What should I do if my replacement spindles are slightly too loose or too tight?

If they’re too loose, you can use a small wood shim or apply wood glue with sawdust for a snug fit. If they’re too tight, lightly sand the dowel end or trim the bottom with a handsaw. Ordering custom-turned spindles to your exact dowel size eliminates this issue entirely.

When a spindle feels loose inside the rail or tread, it’s usually due to a slight mismatch in dowel diameter or shrinkage in the surrounding wood. A reliable fix is to insert a thin wood shim or apply wood glue mixed with sawdust around the dowel end before reinstallation.

This provides a snug fit once dried and helps eliminate movement without damaging the surrounding parts. Always avoid over-gluing! A light, even application means there will be an easy cleanup and prevents long-term cracking.

If the spindle doesn’t fit into the rail hole or socket, this is usually because the dowel is slightly oversized or the opening has narrowed from paint or moisture. Use sandpaper to gently reduce the dowel’s diameter. Or, you can make a small trim cut to the bottom end with a fine-tooth handsaw.

Take off a little at a time and test the fit. You want it snug, but not forced. Pushing a spindle in with too much pressure can crack either the dowel or the rail.

Minor sizing problems like this happen most often with mass-produced or imported spindles. Even a small variance can cause noticeable looseness or tightness during installation.

At Arnold Wood Turning, we produce custom wood spindles machined to precise dowel dimensions for your specific staircase. This means your parts fit cleanly right out of the box, without sanding, shimming, or trimming. Our exact-turning process ensures uniform diameter, perfect spacing, and consistent quality across every spindle.

If you’re replacing spindles one by one or updating an older staircase, custom manufacturing gives you both fit and peace of mind. Every spindle we make is turned from stable wood species, holding shape and fit tightly over time.

The result is a solid, professional installation that looks and feels seamless.

Skip the trimming and guesswork. Arnold Wood Turning manufactures custom-fit wood spindles and balusters that match your exact dowel size and profile Send your measurements or a sample spindle for a free, no-obligation quote today.