Replies

1. 
   ponytl | Apr 08, 2009 05:33am | #1

   wow... never even considered it...  build it in place long and cut to finish :)

    I've only built one.. a metal unit..  14ft rise... thought it'd be an interestng build... welded it up over a weekend... slipped it in place....  monday the sprinkler guys were looking for a length of 4" pipe they left lay'n around......  made a really nice center pole :)

   in the time i could find you an answer... read it 10x and understand it... i could have the rail built in place...

   sometimes I'm glad I'm dumb enough to not only not know the answer  but to never have even considered the question <g>

   :)P

2. 
   CardiacPaul | Apr 08, 2009 05:44am | #2

   Heres what your looking for, nice weekend project for you

   Sorry can't help you with the mathing and all

    No one should regard themselve as "God's gift to man." But rather a mere man whos gifts are from God.

   
3. 
   JoeBartok | Apr 08, 2009 03:11pm | #3

   Helix Calculator ... will solve your helix length and handrail radius of curvature. There are links to diagrams if you wish to do the math yourself.

   Joe Bartok

   
   

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   Edited 4/8/2009 8:12 am ET by JoeBartok

4. 
   JoeBartok | Apr 08, 2009 03:44pm | #4

   A gentleman named Dave Banks emailed me these pictures of spiral staircases he constructed. He used the online Helix Calculator to find the helix length, radius of curvature, etc.

   Joe Bartok

   
   

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   Edited 4/8/2009 8:45 am ET by JoeBartok

1. 
   mathewson | Apr 08, 2009 04:09pm | #5

   thanks Joe,This is just what I was hoping to find.

2. 
   AitchKay | Apr 08, 2009 04:36pm | #6

   An old helical stair from my past just resurfaced. Since I've got all you Spiral Guys here in this thread, anyone ever see one of these?In '78 or '79, I installed a kit for Warren Avis, of Avis Rent A Car. He died about two years ago, and this Spring that set of stairs showed up in our local Reuse Center. I recognized it immediately, and confirmed with the guys there that it had come from Avis Farms.The stairs consisted of a bunch of stump-like, coopered riser sections, and thick (3"-4") butcher-block-like treads.It was a tensile structure -- all stacked up loose, with a cable running through it. When completely stacked, a cable grab was tensioned with a torque wrench. It was very solid.The railing was nasty, though. It looked like a lane divider from a swimming pool. 4"-5"-long cylinders with their ends eased with a 1/4" roundover all strung on another cable. Two plastic, opposing, tapered-disc shims were threaded on between the cylinders. By twisting the discs just so, you gave the railing its compound curve.Very hard to adjust, and ugly, too.Anyone ever come across one of these? Who made 'em?AitchKay

1. 
   JoeBartok | Apr 08, 2009 05:17pm | #8

   Aitchkay, no idea as to your spiral staircase, and I confess ... I've never designed or built an actual spiral stair (and hence I appreciated the email and photos from Mr. Banks).

   The helix math and calculator were devised a few years ago with the intent of constructing a wooden spiral staircase about the column in the photo below. As the column was supporting the entire roof structure there were serious engineering concerns beyond the scope of our know how and the job ended up being subbed out. The only other "log" handrail in my corner of the world was made of cedar. The guys built a cylindrical jig and wrapped the rail around it.View Image

    

   Joe Bartok

   Edited 4/8/2009 10:18 am ET by JoeBartok

5. 
   MikeSmith | Apr 08, 2009 04:44pm | #7

   go  to   joe  fuscoe's  site   and  ask  him

   Mike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
6. 
   beigraph | Apr 15, 2011 05:35am | #9

   hi

   it is too much simple no need a hard  formula reply me.

   beig from iran

   [email protected]