Iron Baluster Shoe Installation (Set Screw Tilt)

Gorilla Dual Temp Mini Hot Glue Gun Kit with 30 Hot Glue Sticks

Home-X Wooden Clothespins, set of 50

Disclaimer: This description contains affiliate links.

This video describes a solution to the issue of an iron baluster shoe set screw creating an angle when tightened. Hot glue and construction adhesive can be used to prevent the kink or crooked angle. Please like and subscribe if you find it useful and check out other projects on my YouTube and Instructables pages.

[LMSLeopardsBB]

Popsicle sticks saved the day for me!!! I used them as a wedge on the short, lower side of the angled shoe. Insert them at the top, then break off the rest of the stick. Do it as close to the top as possible, since it will be a very snug fit and potentially scrape the side of the baluster as you push it up. Then simply tighten the side screw. No need to mess with glue, and you also get the bonus feature of eating a ton of popsicles😁 ($3 for a 150 pack of sticks at Walmart)

[tootsiewilliamsmusic]

I DID IT!!! I have the I was faced with this and saw your video!!!! Drilling a hole in the top of the baluster (first make sure everything is lined up!), then using the set screw to tighten fixes this problem... NO GLUE OR UGLY SCREWS!! Wish I could do a video to show I'm ssooo excited. The set screw is long enough to go through the shoe and baluster. BIG WIN!!

[robertfigueroa]

Yep. The set screw is supposed to hit that hole in the top of the baluster. But the balusters have to be cut down from the top which makes the hole useless. Thanks for the tip. I glued them, clamped them up and they haven’t gone anywhere.

[rpols]

Thank you for posting this. This really helped my predicament. I had an actual contractor install these and he just used the set screw. Of course it looks like $HIT. I'm gonna go over his work and do what you did.

[rudykilgore]

So glad I saw this remedy. Can't wait to try it out. Will probably just use clothes pins to hold it in place till the adhesive sets. Thanks

[jmacie]

I just put some 3M double sided tape directly on the balusters side opposite of the set screw. It’s a bit thicker and compresses. For some tough ones, 2 pieces did the trick.

[swaggajackr]

You’re right. There is no info on this issue anywhere on the internet! Thanks for sharing this tip. I’ll be using it today!

[susanandrosky]

Ugggh! We’re having the same problem! I like the hot glue idea with the construction adhesive. Also, I’m planning on filling any remaining gaps with plastic wood and then painting it black. As long as you can’t see light thru the uneven areas, they wouldn’t be noticeable. Thanks for the video and I must say you HD quality is definitely on point! Lol

I'm seeing this issue as well but I believe it is because my knee wall angle is 45 degrees and many of these slant shoes are set at like 40 degrees. I found a few people talking about how the cut these or use a belt sander to get it closer to the angle they need so you may want to check that first. I put mine on a scrap piece of baluster and tightened up the set screw and you can see it forces it straight to the baluster (at least mine does) but when you try to install it on an angle different than 40 it looks like it lifts away. Just something to think about. I may ultimately just glue them as you suggest but I am still looking around for alternatives. LMKWYT.

[Scaryvr]

I cut small wedges out of wood to put inside the shoes opposite of the screw to keep them from pulling away from the stair rail when tightened. It seems to have worked.

[brandonkeeran]

Found that issue when I did my first stairs ended up ripping down small scabs of wood as shims and installing on the opposite side of the set screw. It helps to use pine so if it's slightly over you can compress it with the set screw to get the correct angle and it's even tighter

[Mdw]

Fantastic video and idea. Thanks - was just scratching my head about what to do.

[mvic]

I've been experiencing this EXACT issue. This is a great tip, I intend to use this technique

[AshleyMcKay-cy]

Great video, I tweaked it a little by doing the silicone and clamping under the shoe to hold it up. Workin with what I have.

[bnelson]

Thank you for the video. I just finished my stairs and was having the same issue. I will try the hot glue. Great idea!

[marleneellis]

Can't believe this is the only way to fix the problem. We filed down every shoe!

[ranauldperez]

You described my current problem perfectly; besides the vertical skew on the baluster, there is also a rotational skew since the set screw is just a point contact that will rotate the shoe vertically and horizontally. You're absolutely right that the situation becomes obvious (and unsightly) when you look at the handrails at eye level. I will try your technique on one baluster to see how it works and hopefully its the solution I'm looking for. Thanks for the post.

[ryano]

Great tip! I was getting ready to grind the flat but I guess that wouldn’t fix it

[destasolomon]

I’m having the issues now. I’ve used a drill to make a small hole into the balusters aligned with the angles shoe hole and put a very small black screw to hold the shoe in place with the balusters

[blackbeauty]

Thank you for this suggestion! Glad I found this before I started the last part of my installation.