Ideas for joining risers to stringer on winders with *very* acute angles
Hi,
I got myself into a little jam from not thinking it through all the way. I started building some oak stairs that turn 90 degrees with six winders. I’m fairly far along, but I realized my design has an issue.
What i didn’t think about was that the sharp angles on the winders can’t be mitered. They are too sharp. They wouldn’t be sturdy because there’s almost not wood as you get close to the point on the miter. Plus I cant make a clean cut at such sharp angles. I’d have to build some kind of crazy jig to even cut these angles. It was just a bad idea. An oversight.
I’m sad I won’t be able have nice mitered corners though. I noticed the stairs downstairs have like decoratively cut, thin, oak paneling placed on the stringer where it meets the front of the risers, probably to hide the end grain? I’m thinking this is my best option.
Instead of mitering the stringer to the riser, I’ll just cut backwards at the full angle of the winder, making the cut further back to make up for the change. Still pretty sharp angle on a couple (32 degrees is the sharpest one) Then there will be a lot of face grain showing and I’ll cover it like I said above. This way I don’t have to change the dimensions of anything. the front of the riser still lands in the same place.
Are there any tricks to doing winders on a combination stair? Maybe this is the reason I can’t any examples of stairs that are build like that. The always seem to be housed stringers on both side. Maybe I really screwed this up…
Matt
Replies
perhaps a photo or two?
Yes, please post some pictures.
Hi, sorry I didn't have pictures because it wasn't built that far yet. Originally I was asking about the mitered corners on the risers where they meet the stringers, I decided to just butt the risers against the stringer where the angles get steeper, I figured stability is more important, and the original oak stairs (circa 1908) on the floor below use a decorative veneer to cover the end grain, so I'll just match that. But now I'm further along, I'm trying to decide how to handle the returns on these upcoming angels that very steep. My current plan is to just suck it up, let the tread overlap 1 - 1/4" and run a roundover over the end and hope it doesn't split? Any thoughts?
Sorry just to be more clear, I'm wondering about how to handle the returns on the treads. Then next couple are so steep that I guess I have to figure out something besides mitering them....
can you build a column of some kind and run the treads and risers into it? Something like a circular stair. From your photos it’s not clear how you are supporting the left hand stringer.
It's frustrating when a design detail doesn't work out as planned. You're right, sharp angles like those on winders can be difficult to miter cleanly and securely. The solution you've proposed of cutting the stringer at a full angle and covering the exposed grain with oak paneling is a good one. This approach is often used in stair design to cover end grain and provide a decorative touch.
As for building winders on a combination stair, it's definitely possible, but it can be more challenging than a housed stringer design.
Hey thanks for the reply. still not finished yet, but I think the paneling is the way I will have to go. I appreciated you taking the time to reply.
and there was yet another issue with the corners that I didn't think through, which was the returns for those really point treads...I managed to build actual returns most of the sharp corners, for the last two, the sharpest ones, I just cut them longer and tried to just route both sides. the first one worked, and the second one blew out, and I had to round it off, and it don't match the rest...what can you do? lol
Sharp angles on winders are tough to miter cleanly, so covering the exposed stringer with oak paneling is a smart move. Winders on combination stairs are doable, but more complex than housed stringer setups.