Tightening or replacing balusters

As a companion piece to the prior post, I thought I'd include how to tighten or replace loose or broken balusters.

Tightening Loose Balusters
Sometimes the settling of the house causes a staircase to sag or twist, which in addition to causing squeaky treads, can loosen the balusters as well. This can easily be repaired with glue and shims. It's best to schedule this project either late in the evening, or prior to leaving the house for an extended period so that the stairs won't be used and the glue has ample time to set.
You can easily buy or make your own wood shims. To make your own shims, cut a strip of wood with the grain running the length of the strip. Make it slightly thicker than the widest gap between the top of the baluster and the handrail. Cut the strip into shims and sand or plane them into wedges. Coat the shims with glue and insert it at the top upstairs side of the baluster. Lightly tap it into position using a mallet or hammer and a block of scrap wood. Once the glue is dry, trim the excess shim flush with the baluster.
Alternatively, you can drill a countersunk hole at an angle through the baluster and into the handrail, using a carpenter screw to tie the baluster and handrail together.

Replacing Damaged Balusters
If the baluster is doweled (peg in hole) start by sawing it in half. Twist sharply to break the glue bond holding the baluster in place, and remove the two halves. Cut the new baluster to the desired length and coat the tread hole with glue. Insert the top end of the new baluster into the handrail, then slide the bottom end across the tread and into the tread hole.
If the baluster is dovetailed, remove the outside tread trim, being careful not to damage it. Saw the baluster flush with the tread, and use a chisel to remove the old dovetail. Cut the new baluster to length, put top into the handrail, and bottom into the now empty dovetail socket. Drill a pilot hole through dovetail and into tread, and attach the two with a nail. Finish by replacing the outside tread trim.
If the baluster is filleted, chisel out fillet on the upstairs side of the baluster being replaced. Tap the baluster loose from nails and remove. Clean old glue from the groove. On the new baluster mark the angles using either the old baluster or a T-bevel, and cut to fit. Set the new baluster against the existing downstairs fillet, and toenail into place. Glue and nail new fillet into the handrail behind the new baluster.