Stuart R
Member
Hello all,
If you frequent this space, you may have seen my recent post and resulting thread discussing the use of 1x for building stock platforms and accompanying compression legs. That campaign is well under way and working well (thanks for the ideas and feedback).
Now I want to build some stock step units with a similar focus on lightness and portability (once safety is attended to). In my experience, a 4' wide independent step unit with three carriages, 1' treads, and 7" risers all made of 3/4 ply is stupid heavy. Any ideas of how I can lighten it? Various ideas I'd had:
BONUS QUESTION: I'm making a cyclindrical platform with a radiused plywood top and bottom (via router jig). To enclose the cylinder, would you attach triangular 1x cleats every few inches along the curves and then bend 1/4" or 1/8" plywood around the circumference, tacking it as you go, OR would you go hardcore and cut (ma-a-a-a-a-ny) relief cuts on one side of some 2x4s, bending and attaching them just inside the curves and affixing the skinny ply to that?
Thoughts on any of this?
Thanks guys.
If you frequent this space, you may have seen my recent post and resulting thread discussing the use of 1x for building stock platforms and accompanying compression legs. That campaign is well under way and working well (thanks for the ideas and feedback).
Now I want to build some stock step units with a similar focus on lightness and portability (once safety is attended to). In my experience, a 4' wide independent step unit with three carriages, 1' treads, and 7" risers all made of 3/4 ply is stupid heavy. Any ideas of how I can lighten it? Various ideas I'd had:
- use three notched 1x10s or 1x12s instead of closed ply carriages (and leg the top step)
- use 1x12 for treads (Or is that too dicey? How about 2x12 s- not lighter than plywood, but prettier than ply with less cutting)
- use thinner ply for the risers (most of the tread support seems to come more from the center carriage, yes?)
- retain the 3/4 ply closed carriage but replace the center carriage with a 1x or 2x stringer up the middle and cleated to each step
BONUS QUESTION: I'm making a cyclindrical platform with a radiused plywood top and bottom (via router jig). To enclose the cylinder, would you attach triangular 1x cleats every few inches along the curves and then bend 1/4" or 1/8" plywood around the circumference, tacking it as you go, OR would you go hardcore and cut (ma-a-a-a-a-ny) relief cuts on one side of some 2x4s, bending and attaching them just inside the curves and affixing the skinny ply to that?
Thoughts on any of this?
Thanks guys.