Stairs

[russjp]

Hi

I've got a staircase to make that needs to go above another for a loft conversion. The new one will cross over the original at 90 degrees and needs to turn through 180 degrees (with either a landing in each corner or winders, depending on space). I've done quite a lot of stairs but need a bit of advice on this one because the newel at each turn needs to 'float' above the original stair rather than go to the floor. Is this possible? The outer strings will be fixed to the walls but will this be enough to support the stairs?

Cheers
Russ

[jaco]

Russ, welcome!

The experts will be along shortly ..............




(The "olde" fogies like Paul take a'while to get here ............. )

[paulchapman]

Welcome, Russ.

Take no notice of Jaco, he's a young fogie ;D

Cheers

Paul

[jfc]

The stairs will support themselves top and bottom . Just remember to pin / dowel your tenons into the drop newel and it will be going no where .

[russjp]

Thanks for that.

I thought they should be OK but could do without the hassle of making them only to find out it won't work!

BTW, anyone got any experience with curved stairs? I've done a few flaired ones but I've got a client who wants a semi circular one and can't find anyone to make the handrails.

Cheers

Russ

[jonnyd]

I have seen this at an exhibition www.bendywood.com/ you can cold form the timber into handrails fairly easily.

Jon

[jfc]

a client who wants a semi circular one and can't find anyone to make the handrails.

Sounds like a fun job . Cant be that hard with a steam box and a template .

[cadas]

I had to make a semi-circular stair last year (never again!!)

Handrail was fun . I did it by cutting the oak into 2mm strips and they were then clamped to the curved string which acted as a former.

I made the handrail oversize so that I had plenty of scope for shaping.

I ended up having to initially steam the oak because my radius was only 500mm, but on a slow curve you probably wouldn't have to.

You need to have:

a very slow glue, probably cascamite but I used a weber product that had a one hour open time.

Lots and lots of clamps

At least one other person....very difiicult alone.