Newel Replacement Help

[BBig]

My dog destroyed the newel on my wooden staircase and I'm not sure how to remove it without damaging the handrail. It looks like the connection hardware must be inside the underneath side hidden under the thin piece of wood but I haven't been able to pry it off without it snapping the wood. The pictures show what the connection point looks like. Any advice would be greatly appreciated?

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[ladylola]

It's difficult to give full advice without knowing the exact construction but it is possible to do it a number of ways.
As the newel is distroyed then the best option may be to simply cut it up insitu. Saw it off just above the handrail and partially through just below then taking a chisel split pieces off the newel exposing any tenon on the handrail. Probably repeat at the base of the newel too.
Another option is to cut through the joint with a thin blade like a hacksaw blade and use a dowel when it comes to reattaching a new post.

 

[BBig]

It's difficult to give full advice without knowing the exact construction but it is possible to do it a number of ways.
As the newel is distroyed then the best option may be to simply cut it up insitu. Saw it off just above the handrail and partially through just below then taking a chisel split pieces off the newel exposing any tenon on the handrail. Probably repeat at the base of the newel too.
Another option is to cut through the joint with a thin blade like a hacksaw blade and use a dowel when it comes to reattaching a new post.

I was really hoping that the bottom piece of wood was somehow hiding the attachment hardware. Oh Well, I suppose I'll need to get more agressive with this.

Thanks for the advice!!