The newel post (the large vertical post at the bottom of the handrail on the stairs) at my house had gotten loose in recent years Tightening a newel post is certainly an easy do-it-yourself job for anyone who has an electric drill and knows their way around a hardware store. What I did was basically the same as what Tom Silva does in this video — except I used two screws, perpendicular to each other, one in a tread and one in a riser. Good tip, using a carpenter’s square to make sure the drill stays level. Also note: it’s best to apply pressure to get the thing straight before you put the screw in place; don’t use the screw to make it straight; straighten first, then use the screw to keep it that way.
Tightening the Newel Post
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