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Thread: Compact Stair Advice
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9th August 2018, 10:31 AM #1SENIOR MEMBER
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Compact Stair Advice
Hi Guys,
I have a mezzanine in the shed and came across a neat design for compact stairs that I am thinking of making.
I don't need anything fancy, but something that folds away like this is ideal.
I am thinking the 3rd image is a simpler design
I have a couple of questions:
1. What material do you suggest (noting its a shop project)
2. Suggested hinges to use?
3. Any feedback on design or structure or any other issues/ideals ?
Bcompact Hybrid stairs and ladders |
https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/333688653636480784/
Thanks Guys!
compact_stairs.jpgcomact_stairs2.jpgb027782eb45f021041ffccda7b67e8f3.jpg
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9th August 2018 10:31 AM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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9th August 2018, 10:09 PM #2
That's pretty amazing ! Ive never seen one like that before. I wonder how safe and stable they feel.
Id say use Aussie hardwood like Vic Ash or something like that.
And steel hinges which are not the folded around the pin type if possible.
Rob
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10th August 2018, 11:50 AM #3
I suspect that the design in the first 3 pix might be made to have the better structural strength, hinge-wise, IF constructed properly. It also folds more neatly, of course. I have my doubts about the capacity of the pictured stringers though.
The only time I've seen this type of thing is as part of modular counters, a slide-out panel about 1-1/2" wide x counter height. It slides out and a set of kitchen steps can be folded to the left or right to provide access to the upper cabinets. Safer than drawing up a kitchen chair, I guess. But you only fall a couple of feet if kitchen steps fail.
Used as stairs I'd have some doubt over carrying capacity; I certainly wouldn't want to be heaving heavy boxes up them without some serious testing first!
I'd also have concerns about how to lock them safely in the stowed position. Wouldn't want 'em to come thumping down when some curious kid wonders "what's this?"
Not saying it's a bad idea... but I do think you need to give due thought to beefing them up a bit.
(FWIW, I seriously doubt that any buildinginspector worth his salt would pass them; they fail to meet Building Safety Code on so many levels. But that's a different question, no? )
- Andy Mc
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10th August 2018, 12:39 PM #4Senior Member
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It’s overly complex, you could achieve a similar result by hinging a ladder off the wall so it folds flat against it. That design puts all load bearing on the hinge pins. If you are going to do stairs you need to have a comfortable rise/run ratio as specified in the NCC, otherwise you may as well just use an attic ladder.
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10th August 2018, 11:49 PM #5
there used to be an attic ladder called a "disappearing staircase". From memory it was a regular set of stairs that, using a pulley and counter weight, could be made to disappear into an attic space.
In your instance, you could construct a set of regular stairs, fixed one end that could have the bottom end hoisted above head height.regards from Alberta, Canada
ian
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11th August 2018, 02:38 PM #6Senior Member
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This is what I'm planning for my mezzanine. But rather than use a pulley and counterweight, I'm trying to design it using a tailgate spring from a horse float to counter the weight, and gas struts to control speed and the range of motion. It can be done with just struts, but they get pretty pricey in the Newton force size needed. There's a lot of leverage in 4 metre long stringers. The lighter the stairs the better as this design puts a lot of rotational force on the support the stairs are mounted to.
The advantage of the pulley and counterweight is the load is more like a single span beam, the pulley is dealing with half the mass which lessens the load on the hinge end.
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11th August 2018, 07:13 PM #7GOLD MEMBER
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It doesn’t look a very comfortable stair to use, particularly if you are going to be carrying gear up and down
I like Ian’s idea of a hinged conventional stair , rather than the horse float spring hinge and struts etc where things can get complicated and expensive Why don’t you just build it lightweight and use a simple rope and pulley to operate
You could use aluminium planks on edge as stringers with lightweight ply or aluminium steps
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