On Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:23:50 +0100, TheScullster wrote:
Is this all that holds the handrail to the newel, a single screw passing
through the full width of the newel and into the hanrail end?

I think it was possibly on advice from this group, but I used a short bit
of dowel along with the lag-bolt, just to prevent the rail from twisting.

But yes, it's just a 3/8" bolt holding our rail* to the newel, and after
several months of use nothing's showing any signs of loosening up.

* this is at the bottom of the stairs, so given the angles I was able to
put a headless bolt into the newel from the 'inner' side only (locking
two nuts together to initially drive it into the newel) rather than
having to run something right through the newel from the 'outer' side.

cheers

Jules