Stair building, almost step by step!

[Rob-GB]

Some nice hand tools, some look very familiar. I have that Veritas shoulder plane and a set of those Marples chisels in my tool bag. For the price they hold an edge and are easy to tune up. I like the shoulder plane quite a bit, but I haven't tried the LN.
How do you like that Record router plane?
Tim

Thanks Tim,
I made do without a shoulder plane for years and finally got the Veritas large one as it suits my hand, it also works fantastically well.
The Marples I have from 1/8" to 2" and have served me well for nearly 20 years. Great chisels for the money.  [smile]
I just inherited a Stanley version of the Record router plane, both work well and are nice to work with.
They could be improved a bit though, the soles don't slide as well as perhaps they ought and the cutter clamp mechanism can work loose if not very tight.

Rob

 

[Old School Carpenter]

The other side of this is that public perception of those that still make bespoke products are thought that much less of.  

No different over here Rob, I have a special rate [thumbs up] for those who think that because I work with my hands I am somehow beneath them.
I like many, do this work because I love it and I choose to, not because it is all I am qualified for.  [smile]

Mike

 

[Kristian]

Excellent step-by-step process (and lots of pictures so I guess it did happen).  [wink]

Do you have any drawings, CADs or plans made out beforehand that you can post?

 

[Jalvis]

Thank you for sharing your work.......I know how hard it is to stop and take photos.
Hopefully I will have a few stairs in my career and look forward to applying some of these methods.

I have wanted to do this type of post for ages, but pressures of work have not allowed the time.
Are you just starting out in the craft then?

Mostly "starting out".....I began in the trades at age thirteen as a mason and then continued through to other trades.  This is my third year with my own business doing custom work and I admire traditional stair building. 

Keith Mathewson in Seattle was kind enough to have lunch with me and tour his shop so I'm learning a little at a time from the professionals.  Stair building is a long term goal for my business as I have a long career ahead and intend to never retire.
 

 

[Rob-GB]

Excellent step-by-step process (and lots of pictures so I guess it did happen).  [wink]

Do you have any drawings, CADs or plans made out beforehand that you can post?

Oh! It's still happening... just a bit delayed due to an unforeseen trip to see my father-in-law who was taken into hospital, just got back.

On the drawings issue, yes I could post some, probably in PDF form. I usually work from a plan view, a wall string layout and newel or outer string layout.
Would some examples like this be helpful?

Mostly "starting out".....I began in the trades at age thirteen as a mason and then continued through to other trades.  This is my third year with my own business doing custom work and I admire traditional stair building. 
Keith Mathewson in Seattle was kind enough to have lunch with me and tour his shop so I'm learning a little at a time from the professionals.  Stair building is a long term goal for my business as I have a long career ahead and intend to never retire.
 

A short time after my apprenticeship ended I met the chap who taught me more about stairs than I knew at that point. I worked for Gordon for two weeks. He paid me, then said he had some other work he could use a hand with but he could not pay me for several weeks after the job was complete! Did I want to take a chance and trust him? ( a factor in being self employed and sub-contracting to others)
I took the chance, had nought but my time to lose, and we spent a couple of days the following week making 2 staircases in his open plan kitchen and dining room!
We worked together for almost 2 years before he decided to return to his native Scotland. It was Gordon that got me reading George Ellis' books on practical joinery and stair building.
Gordon is near the start of a list of people who shared their knowledge and skills freely with me to make me the carpenter and joiner I am today, a debt I hope to pay forward.
Keith sounds like a top guy to know, I hope you meet many more like him.
Rob.

 

[Kristian]

Excellent step-by-step process (and lots of pictures so I guess it did happen).  [wink]

Do you have any drawings, CADs or plans made out beforehand that you can post?

Oh! It's still happening... just a bit delayed due to an unforeseen trip to see my father-in-law who was taken into hospital, just got back.

On the drawings issue, yes I could post some, probably in PDF form. I usually work from a plan view, a wall string layout and newel or outer string layout.
Would some examples like this be helpful?

Yes, please!  [smile]

 

[oldie]

Thanks for finding the time to post.
I couldn't do work like you do - but it's inspirational to read posts like this.
Particularly like the photo of the tools used - nice touch.

Richard.

 

[Rob-GB]

Kristian new thread posted HERE re: drawings.

Thanks Richard, I often wonder what tools people used in a project in support of the obvious Festool's so am trying to start a trend  ;D

Rob.