A Faster, Headache Free Way to Install Impression Rail Express
How This All Started
When I started installing TimberTech Impression Rail Express, I liked it for the most part. It was clean, light, strong, and went together fairly easily — except for a few things.
One of these was installation of the railing clips, and the flimsy blue jig they sell just made me want to kick something after I accidentally installed several clips wrong with the jig upside down. I was doing a continuous top rail with 2” mid-posts and, after searching, realized no one had made a jig or installation tool to help with that.
So I went down a Reddit rabbit hole about 3D design and 3D printing, and the rest was history.
I’ve been through several iterations, adding features and making each successive jig more useful than the last, expanding the jig selection to cover as many possible installation situations as a contractor or homeowner might run into.
Tool & Trade Omni-Jig for IRX
When you’re working solo, a good tool is a godsend, and one that both increases speed and quality is something I’m truly proud to share.
So I kept making it better, and now there’s the Omni-Jig.
Let Me Show You Its Features
The Omni-Jig simplifies the clip installation process and does so for all standard railing situations.
It works for:
Level rail Installations (Check out our Step-by-Step Guide)
Stair rail
Continuous top rail (over-the-post using 2” posts)
Standard installation (post-to-post using 3” posts)
It’s super simple to use. For level rails, you just put it on the post at the post base, put the clip in, and install the screws.
On my own installs, it speeds up clip installs by 4–5X, shown in this video, while also completely eliminating misaligned clips.
The Omni-Jig features markings along the side of the jig which indicate the top and bottom of both the level and stair clips, a handy feature for stair railing and custom height installations.
Built for the Job Site
This isn’t a delicate shop tool. It gets stepped on, dropped, and tossed in a tool bag. If a tool can’t survive real jobsite abuse, it doesn’t belong on the deck.
That’s also why it’s bright orange — I don’t want to be wondering where I set it down when I’m right in the middle of it.
Easier to Get, Faster to You
I’ve also put real effort into making these jigs easy to get without waiting 5-7 business days or paying lots of money for shipping. By streamlining production and using Amazon’s distribution network, most installers can now get our jigs within two days via Amazon Prime instead of paying $40 for shipping alone to get it in time for your job.
If you need it, you can actually get it.
Attn: Suppliers and Retailers
I’m actively looking for hardware and lumber yards that want to stock these jigs locally. If you’re a store owner or buyer and think this would be a good fit, shoot me an email — I’d love to talk.
