my eliptical stair - Woodworking Talk

~WoodChuck~ · 02-12-2009, 07:25 PM

The customer wanted this stair to look like a nautallis shell...weird but maybe because we are near the water.But anyway... there are no supporting walls underneath it and is solely supported by 3 massive sub-stringers...take a look

**Leo G** · 02-12-2009, 07:31 PM

Awesome. This is why I don't do stairs. That's a pretty tight bend, what thickness were the laminations?

~WoodChuck~ · 02-12-2009, 07:53 PM

the inside stringer was made up of layers between 1/16" and 1/8 and was made in 3 pieces...top, middle and bottom

sawduststeve · 02-12-2009, 08:03 PM

So this was built in your shop and then moved to the site? And if this is correct how do you move it? Thanks

Geoguy · 02-12-2009, 08:21 PM

Chuck, the stairs are fantastic!!! The craftsmanship is supurb!

But, I'm having trouble seeing the cephlapod in there. Maybe viewed from above, looking down.

Oh, did I say the stairs are FANTASTIC!!?

~WoodChuck~ · 02-12-2009, 08:54 PM

well the look from above looks kind of like a shell with the treads looking like the ridges. Underneath there were 3 substringers the one in the middle was 6" bigger giving the ceiling a bowed curve. More of a concept i guess. as far as getting it out of the shop it was put on a flatbed truck in 1 piece and the handled with a boom.

firehawkmph · 02-13-2009, 12:07 AM

Very nice Woodchuck,
good job on a cool project.
Mike Hawkins

pianoman · 02-13-2009, 12:42 AM

Great work Woodchuck...That is a first...great design!!! Can`t wait to see the handrail. Rick

sausagefingers · 02-13-2009, 09:56 AM

WOW...looks awesome. As stated above, That's why I don't do stairs.... hahaha

bradnailer · 02-13-2009, 10:53 AM

Man, that's just pretty cool!

~WoodChuck~ · 02-13-2009, 05:43 PM

here is a few more

Kenbo · 02-13-2009, 06:27 PM

That is pretty freaking awesome!!!

chrisgerman1983 · 02-14-2009, 09:11 AM

wow that is amazing. how do you plan something like this out? or is more of a cut each piece to fit as needed type deal? i dont imagine any of the steps are exactly the same

did you have to make a template for each step?.... so many questions

~WoodChuck~ · 02-14-2009, 09:22 AM

First the dimensions of the room are drawn into auto cad and then the design of the stair is laid out on the program. Then the templates are printed out on a plotter full size for each tread.Also the wall plate is printed out full size with the desired curve and a studded wall is built to laminate the stringers to. Once the laminated stringer is glued up to pitch i applied 3/8" deep routings on it using a wacky wood template.Then the treads are put in with the risers attached 1 by 1.

chrisgerman1983 · 02-14-2009, 09:59 AM

cool how big is this printer

**Leo G** · 02-14-2009, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisgerman1983

cool how big is this printer

Plotter

~WoodChuck~ · 02-14-2009, 12:47 PM

the plotter is 3' wide and comes off a continuous 100" roll. You can arrange the templates on the auto cad program to fit the paper but sometimes they will not fit on the sheet so there are splice lines to line up 2 separate pieces

btyirin · 02-16-2009, 02:34 PM

I was a stair railing installer for ten years. I thought I had seen it all. I was wrong.

Very interesting