"I think there is only one way to install the king metal components. Is there a method that is best?" King makes many any styles. Some are NOT allowed in residential (like the cable systems a child could climb or fit their head/body through). Without more detail about EXACTLY what you are trying to do, no one can give you useful advice. The best method for ANY newel post is to bolt it solidly to the side of a joist. If a joist is not in the correct spot, blocking is added to create a mounting surface as deep as the joist. Any type of toe-nailing, tow screwing, etc. or fastening to the floor or subfloor (no mater how many brackets you use) is markedly weaker. You have a solid post 3-4 feet high making a nice lever to apply loading to the fasteners. How much force will a 150 pound person create on the fasteners when they 'spin' around the newel holding with one hand?

The current trend(unfortunately!)seems to be what I have, which is the first picture. At the time I built, 8 years ago, I wasn't given any other choices, probably because the iron was a fairly new thing for balusters. While I do like the scrolled style in the second picture, I would prefer the iron not be twisted, but very simple such as the last picture. The scrolls do look French, and had I been given a choice, might have gone with that design since I also choose to go with a decorating style on the French side.

I usually set iron with an 2 part epoxy. You can use toothpicks/shims to wedge em plumb and hold in place as the epoxy sets, you can also pack the holes with a stopper material, newspaper etc to supply the epoxy with a stop, Cover w/ shoes if need be.-best

We’re about halfway done and I LOVE IT!!! Changes the overall look dramatically. We decided a double basket and single basket on one step, then the next step with two twists and alternate it going all the way up.