Replies

1. 
   gdavis62 | Jan 13, 2005 03:12pm | #1

   I love your work, Stan.  Keep the pics and stories coming.

   This time, though, give us some step-by-step how-to detail.  Like how you go about making the skirts, and then how you mark the layout for setting and fastening the first outer plies to the stud forms.

   And this.  How you set up with your jig and router to mortise the tread and riser housings into the concave surface of the fully laminated stringers.

   Wow!

2. 
   KeithNewton | Jan 13, 2005 06:47pm | #2

   Stan, Next time you post photos, how about turning the camera back down to the other end of the shop so we can see the tool room.
   I wish I could keep my workspace as clean as yours.

3. 
   JAlden | Jan 13, 2005 10:42pm | #3

   Stan, Nice paint job on the new shop.

    

    

    

   Sorry, couldn't resist.

   Loved the maple stairs in your earlier post.

1. 
   StanFoster | Jan 14, 2005 04:30am | #9

   Yea...I promised myself I would not move into the new room until it was painted.  I should have also said until the windows and doors were trimmed as well.  

    

   Stan

1. 
   StanFoster | Jan 15, 2005 04:55am | #10

   I have the face laminates in the forms...and gluing the cap strips that hide the plywood laminations.  Lots of clamping...it was a busy day.

1. 
   woodguy99 | Jan 15, 2005 05:44am | #11

   Stan, what kind of glue do you use?

    

   Mike

1. 
   StanFoster | Jan 15, 2005 07:31am | #12

   Mike:   I use Titebond glue. 

2. 
   gdavis62 | Jan 15, 2005 07:55am | #13

   This is great, Stan.  Keep them coming.

   I am showing them to my wife tomorrow, in support of my "you can never have enough clamps" theory.

3. 
   xhammerandnailsx | Jan 15, 2005 08:51am | #14

   I hear the phrase "Oh yea, well why don't you build stairs like that for our house then?!" in your future.

4. 
   zendo | Jan 21, 2005 01:28am | #15

   Stan, do we have an update coming?  Also do you have a favorite stair book?

5. 
   StanFoster | Jan 25, 2005 01:51am | #17

   Zendo:   Heres an update you requested.  I have the outside stringer all mortised for the treads and risers.  I am mitering the inside stringer tomorrow and will post more pictures.

   I have all the stair books I can get my hands on. 

   Stan

6. 
   StanFoster | Jan 25, 2005 01:55am | #18

   Zendo:  I forgot to attach these pictures in the last post....geeessshhhh

    

    

   Stan

7. 
   zendo | Jan 25, 2005 02:19am | #19

   Thanks for the update.

   When you use the router template, does it cut one tread and riser at a time, then you have to move it?

   -zen

8. 
   StanFoster | Jan 25, 2005 03:46am | #20

   Zen:   It does one at a time.....

    

    

9. 
   StanFoster | Jan 26, 2005 02:25am | #21

   some inside stringer pictures.   It gets pocket screwed....the bottom edlge planed true...then rounded over with a router.

    

   Stan

10. 
    BungalowJeff | Jan 26, 2005 08:49am | #22

    Hot dang! That is just nice to look at! Thanks again for posting your pics....that's not a mistake, it's rustic

11. 
    skyecore | Jan 26, 2005 09:07am | #23

    thats almost as good as porn!______________________________________________

    --> measure once / scribble several lines / spend some time figuring out wich scribble / cut the wrong line / get mad

12. 
    Kyle | Jan 26, 2005 09:42am | #24

    You could save time and just order your lumber from a yard in Louisiana.

    The humidity does that to the boards all the time.

    It's real bad this time of year when the temp is different every day, 40 and wet, 70 and dry etc.

    I have about 1000' of 2x4 right now that you can get real cheap.

     

    Just having fun, looks awesome.

13. 
    StanFoster | Feb 04, 2005 05:39am | #25

    Had time to put a few treads in.   That little red machine is kind of a hinderance. Its in for its annual.

14. 
    JohnT8 | Feb 04, 2005 08:25pm | #26

    Stairs look good, Stan.  Did you ever get that IN job done?

    And I'd rather have the red machine hanging around the shop than a dozen cats! ;)

     jt8

    Our lives improve only when we take chances -- and the first and most difficult risk we can take is to be honest with ourselves. -- Walter Anderson

15. 
    StanFoster | Feb 05, 2005 03:14am | #27

    John:  I was just working on the Indiana stairway today.  You can see the pictures in the "Maple freestanding stair" thread.

     

    Stan

16. 
    StanFoster | Feb 09, 2005 05:01am | #28

    More treads in...getting ready to glue up the handrail.

     

    Stan

17. 
    Barrie2777 | Feb 25, 2005 11:36pm | #31

    How do you secure the cross grain end cap on each tread? Would it be possible for you to include a photo of the jig which you use to route the riser and tread grooves?

18. 
    StanFoster | Feb 26, 2005 02:16am | #32

    Barrie:   I pocket screw the tread returns to the tread.  I have a simple jig that most would laugh at it is so simple and so cheap to put these on.  

     

    Stan

19. 
    Barrie2777 | Feb 26, 2005 06:32am | #33

    I have found that every stair I do needs a different jig. I cut mine out of MDF, do the stair then throw it out. I try to keep the wedges the same slope from stair job to stair job so that I can cut them with the same wedge jig.

20. 
    FlatheadWoodWorks | Jan 24, 2005 12:16am | #16

    Just buy the clamps, don't ever set yourself up like that.  Next thing you know she will buy you 40 new clamps and the ball will be deep in your court.

    Brian

21. 
    Barrie2777 | Feb 23, 2005 02:51am | #29

    I have built a few spiral stairs and handrails...always using Titebond glue. What do you say to those who say that PVA glues are not good for laminations of this type?

22. 
    StanFoster | Feb 23, 2005 03:12am | #30

    Barrie:   I just say I havent had any problems at all.  I have gone back a few years later and they look fine.

     

    Stan

4. 
   stefs3 | Jan 14, 2005 02:08am | #4

   Stan, I love your work.
   I am starting to design stairs for my new home, and have hit a snag.
   The stairs have a rise of 52 inches and a run ofll'7" There is a platform in that dimension.
   I want the stairs to curve around a post and then go onto that platform. The design I envision is that of a Nautilus, with the curved steps ending at the straight edge of the platform.
   I'm not sure if it is mathematically described as a helix, or not, but I don't know how to calculate the thing.
   The first step is curved and about 8 ft wide. The next 5 steps continue that form until the abut into the platform, which is 4ft wide at that point... So, as each curved tread abuts to the next there is a decreasing tread dimension on the inside of the curve and increasing on the outside. Do you have suggestions as to how to draw this thing out?
   Thanks for your help
   Stef

1. 
   stefs3 | Jan 14, 2005 03:54am | #5

   bump

1. 
   stefs3 | Jan 14, 2005 03:57am | #6

   If you care to reply by emai, my address has changed and I can't figure how to change it on the site.
   [email protected]
   Thanks
   STef

5. 
   ronaldrady | Jan 14, 2005 04:02am | #7

   Wow... more math involved in just that, than I may ever hope to know.

1. 
   StanFoster | Jan 14, 2005 04:09am | #8

   Stef:    I dont quite follow your layout.....

    

   Stan