I seem to remember seeing an article in FHB a long, long time ago about a bunch of carpenters doing a curved staircase (maybe George Lucas’s house??)….does anybody know of older finehomebuilding issues with a curved staircase article? I have #129 where which features “Making a Curved Handrail”.
Next month I have to start a huge curved staircase project and need to start gathering info.
Thanks,
SS
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do a search here for posts by Stan Foster.
you will not be disappointed.
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"After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion"
-Neil deGrasse Tyson
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If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???
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according to statistical analysis, "for some time now, bears apparently have been going to the bathroom in the woods."
Stan Foster, for sure. Tim Uhler also had a thread here sometime back, with a completely different approach. I think he had an article too, maybe in JLC? And I'm pretty sure there've been some others too.View Image
tatekata- I know that issue you are talking about. and mine is tucked away in the attic somewheres. If I come across it..I will let you know.
However.....if there is any way I can be of assistance here ....ask away and I will gladly post some hints..or pictures...etc.
Stan
Thanks, I just started reading a few of your posts.
Just to give you a low-down, I'm a Canadian carpenter who builds North American style homes here in Japan. I'm not a contractor, but a finish carpenter. A few years ago I started making my own stair parts, instead of using the cheap, prefinished ones they were supplying me with.
I've been using Hemlock, and sometimes Oak, but I can't get any of the hardwoods we use in North America anymore. I'm making treads, handrails, square posts, etc. and now supply other carpenters as well. Its a start anyway.
My next stair project is for a Japanese doctor who just loves American movies and TV. He's seen a curved staircase somewhere, and wants his stairkit just like that. I've been hired to do it, and have no clues whatsoever, but oddly enough, I said "sure" anyway.....
I'm in over my head! That's why I made the post today. I may have questions, would really appreciate tips, but I realise how busy you must be. I'll be doing my homework though, reading old posts, etc.
SS
tatekata- Please ask away....anything....degrees of turn...measurements...I would like to help.
I have received a lot here and just am paying back.
Stan
Stan,You are truly, not only Dewalt's best, but World Class as well.Chuck Slive, work, build, ...better with wood
Hi Stan:
Its been a while since I first posted about the curved staircase. There are 10 carpenters plugging away at the house, as it progresses the owners are making changes faster than the carpenters can build...
The stairkit changed a little. Its now an enclosed staicase (underneath). I framed the staircase last week. The first 9 steps are curved, and the last 6 are straight. The treads are 4' wide.
The framing went well. I got the math done and framed the curved wall at the back, sheathed it with 1/2" bendable plywood. The back stringers are made out of 3/8" plywood, laminated (6 pcs).
Anyway, I'm going to start making the treads soon. I'll be able to get through them OK, but I'm having trouble with what to do for the skirtboards. The treads are going to be made out of Helmock, but I've never had much success in bending Hem. In Japan its also hard to find 1x12 material as well, be it Hem, Oak, etc. I was thinking of using bendable plywood (1/2"), then facing it with 1/4'' birch plywood..... but I don't know how to cap the top of it.....also, for the front side of the stairs, (open treads), I figure I'll have to get really thin strips of 12" material and laminate them to each other. There is a wainscotting that I have to do as well, and it butts into the stairs really close to the 9th tread.....and I'll be laminating and bending those parts as well.
I'd really appreciate it if you could let me know what you suggest for the skirtboards....
Lastly, the first step is actually not part of the curve. I'd like to make a very large step for #1, instead of the regular rounded both sides with an area for the curved start of the railings (all iron)......do you ever do large first steps?
Sorry for the long message, I know you must be busy, I appreciate your advice...
SS
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Stan's work is great - he is a true craftsman, you will do well by studying his posts, and picking his brain.
Tim Uhler's approach is from a framer's standpoint, different from Stan's, which is much more refined. But I always figured, if I was in a pinch like you, I'd start with Tim's method. Which I think is just a refinement of Will Holladay's method from his book A Roof Cutter's Secrets to Framing the Custom Home.
The thread starts here 74872.1
Huck- Tims methods are very impressive...and demonstrate best how to build a curved stairway with minimal outlay in materials and time. That is something I should be considering if the economy starts slowing up my business someday. Tims results are excellent and it makes me think.
Stan
Thanks Stan for the comments. I got the method, or I should say, was walked through the method by John Kirkpatrick and Jed Dixon. Mostly John and his pictures.
I need to find them, he has done some great work. I'll have to find the pictures and post them. I haven't gotten to do one since. I would say that it took me 8 hours to layout and build the frame. And then it took a couple of days to laminate the stringers, but I think that I could save time next time by not using so many staples, and not making a 3 1/2" wide stringer.
It had very little bounce though.
View Image View Image View Imagehttp://www.pioneerbuildersonline.com
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From Lot 30 Muirkirk
http://picasaweb.google.com/TimothyUhler