I have been asked several times over the years about holding a stairshop building seminar here at my stairshop. I never was interested until lately. I am kicking the idea around and would appreciate some serious comments from those that may be interested.
I have never been so busy in my life as I am now…and its because mainly I have taken on some jobs that normally I would say no to. I am finding that with 4-5 stairs going at once I dont have hardly any down time…
It got me to thinking that I have various stages of stairways in construction. Right now for instance…there is one layed out on the floor….one that the stringers are glued up…one that the stringers are routed and ready for treads and risers…and two stairs ready for their curved handrails to be glued up.
This plus the thought that my shoulder needs an operation …something I keep putting off has me possibly considering doing this next winter sometime if there is enough interest…say 4-5 people.
I do not have an elaborate set of high end tools to build these stairways. I love being old school and doing lots of my stairbuilding with shopmade jigs instead of high priced equipment. My main tools are a nice router…a Grizzly 8 inch jointer…and a Grizzly 10 inch table saw…..that and my hefty workbench…
A seminar like this would not be cheap…but the lessons learned I believe could make a person start up their own stair business…doing it part time and then who knows? I would be selling techniques of mine….not necessarily the best ways…but ones that have worked for me and have given my family a comfortable living…and also being 100% of our family income.
Meals, lodging and an intensive 5 days with hands on experience would be invaluable in my book. I took a weeks vacation years ago and worked just 4 days in a stair building company in Chicago…and was just a broom pusher and a tool grabber…and I soaked up so much just watching…that I came back to my trim carpenter job and started building housed stairways. My life hasnt been the same since.
So….any thoughts? ideas? suggestions?
I know one question is the price…and I havent figured it out yet…but $2000-$2500 is what I am thinking. I know I would have considered that a very minor investment in this dying art.
Ok…lets have some comments? My shoulder needs an operation!
Stan
Edited 3/9/2008 11:34 am ET by StanFoster
Replies
There's a huge difference between "teaching" and providing an environment where someone can learn. If you are serious I'd suggest you read up on Jean Piaget, Rudolph Steiner...Elliot Wiggington...
There's a thin book named "The Having of Wonderful Ideas and Other Essays on Teaching and Learning" by Eleanor Duckworth that would be a great start. "Sometimes A Shining Moment" by Wiggington would be another.
I'll eat your peaches, mam. I LOVE peaches!
I would be interested but where do I have to travel to?
Stan,
Great idea. I really enjoy seeing your work and the shop photos of the process.
I would jump at the chance to learn to do what you do...I know I would need a few more clamps <G> and a bunch of learnin'
I have relatives in the Metamora area...how far are you from there?
After seeing your work posted here on Breaktime, I'd definitely be interested in learning from you. I wouldn't consider a couple grand out of line at all for a worthwhile investment in my carpentry education.
I take the same approach to tools as you do in my cabinet-making business - a good set of the basic tools - my mind and hands do the rest.
Anyways, keep us updated as you plan this out - consider this my application. :)
Thanks, Mike
If we can both get in on this, you wanna carpool? :o)
If we can both get in on this, you wanna carpool? :o)
I'm in if we make a trip of it. A good investment, I say. Although, we three could actually be competing at some later time. Well, I love learnig a craft alongside other good craftsmen.
I've thought about my area and a lacking in this market. The last pre-assembled stair came from Neenah. I'd be very interested in the opportunity!Neither cold, nor darkness will deter good people from hastening to the dreadful place to quench the flame. They do it not for the sake of reward or fame; but they have a reward in themselves, and they love one another.
-Benjamin Franklin
I'm jazzed just thinking of the prospect...there may be more interested parties than Stan will know what to do with...wanna thumb wrestle for a space in Foster U. ? 8>{I have that dance hall/shop I'm fixin' up...could probably fit a few staircases in there.
stan: You said your shoulder is giving you problems
be extreemly careful. I have had both shoulders operated on and am not back to normal 1.5 yrs ago.
doc. told me to find some other work!
doc. told me to find some other work!
They either say that or "rest it" hell, how is that possible!
Doug
The best way to learn a craft is to work beside those who are craftsmen.
I would jump at the chance to learn from a craftsmen like yourself.
Nailer
Where, when? I would be interested. Timing would be an important factor for me. I would be VERY interested.
"It is what it is."
Stan,
I build the stairs, in Colorado ,in the houses we do but I am always interested in other peoples tricks ,and I would like to get a close look at some of your bent stairs. I've been thinking of going exclusively stairs for a while . When and where ?
Edited 3/9/2008 6:34 pm ET by TimLoupe
when i was young i was offered a job by a premiere stairbuilder but was a young framer and liked the macho framing job. its one of my big regrets i think a carpenter can do very well building stairs. I would jump on your idea if i was any younger, Congrats for thinking of other people, I dont think thats a bad price
maybe you're missing an oppurtunity here. you could take on a different "apprentice" every week and they would pay you. that should help out with the shoulder problem. just start scheduling a couple of weeks after surgery
I'm thinking if plays his cards right he'll be able to rent a space, Hire someone to help him teach it properly and complete a bunch of projects in a short period of time. After that he could go have surgery and take a yr off to heal.
Stan,
I am interested in attending your class. Having run a furniture making school for a few years I have a couple of questions. Have or will you put together a syllabus for each day? With students you will get less than half done in a day than if on your own. Will you screen students, I.e. Will all of the students have at least a basic knowledge of stairbuilding? Will the program be geared toward building a stair business out of this class? I know that you are reluctant to talk about pricing for your stairs, but will you indicate the amount of time various tasks should take based on your experience?
Thanks,
Keih
LOL, you may have to hold more than one seminar! Maybe a day or so in between then another with all the interest that has been shown, which will also give your shoulder longer to heal and get more jobs done!
I wouldn't mind learning myself but would be a newbie to stair building and have the desire to learn.
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.”
Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.
-Truman Capote
Wow....I guess my test post got its answer! This does look feasible.
To answer some questions...I am 30 miles north of Champaign, Il. 100 miles south of Chicago.
I would have a program pre-printed for each days activities. There would be a lot of pre-explaining so as it wouldnt be overwhelming during the seminar.
I am a very easy going person....but will not waste your time.
I can see that yes...this may take more than one seminar to handle the number of people.....or I just may do ONE seminar and just have to pick and choose. I will just have to think about this and do some good inward looking at myself. I may be an average stairbuilder...but not a good teacher...I dont know. I have to work on realizing I didnt learn all this in a week....and this seminar will be a seed that will grow in each person. Its up to that persons level of passion what he will do with it.
Stan
Edited 3/9/2008 9:39 pm ET by StanFoster
I'd love to do it.
One thing to consider is the skill levels of your students. I would think that you would want them to have similar skill levels to start with in order to keep the class moving at an appropriate pace. On the other hand if everyones ponying up that kind of money they probably are less likely to do it on a whim.
Didn't Hartville tools have a deal like that going? I used to have a link on my old computer for it.
Pop, lock, and drop it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5K8sofXj5E
You could videotape the class and sell copies. For those who couldn't attend the class I would think "Stan's Stairshop Videos" would be another way to get your information out and provide a passive income stream.
I was thinking the same thing. If nothing else it would be a great reference back to what you had learned in the class.'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb
My memory is more like a sieve than a cup so a video would be very helpful if I were to take any kind of seminar but, from Stan's POV, it might not be such a good idea.
If Stan wants to keep giving seminars for a profit he'd be better off if he gave his specialized knowledge and experience to a live, paying audience.
You need look no farther than your computer to recognize how easy it is to copy and transmit videos.
Shhh...I was hoping to get a pirated copy for myself....
Ok...I will make a decision this fall...giving several months of time for those interested to commit. I would guess that less than half that say they want to....wont be able ....thats just human nature...
So...I will base my decision on firm committments...and more than likely if I have 5-6....with a deposit....it will happen.
Too early yet...but this fall I will run this post again and see what happens.
Thanks all for the interest. It really could make a difference in someones life.
I forgot to mention that out of territory protection.....I just cant be training anyone in my area.
Stan
Hey Stan,I'll probably only build one or two stairs in my life so the video would appeal to me. The real reason for my post is to get the actual diagnosis of your shoulder problem, surgery may be avoidable given your answer. My brother practices in Bloomington Il and may be able to help or recommend someone in your area.Kevin
Stan,Why wait until winter? I remember you saying it gets a might cold around where you are. I'm sure there are a least a half dozen guys who would happily send a deposit check sooner than fall.
Mathewson: Because thats when it would work out best for me! If I have a shoulder operation, it will be around the holidays...I will have a doctor tell me how much time I need to heal before I could run this seminar. I want to be giving all kinds of little demonstrations....and just so I have a little use of my shoulder....I will be ok.
I plan on having my decision made this fall....and then if I go with it...will set a week for a seminar....or seminars depending on how much interest there is...and then request a deposit. This deposit would be refunded if I deviate from the schedule. I mean...its a two way street here....I need committment and so do the people buying this seminar.
I will have some information pre-printed and sent out upon receiving a deposit...of the criteria that will be gone over each day. I will make sure there will be a good stair layout class....I will have forms built for laminating stringers. I will then show how to layout for the mortises on these stringers...and how to build jigs to route them out.
One thing I want to stress is that my way of building stairs is more with shop made jigs...and nobody will need to mortage their house to set up their stairbuilding business. Its all very low budget methods....and the end result is that you are leaner on the expenses which helps the bottom line.
I taught myself these methods...by wathing and reading others and their work...and a lot by my personal experience.
It wont be the fanciest seminar....but very down to earth and practical.
Stan
Stan,I'm transitioning out of general finish carpentry and into just stair work so perhaps I'm a little more anxious than others to take take your class. I've looked at many other peoples approach to stair work and what you are doing most closely matches my desires. Of course your health is of primary importance. Having been told that one day I'll need knee replacement I can appreciate you position. I'll look forward to the date of the class. Thanks,
Keith
Stan - you mentioned price.
I've taken one class and plan to take another this summer at the Marc Adams School of Woodwork just outside of Indy. (http://www.marcadams.com) The classes are around $700-$800 plus materials for a Mon-Fri class. Hotel was around $75 a night. My only other expense was dinner.
So I spent around $1,200 to $1, 300 for my class. The teacher was an expert in his field and their were around 16 of us in the room. If you had a smaller class setting, say around 5-7 people at a time, I could see raising the price though. We very much had a "classroom" feel most of the week. It sounds like you want to be more of a "lab" though.
I think you have a great idea, go for it.
Joe
bump