Yeah I'm installing two of the white balusters into that open space on the tread. There's already holes in the tread and railing for the baluster to sit. I'll glue the bottom of them in because they are doweled, but the top part is skinny and there is a lot of play where the railing hole is, so it needs to be nailed in.
I can post a better pic if you need. The ones I pulled out that needed to be replaced were nailed in, and looked like 18ga nails but no idea if that's actually the best practice. This house has lots of short cuts done to it I'm finding. I need these to be really secure because I have a child and last thing I want is here to grab or shake these and they somehow came loose.
Yeah I figured I was going to try my 18ga first then move bigger if I had to. Part of my hesitation was that my Ryobi Brad nailer has jammed a ton on me in the past... I really do not like this thing, but I don't Brad nail enough to justify moving to something better.
z1ggy16 OP t1_j2aw5qr wrote
Reply to comment by davisyoung in Brad vs/ Finish nail for attaching wood baluster/spindle to railing by z1ggy16
Yes I did but these don't have the wooden spacers, these just go into the railing itself which has a hole drilled out for it.