Stairmaking - Course: Timberwork techniques. Instruction examples for practical vocational training (Institut für Berufliche Entwicklung, 34 p.): Instruction Example 8.6.: Manufacture of Steps and Risers

Stairmaking - Course: Timberwork techniques. Instruction examples for practical vocational training (Institut für Berufliche Entwicklung, 34 p.)

		(introduction...)
		Preliminary Remarks
		Instruction Example 8.1.: Taking off Dimensions at the Stairwell
		Instruction Example 8.2.: Determination for the Ratio of Rise and Tread
		Instruction Example 8.3.: Scribing of landing connections
		Instruction Example 8.4.: Manufacture of Template and Angular Board
		Instruction Example 8.5.: Scribing and Preparing the Stair Strings
		Instruction Example 8.6.: Manufacture of Steps and Risers
		Instruction Example 8.7.: Assembly of the Stair Flight

Instruction Example 8.6.: Manufacture of Steps and Risers

The wood for the steps and risers is prepared with exact thickness, glued to approximate width and planed on three sides.

Assumed to be known:

- Step thickness = 35 mm
- Riser thickness = 15 mm
- False tread = 30 mm

- n_s = 8,

Figure

Hand tools

Hammer, hand saw, planing chisel, jack plane

Measuring and testing means

Folding rule, square

Auxiliary accessories

Pencil, straight batten, about 1100 mm long, 50 mm wide and 24 mm thick, abrasive paper

Necessary previous knowledge

Measuring, scribing, angling, smoothing (sanding), sawing

Sequence of operations	Comments
1. Inspect wood for steps for growth and branch knots and number it.	Number on cross-grain end. Grade surface quality starting with better surface from bottom step.
2. Determine step length.	Length = clear width of stair flight + two hole depths.
3. Put one step on workbench, scribe length and four right angles.	Set square exactly! Step is to be used as template for the remaining steps!
4. Scribe step width.	Ensure parallelism! Width = a + u!
5. Saw-out scribed step.	Cross-cut exactly on scribed lines. Longitudinal cut should be little wider than scribed lines (is to be planed!)
6. Plane step to scribed width.	Use jack plane. Ensure parallelism!
7. Put sawn-out and planed step as template on the remaining steps to be produced, one by one, and scribe-mark to such step.	Front edge of template to be put-on flush. Use sharp pencil. Attention: Head step must have less width!
8. Saw-out scribed steps.	Refer working step 5.!
9. Plane steps to exact width.	Use jack plane.
10. Manufacture head step.	Same length as the other steps. Width to be measured from top landing connection.
11. Smooth steps with abrasive paper.	Do not sand-off any chamfers! Use fine-grain abrasive paper.
12. Determine riser length.	5 mm shorter than step.
13. Put one riser on workbench, scribe length determined and four right angles.	Set square exactly. Riser is to be used as template!
14. Cut riser to length.	Saw exactly on scribed lines.
15. Manufacture remaining risers to such template.	Template to be set flush!
16. Smooth risers with abrasive paper.	Do not sand-off any chamfers. Use fine-grain abrasive paper.