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Video Series

Video Series: Building a Curved Step

In this segment of Master Carpenter, Chuck Bickford and John Ross travel to Michigan City, Indiana, to meet up with carpenter Mike Belzowski as he builds a curved stair riser. Mike confesses he opted for a curved stair riser because he wanted to give himself a challenge, but the principles involved in his precise and careful process can be applied to any finish carpentry project.

Mike starts the process by creating a massive template with all of his custom elements drawn to scale. He keeps good design practice and puts as much detail on the plan as possible, so he can keep using the template as a reference guide. Too much information is always better than too little when cutting and fitting different components. Using that template as his guide, he’ll build the form by first using a jigsaw to cut the rough shape; then he’ll go back through with a router to clean up the profile, and then repeat the process stacking each piece upon the previous one to get the height he needs. The lamination process requires precision and fast hands, and is an easy place to slip up. Once the glue is on your piece of laminate, you have a limited amount of time to get it attached and clamped to the riser. Mike is very efficient and watching him work quickly and effectively is a great example of how to go about working with thin wood lamination. All the rest of the build needs is some trimwork to create the perfect curve, and then an installation like any other.

The final product comes out looking great, and is a simple way to add a little more style to your staircase without it being overwhelming. Even if you’re not looking to create a curved stair riser, using Mike’s steps as a guideline to working out your own design is a bright idea. The shortcuts Mike takes—and the pieces he works slowly—all come from the decades of experience he has under his belt. This video series will teach you how to take a complicated project and work through it without a hitch.

Read the companion article:
Create a Curved Stair Riser
View more videos:
All Master Carpenter Videos
Master Carpenter

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Videos in the Series

  • Master Carpenter: How to Build a Curved Step

    In this video series, master carpenter Mike Belzowski takes us through the process of building a curved riser and tread for a staircase in his own house

  • Building a Curved Step: Episode 2 – Templates

    In this episode, Mike Belzowski draws the master template he'll use to make the riser forms.

  • Building a Curved Step: Episode 3 – Making Forms

    In this episode, Mike Belzowski builds the form that he’ll use to laminate the riser

  • Building a Curved Step: Episode 4 – Laminations and Glue-Up

    In this episode, Mike makes thin wood lamination sheets by resawing solid stock

  • Building a Curved Step: Episode 5 – Making the Tread

    In this episode, Mike demonstrates how he uses a router on a trammel to get a perfect radiused end on his tread

  • Building a Curved Step: Episode 6 – Installation

    In this episode, Mike uses the tread pattern to establish the blocking location for installation

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About Video Series

Fine Homebuilding is constantly producing new videos to provide you with the details and techniques you need to build beautiful, high-quality homes. Watch all of our videos to see builders, remodelers, and other tradespeople demonstrate how to do a top-notch job when installing foundations, roofs, and everything in between.

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