These balusters were turned for a customer in San Francisco. The sort of odd thing about these is that although the center diameter is 1 3/4 inches the square ends (not shown) are 1 1/4 inches. That is why I am turning the center area separately. The square top and bottom will be added after.
These alder stair newels were turned for a customer in the Colorado Springs, CO area. They measure 5 1/2 inches X 44 inches. The newel cap is not shown but will match the handrail sample sent to me (below). Obviously the newels are over-the-post newels. The newel cap (with matching handrail profile) will be mitered to receive the handrail.
These are for a customer in San Francisco. They are part of a renovation for an older home. Although the originals were much shorter these mimic them (we stretched the “turned” portion). One of the unusual aspects of these is that the largest diameter (at the center) is 1 3/4″. The squares, however, are only 1 1/4″.
These are a set of mahogany balusters that we just finished. They were specked at a certain length for their stairway application. The balusters have a ten inch base, twenty four inches of barley twist and a six inch top. The width of the balusters is 1 3/4 inches. Every other baluster bottom will be cut to achieve a baluster arrangement that has the bases and the tops following the rake angel. See my baluster arrangement page.
We were just contracted by a customer to make these poplar balusters and starter newel for a home in Connecticut. The post-to-post newel has an octagon base middle and top. The top id quite narrow and will require the handrail to attach horizontally. As such, an up easing will have to be used. The handrail attaching on the rake angle would be too wide for the newel top. The newel measures 8″ at the widest. The design is based on the image from a magazine article and came off quite nicely. The balusters are a based on the image from the same magazine article. The pattern was a common pattern used at the turn of the last century and prior to.
I did not turn these. My partner in crime (turning crime that is) turned these. Great job Walter!
Beautiful Custom Stairs is a web site devoted to the work of Loren Dugan in the Seattle area. I found his site on the web and was so impressed with his work I thought it would be nice to alert my readers to it for inspiration as well as those in the Northwest that might be interested in his services. The staircases in the gallery represent not only beautiful design but exceptional craftsmanship as well. I know you will agree. You can go to his stair gallery here: Beautiful Custom Stairs Gallery
These are a set of inside balusters we reproduced in soft maple some time back. The design is simple but nice, I think. The piantee baluster is the original obviously. They measured 1 3/4″ wide at the squares.
These columns (porch posts) were popular in the US in the 18th and 19th century. The chamfered edges terminate in a “lambs tongue”.
By the way, a chamfer is a beveled edge connecting two surfaces. If the surfaces are at right angles, the chamfer will typically be symmetrical at 45 degrees (def. from wikipedia).
You can see the lamb’s tongue in the still image at the end of the video.
The chamfer and lamb’s tongue were not only commonly used on porch post but also on exposed beams.
I was contracted to turn these large island legs in alder some time back.
Alder is considered by some to be a cherry substitute, I suppose, because it has a pinkish color. That is probably the only common ground between the two species. You might argue that they both have a similar smell. Why would anyone substitute alder for cherry you may ask? Alder is more plentiful and so cheeper. Cherry has been one of America’s classic wood species and, as such, has been overly harvested. Cherry today is more likely to include sap wood because it is harvested from smaller trees (sap wood is whitish in color and contrast sharply with the characteristic pink heart color of cherry – not a desirable trait)
I suspect that most of my readers are more prone to traditional stair design because that is more of what I have posted about here and at Architectural Turnings. You may, however, like to see what others are doing (other architects and designers that is) in the design arena. At the least, you may have yourself a good laugh and “make your day”. Or you may see something you like or come away with a few good ideas. You see some of these “minimalist” stair designs here: Modern Stair Designs
