Circular Stairway-Side Children's Slide Conundrum This stair-builders' thread about how to fabricate a slide that wraps around the outside of a spiral staircase morphs into a more general expert discussion about spiral staircases and handrails, with lots of nice photos. November 2, 2010
Reinforcing Stair Stringers with Epoxy Here's a convoluted and somewhat contentious, but also informative, thread that is mostly about using fiberglass and epoxy to stiffen stair stringers. July 7, 2011
Scribing Skirt Boards (Step By Step Photo Essay) Carl Hagstrom's detailed step-by-step photo essay (starring Carl's younger and better-looking stunt double) showing how to scribe a skirt board for a staircase stimulates a well-informed expert discussion of site and factory stair-building methods. February 15, 2015
Stair Rail Bending Methods This discussion of bending wood and curved laminations benefits by the addition of some excellent old book recommendations. February 23, 2010
Crafting Stair Tread Returns Here's a long thread loaded with good information about how to craft returns on the end of stair treads. August 12, 2014
Math for Helical Stair Parts Pros find and discuss a formula for figuring helixes (it's a real head-scratcher). April 11, 2005
Joining a Rail to a Newel Cap The joint where a handrail meets a profiled newel cap is a real head-scratcher. Here, experienced stair rail carpenters explain the fine points. August 12, 2007
Custom Handrailing for an Awkward Winder How do you make a good-looking and practical handrail for a stair winder that looks awkward and doesn't meet code? Here, top craftsmen take their best shot at solving the problem. February 15, 2015
Custom On-Site Stair Fabrication Puzzle Woodwork installers consider a special case where a craftsman has to complete designer stairs on site, when the rough framing is already in place. August 11, 2009
Veneering MDO for Stair Treads A question about whether MDO could be stable if veneered on only one side, continues on into a deeper debate about the suitability of veneered material for stair treads. July 29, 2012
Helical Stair Math Whether to calculate a twisty stair, draw it full scale and measure, or have the parts made with a CNC. December 24, 2009
Curved Stair Railings 101 A first-timer seeks advice from the old hands on fabricating and installing a curved banister. October 4, 2005
Learning Complex Handrail Concepts Here's a great conversation where an advanced woodworker sits down with a beginner to walk him through some complicated, old-school curved carpentry and joinery. October 3, 2011
Making Square and Octagonal Handrail Caps Is a CNC router or an old-school rotary lathe the best way to machine a profiled square cap for a newel post? February 27, 2015
Exterior Curved Handrails Some general thoughts on materials and methods for constructing a custom curved handrail for a set of front entry steps on a historic home. February 1, 2015
Using Bending Rail on a Spiral Staircase Advice on using the steel rail on a steel staircase as a form for clamping flexible rail strips for laminated glue-up. December 24, 2009
Walnut Substitute for Handrail Work Should a stair builder use Walnut for a custom handrail, or look for a suitable alternative? September 23, 2008
Curved Stairs Riser and Tread Dimensions Stair geometry is tricky even on a straight run. Here, woodworkers wrap their heads around a curved staircase layout question. December 7, 2007
Re-Facing a Stair Stringer A woodworker needs to apply a veneered face to an existing stair stringer. Here's the advice he receives on scribing and fitting. October 27, 2008
Fabricating Spiral Stair Handrails More good advice on one of the most challenging tasks in woodworking: making handrails for a spiral staircase. May 26, 2008
Using a Stair-Stringer Router Template Basic directions for using a manufactured router template to route out stringers for fully-housed stair treads. October 19, 2006
Tangent Handrail Class Tips from a class on tangent handrail fabrication, presented by expert Jim Baldwin. July 28, 2012
Open Stringer Stair Construction Construction suggestions for an architect-specified open-stringer stair with plywood stringers and walnut treads. October 19, 2013
Lining Up Stair Rail Dowel Joints Ideas for jigs to ensure accurate placement of dowels at a butt joint in a stair rail. December 7, 2007
Left Versus Right Volutes The difference is based on standing at the bottom of the stairs and looking up. May 12, 2008
Helical Handrail Math for Spiral Stairs Woodworkers puzzle over the twisted math involved in making a profiled handrail follow the curve of a spiral stair. January 26, 2008
Helical Stair-Rail Science Pros puzzle through the complexities of following a spiral stairway's curve using round stair rail. March 5, 2008
Beyond the Spiral: Serpentine Stair Example Here's a quick tour (concept to finished product) of an ambitious free-standing staircase project that includes opposite curves. January 12, 2012
Bending Stair Rail in Three Dimensions Experienced stair rail professionals weigh in on a deep and complex subject — multi-dimensional wood bending — in this long, detailed thread. February 25, 2009
Curved Handrail Glue-Up Tips A discussion of glue selection for a bent railing lamination glue-up, and other advice on the work. December 14, 2009
Fastening Retrofit Stair Treads Installers discuss how to fasten replacement oak stair treads to an existing old stringer so as to minimize squeaking. September 5, 2006
How to Deal with Stair-Tread Glue Joint Failure Shrinking Jatoba wood stair treads are failing at the glue line. Here's a discussion of the causes, with ideas for prevention or repair. December 6, 2007
Glue Choices for Curved Railing Glue-Ups A discussion of suitable adhesives for curved stair railing laminations. Long open time and minimal spring-back are the issues. December 6, 2008
Raised-Panel Wainscoting for a Spiral Stairwell true frame-and-panel wainscoting with concave panels rising up a spiral staircase. Woodweb's top trimwork minds chime in on this one for a top-flight discussion of a very tricky topic. July 9, 2007
Installation Tips for Stair Treads, Risers, and Banisters A skilled, experienced finish, cabinet and furniture man is looking at his first-ever staircase — and it's already framed. His questions set off a long discussion on stair construction techniques. November 19, 2005
Correcting Stair Riser Height in Place An old stair stringer with incorrect riser dimensions needs fixing, on site. Here's a long discussion about how to do it. July 30, 2009
Working with Iron Balusters Installers share tips on laying out, cutting, and fitting metal balusters to a wood staircase and banister. August 2, 2005
Eliminating springback problems Determining the radius to aim for when creating a curve with vac-laminated plywood. September 23, 2003
Curved Staircase and Rail Discussion The Furniture-Making Forum takes on an architectural question: bending and laminating wood for curved stair projects. July 25, 2005
Preventing Cupping in a Wide Board Woodworkers discuss the "rip and flip" method, relief cuts, and similar methods of reducing wood movement. November 19, 2005
Baseboard Transition at the Top of a Stair Wise advice from a pro helps a trim carpenter detail the juncture where hallway baseboard moulding turns and goes down a staircase. November 14, 2014