Hi

old banister has small cut-outs near to each joint with a nut & bolt which
need tightening up. the nut feels like it has a small notch in it which with
the right type of spanner could be tighten. banister is around 100 years old
and in good health apart from a couple of joints.

any input welcomed.

Mark

"Mark D Smith"  wrote in message
news:42add3d3$0$13809$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk...

> Hi
>
> old banister has small cut-outs near to each joint with a nut & bolt which
> need tightening up. the nut feels like it has a small notch in it which
with
> the right type of spanner could be tighten. banister is around 100 years
old
> and in good health apart from a couple of joints.
>
> any input welcomed.
>
> Mark
>

A couple of pictures, or even a better description, would help lots on this
Mark.  For something as old as this to be touched with anything without
knowing exactly what needs to be touched, is asking for loads of trouble.

Something in the line of what shape the nuts are, and where the slot is in
the nut.  More on how the nut and rail go together on the banister etc.

Mark,

You are describing a standard handrail bolt.
Prior to assembly, each end of each joints has a hole drilled into the end
grain.
Adjacent to the end of each joint (underside of your banister) will be a
further hole (usually square) that meets the previous hole.

Logic of construction:
A metal threaded dowel is inserted into one end of a banister rail. Through
the square hole, a notched (round) nut is threaded onto the dowel. (you may
find one of the nuts to be a standard square nut which is a tight fit into
the square hole which prevents its movement) - the threaded dowel being
threaded into it.
The second banister rail is inserted onto the previous metal dowel, and
again, a notched nut is threaded onto the dowel through the square hole.
The notched nuts are then tightened (usually by the end of screwdriver
levered against the sides of the square hole) until joint is tight. I have
never used any special tool for doing this, other than a screwdriver.

I assume in your case that the timber has slightly dried out and the
handrail bolt just need nipping up a bit tighter.You should be able to
manage this comfortably yourself

If you need further clarification I could send you a sketch under private
email.

Regards, Tom

"Mark D Smith"  wrote in message
news:42add3d3$0$13809$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk...

> Hi
>
> old banister has small cut-outs near to each joint with a nut & bolt which
> need tightening up. the nut feels like it has a small notch in it which
with
> the right type of spanner could be tighten. banister is around 100 years
old
> and in good health apart from a couple of joints.
>
> any input welcomed.
>
> Mark
>

"Tom Sharrocks"  wrote in message
news:42ae0d9e_3@mk-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com...

> Mark,
>
> You are describing a standard handrail bolt.
> Prior to assembly, each end of each joints has a hole drilled into the end
> grain.
> Adjacent to the end of each joint (underside of your banister) will be a
> further hole (usually square) that meets the previous hole.
>
> Logic of construction:
> A metal threaded dowel is inserted into one end of a banister rail.
Through
> the square hole, a notched (round) nut is threaded onto the dowel. (you
may
> find one of the nuts to be a standard square nut which is a tight fit into
> the square hole which prevents its movement) - the threaded dowel being
> threaded into it.
> The second banister rail is inserted onto the previous metal dowel, and
> again, a notched nut is threaded onto the dowel through the square hole.
> The notched nuts are then tightened (usually by the end of screwdriver
> levered against the sides of the square hole) until joint is tight. I have
> never used any special tool for doing this, other than a screwdriver.
>
> I assume in your case that the timber has slightly dried out and the
> handrail bolt just need nipping up a bit tighter.You should be able to
> manage this comfortably yourself
>
> If you need further clarification I could send you a sketch under private
> email.
>
> Regards, Tom
>
> "Mark D Smith"  wrote in message
> news:42add3d3$0$13809$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk...

<snip>

Hi Tom

That's exactly what its like. I'll try the screwdriver trick and see how i
get on.
the square holes are quite small but i can feel the nut, its just the
banister does a tight u turn on a rise so not much room to work.

Mark