear silicone caulk to keep water out.
Plastic contoured pads (yellow) were also made to fit between the EMT and the handrail supports to stabilize the connection.
The project was considered finished with the installation of the handmade copper caps secured with 2 bronze screws.
View of handrail from top .
and view from the bottom.All wood parts were primed and finished with 2 coats of high gloss latex. The copper post caps were sprayed with lacquer.Now SWMBO is happy and likes the handrail.Thanks for looking. Comments and questions appreciated and welcomed.