4 years later, finally got the treads on. The metal spiral is a 2-story from Stairways, Inc. More than 20′ tall and within 1/8″ of spec. Really nice work by them. I got it without treads be/c I wanted to add my own bamboo to match the floors, and they don’t offer that. After a year of watching the bamboo plywood I ordered (WFI Bamboo, LLC)…acclimate…yeah, that’s why I procrastinated, I finally got on it. In that time, about half of the sheets developed a crack or two at an end. I was real, real lucky that I could still follow the original layout of each sheet, be/c the cracks magically fell between treads in the waste area. Had to measure, cut, shape, and finish 39 treads for these two, plus another staircase. That gets a little tedious for me–thought often of Stan doing this daily–but I got through it. Glued the treads two days ago. Much fun to walk on. Giving credit where due, dw painted the rail and dd helped me with the first coat of Waterlox.
Stairways Inc is so fond of the result that they may start offering it as an option. Cool. View Image View Image View Image
Edited 5/27/2005 10:48 pm ET by Cloud Hidden
Replies
Cloud: Beautiful work.
very nice ....
what is the diameter of the stair.. and the diameter of the central column ?
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Edited 5/28/2005 8:46 pm ET by Mike Smith
6" column. Outside D of stair is 72". Stairwell is 96", and needed every bit of that to snake those suckers in (walls and floor framed before adding stairs).
Very nice jim.
Be forewarned, I'm coming to NC and I'm going to the biltmore and I'm going to your place. I'd like to see all the pcs. I've viewed in one spot.
Do you have the trim up you were talking about a couple wks ago?
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
C'mon down! Biltmore's just 8 or so miles away...can see it's spires with the telescope. I have the wood for the casings prepped--using basswood per Sphere's suggestion--but haven't yet had the time to run it. Million other projects underway at same time. One of biggest soon is finishing the floor--gotta empty out the entire floor so that I can sand it and slop on the Waterlox.
Very sexy...there's just something sensual about a nicely curving set of stairs. Preeeetty work.The bamboo plywood, how thick is the veneer? How thick is the ply? And, how did you nose it? Don't worry, we can fix that later!
13/16. Use a router. Mills just like nice wood.Tour the brewery...darn, why didn't I think of that. I shall have to do that with or without Calvin and Joyce. I should look up its location, be/c I sure do like its products!
13/16, is it bamboo all the way through? How many plies? I have seen some plywood that did have a nice looking edge, Apple I think...hmm maybe that's why I liked it<G> So you just rounded the ply? I'm thinking in your house that look would work nicely.Hey, I'm trying to teach myself VectorWorks, what a step up from Claris CAD, do I have to read the manuals?...LOL...dang, I could use a Highland Ale<G> Don't worry, we can fix that later!
Oh, sorry. 4 ply, all bamboo, all with same orientation. End grain cuts clean, too. No splintering. I like the effect of the rounded ply edge. It'd work nice anywhere most likely. though for whatever reason, it has a contemporary feel to it. Maybe it's the straight lines to the grain. Makes it look clean.VW, huh? Only thing that's harder to learn is every other CAD! :) I'm not much for the manuals, but it took lots of experimenting to find methods that worked for me.
So I guess it's like big sheets of the bamboo flooring I've used...I'm thinking it might make some nice countertops for my playroom, I mean office<G> thanks. Don't worry, we can fix that later!
>it's like big sheets of the bamboo flooring I've usedJust thicker. 20 mm instead of 15.I used half-sheets for a desk and it's worked fine. For whatever reason I like the smaller pieces (or the flooring with the joints) a little better. It's a little too plain in large, continuous uses for my tastes. Must don't count on lot's of cross grain strength, what with the plys all oriented the same way an' all.
Sheeit, you keep changing my mind...LOL My room ain't 8'...seams are not all that they seem...celebrate the joints...course now that Andy Cs gone to the other side, guess I'll be doing that alone<G> Don't worry, we can fix that later!
Get him to take you on a tour of the Highland Brewery...it's just barley a hop away, ha. Don't worry, we can fix that later!