![\"\"](\"http:\/\/junkwood.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/half-post-against-house.jpg\" "\\"OLYMPUS")
<\/a>Ripping the 6x6 down the middle was a little more work than I thought it would be. I initially tried to re-saw it with the bandsaw, but the cut wanted to wander pretty bad. We ended up scoring a pretty deep groove with the table saw first on both sides and then finish it up with the bandsaw.<\/p><\/div>\n
I spent a lot of time and tried to use online calculators to figure out the best method for spacing the balusters.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Look closely and you can see all the markings and re-markings on the 2x4 rail. My trusty 12 year old Dewalt drill hasn't let me down yet! <\/p><\/div>\n
I didn’t like the 4″ gap between the balusters (maximum spacing that code allows) so I ended up going 3.25″ apart.\u00a0\u00a0 The online calculators are great and all but it takes way too long to mark down all the lines for the spacing and measuring each one with a tape measure was not going to save time and things seemed to creep off by the end.\u00a0 I changed my plan and started using a pair of dividers which were amazingly fast and very accurate.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Dividers, where have you been all my life! You sure do work great!<\/p><\/div>\n
Jenny helped me cut balusters this afternoon.\u00a0 I had the miter saw set up with a stop block to cut them to length and then adjusted it in order to make all the bevel cuts. I think she did a pretty good job.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Cutting the bevel with the chop saw.<\/p><\/div>\n
There is a little bit of danger involved with this saw.\u00a0 I can tell you from experience.\u00a0 The next picture is a close-up of one of the bevels getting cut.\u00a0 You can see where there is potential for the little piece to fly off after being cut right at the end.\u00a0 Luckily, I don’t think all but a few got shot out of the back of the saw.<\/p>\n