I just looked at a job that’s 3 stories of exterior stairs! That’s a lot of stringers. I usually cut one stringer and then carefully trace it onto new 2×10 ( or 12 ) and cut the new stringer. Does anyone have a easy may to cut multiple stringer that are close to exact matches ? Maybe stack up 3 boards at a time and cut them all ( using power tools?) I imagine it could be done with a recip saw but I’d probably not get a perfect cut. I open to any ideas
Thanks
Replies
my advice is to mark 'em and cut 'em in pairs. Tack (or clamp) two together and set your saw for just over 1&1/2" deep, so that you score the second stringer as you cut the first. Stair stringers are not a job to be rushed. And don't even think about cutting multiples when there is a "close" match. Stair treads and risers should not vary more than 3/8". If its not an EXACT match, it needs to be measured and marked separately.
BTW, usually exterior stairs are steel stringer, or solid timber (not cut), so I'm curious as to the construction detail.
Edited 1/12/2005 1:29 am ET by Huck
You have to take your time with stringers and do it right . You don't want to rush the cuts . You cut your stringers nice and your finish product comes out the way you want it .
Cut the first one very carefully and use it as a pattern for all the rest. Make sure the bottom of each stringer lines up with the PAT stringer. I like to clamp them together for scriping, especially if they are more than half a landing at a time. It is also a good idea to use a very sharp pencil held consistently at the same angle when marking. If the material will allow it, marking with a utility knife is even better if you have a cleanly cut pattern. Before cutting more than one floor, I would VERY carefully make sure my dimensions were actually equal for all three sets. That frankly sounds too good to be true.
Don't assume that the 3 stories are identical.