I’m looking for recommendations for both adhesive and plywood for a double helix stairway. The stringers will be notched for stair treads. Inside diameter is 2.5′ with an outer diameter of 9.5′. Any input is appreciated. We are looking to construct the stringers 16″x 3.5″. The rise is 12′.
Sincerely,
Walter Villere
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Replies
I use Unibond 800 glue for all my curved stair laminations. I assume your double helix staircase is freestanding, if so I would use veneer instead of plywood. Check out my website there are two double helix stairs in the gallery, both projects #1 & 2 are built up of resawn veneer. The inside stringer veneer is slightly thicker than 1/16 the outside stringer uses laminates 3/16 thick. I built another one using 1/8 baltic birch plywood as a core, it worked ok except the sheets varied in thickness slightly and cause a bit of a problem in the end. Also it did seem a bit springy compared to the lumber veneer method I used in the photos.
WVillere:
Armin is right on about the freestanding stairs needing veneers for the laminates. Plywood cores are not as strong as having veneers with continuous grain. If the stair stringers are supported, then the stringer is mostly cosmetic and not structural. ARMIN...nice website you have. Did you design and set it up yourself..or did you have an outside source do it for you. I am thinking of getting one myself as just a place for potential clients to go through a photo gallery to help them make decisions. Also I would think it would be nice to keep updated shop photos posted so that they could see their stairs hatching out.
Thanks Stan,
I had a web designer do the work although I wrote most of the text. The site has been under construction for a long time and should see it's completed form maybe next week. If you mearly want the site for show & tell it should be fairly straight forward and inexpensive to set up. My plans are to run several magazine ads and direct the reader to the site to get the details. This calls for a rather extensive site and more expensive than I thought but hopefully in the long run it will pay off.
http://www.northernsunwoodworks.com
Edited 4/6/2003 2:42:02 PM ET by Armin a.k.a. The Laminator
Armin: I am most impressed with your work..and your projects that I have seen need to be displayed.
Thanks Stan, your projects are not to shabby either, it's a pleasure to view your posts, love those detail shots. It's always interesting to see how other craftsmen do their work. http://www.northernsunwoodworks.com