The mortises shown at B B BB (Fig. 26), are for the balusters. It is always the proper thing to saw the ends of the treads ready for the balusters before the treads are attach^d to the string; then, when the time arrives to put up the rail, the back ends of the mortises can be cut out, when the treads will be ready to receive the balusters.
The mortises are dovetailed, and, of course, the tenons on the balus ters must be made to suit. The treads are finished on the bench; and the return nosings are fitted to them and tacked on, so that they may be taken off to insert the balusters when the rail is being put in position.
Fig. 27 shows the manner in rhich a wall string is finished at the foot of the stairs. S shows the string, with moulding wrought on the upper edge. This moulding may be a simple ogee, or may consist of a number of members; or it may be only a bead ; or, again, the edge of the string may be left quite plain; this will be regulated in great measure by the style of finish in the hall or other part of the house in which the stairs are placed. B shows a portion of a baseboard, the top edge of which has the same finish as the top edge of the string. B and A together show the junction of the string and base. F F show blocks glued in the angles of the steps to make them firm and solid.
Fig. 28 shows the manner in which the wall string S is finished at the top of the stairs. It will be noticed that the moulding is worked round the ease-off at A to suit the width of the base at B. The string is cut to fit the floor and to butt against the joist. The plaster line under the stairs and on the ceiling, is also shown.
Fig. 29 shows a cut or open string at the foot of a stairway, and the manner of dealing with it at its junction with the newel post K. The point of the string should be mortised into the newel 2 inches, 3 inches, or 4 inches, as shown by the dotted lines; and the mortise in the newel should be cut near the center, so that the center of the balus ter will be directly opposite the central line of the newel post. The proper way to manage this, is to mark the central line of the baluster on the tread, and then make this line correspond with the central line of the newel post. By careful
attention to this point, much trouble will be avoided where a turned cap is used to receive the lower part of the rail.
The lower riser in a stair of this kind will be somewhat shorter than the ones above it. as it must be cut to fit between the newel and the wall striig. A portion of the tread, as well as of the riser, will also butt against the newel, as shown at W.
If there is no spandrel or wall under the open string, it may run down to the floor as shown by the clotted line at O. The piece 0 is glued to the string, and the moulding is worked on the curve. If there is a wall under the string S, then the base B, shown by the dotted lines, will finish against the string, and it should have a mould ing on its upper edge, the same as that on the lower edge of the string, if any, this moulding being mitered into the one on the string. When there is a base, the piece 0 is of course dispensed with.
The square of the newel should run down by the side of a joist as shown, and should be firmly secured to the joist either by spiking or by some other suitable device. If the joist runs the other way, try to get the newel post against it, if possible, either by furring out the joist or by cutting a por tion off the thickness of the newel. The solidity of a stair and the firmness of the rail, depend very much upon the rigidity of the newel pest. The above sugges tions are applicable where great strength is required, as in public buildings. In ordinary work, the usual method is to let the newel rest on the floor.
Fig. 30 shows how the cut string is finished at the top of the stairs. This illustration requires no explanation after the instructions already Thus far, stairs having a newel only at the bottom have been dealt with. There are, however, many modifications of straight and return stairs which have from two to four or six newels. In such cases, the methods of treating strings at their finishing points must necessarily be somewhat different from those described: but the general principles, as shown and explained, will still hold goo-1.