Terry Houchen wrote:
I have a stairway and railing around the upper opening which is going to
require about 92 oak (balusters) spindles. There was a post some time ago I
believe in this group about using wire or metal setup on the back side of
your lathe. I can't remember all the particulars and have looked in the
archives but maybe I'm not using the right search. So, if anyone remembers
the post would you please fill me in. Also, is making that many worth while
or should I just buy them. Thank you Terry

You may get a lot of opinions here, but this one is just mine.

Buy 'em.

By the time you find all the wood you need, and it is straight, clear,
and dried enough to keep from warping after you turn it, you will have
paid the cost of the spindles. Properly dried wood is so important in
this case it is as important as the turning. You cannot afford to have
your masterpiece staircase look ugly because of an errant baluster that
decided to do a fan dance under the rail. You can spot those guys a
mile away.

Then there's the time. And of course, how well you turn, and how
concerned you are that ALL of them look exactly the same. If it was 10
or fifteen, I would think it would be worth it to turn yourself. But
not that many.

A quick net search showed several vendors that had them for sale in all
types of hardwoods.

Robert