Steamed Wood Laminate Railing Results. Is this Going to Work?

Taking the steamed wood slats out of the clamps after 24 hours. Still trying to find a workable solution to our natural wood curved railing on our spiral staircase.

[@jeffmanzone]

I like how you read comments. And are trying to learn

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

crowdsourcing! almost like having a dozen consultants on your job, but got to sort through people's ideas and people with actual stair building/working experience advice.

[@hisimagenme]

Ok, anyone else like tilted to the side, bending and staying while they udeclamped the rails?? I was so hoping they would stay! But like you said... learning... been there... done that... got a few bald spots to prove it. Lol! Keep going, I'm still rooting for ya! Smiles and blessings!

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

You and me both! got a new idea to test out...stay tuned

[@nursinghomemaintence9927]

I grew up watching Roy Underhill on the woodwright's shop. He did several steam bending episodes. Seems like I remember him saying It's not how wet the wood is but how hot it is that makes it easy to bend. I also remember him having to move very quickly before the wood cooled. (and saw it splinter when he was too slow)

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Interesting. One of the wood bending guys on YT suggested using a surfactant to increase "wetness" . We will try again!

[@timcameron6417]

I worked for a stair company we made spirals like yours. We made our bending rail out of dry wood. We just kept the layers 1/8" when doing the glue up on rail we put it in a plastic tube from u-line to catch squeeze out. Clamping to inside of rail is how we did it. Just use the hole stair case, and lap the rail where you want to splice it together.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Cool to know. We've got a new idea I think which should be much easier, using 1/4 inch birch plywood to laminate together and clamp into place, stay tuned!

[@tomfillmore9710]

Good video I am no carpenter so I can't give any advice good on you for trying you will get it beautiful scene and love watching the moose thanks for sharing have a great day

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Thanks 👍

[@ZafodB3]

I feel your frustration! I also believe you’ll get it rite! Worst case scenario, you now have a bandsaw. It also dawned on me, just think of the weight you’d have been dealing with if you you had used ski lift cable!

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Much appreciated perspective-thanks!

[@lint2023]

Search this to get a link to a US Forestry Service booklet on steam bending wood. "Bending Solid Wood To Form - Forest Products Laboratory". I don't know if it will help but I remembered seeing it a few years ago. for the bandsaw "point guide": Clamp a triangular shaped (as seen from looking down from above the saw) wooden block to the fence with a point of the block at the leading edge of the blade . Adjust the fence in and out to give more or less clearance between the point and the blade that matches the thickness of the cut you want to make. This will allow you to work the tree back and forth as it curves or isn't straight. Said differently, use a point guide next to the blade instead of a flat fence guide. Keep at it. You will get there. All the wildlife - I love it.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

That's awesome! thanks for sharing. Interesting suggestion of a triangular point guide, never heard of that before.

[@jaredkean7841]

Man what a tough DIY project, those stairs a incredibly beautiful. I'm not sure Id ever bite off something that complex but it's fun to watch the creativity. Looks great.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Thanks 👍 Part of the fun is in the figuring out process.

[@MrBgwolf]

When I was a boy, my step dad and I was working on a spiral stair install for a customer , he wanted a similar look as you are going for. To save time we weaved three smaller fresh will trees together after stripping the bark and was able to wined it up the stairs. We tide it in place till it dried and then we finished installing it. Hope that helps. Good luck. I like your spacer idea.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Thanks for sharing your story. Sounds nice, but we don't have willow around here.

[@mr-summitt4559]

Hi just started watching your videos. I enjoy watching your progress of your home. I have an idea for the railing. What if instead, you change from trying to use a branch to mold and fit, to instead gather smaller longer diameter branches and weave/braid them together, interlocking it together to fit the railing. You can use the bottle cap method to cap the ends cutting the tops off but keeping the curve to hold them in. As you go up, you can intertwine more as you go up further putting a mental ring to hold it together. Just a thought. Enjoy your videos.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Thanks for coming by! The weaving idea was suggested before, but we're not crazy about it. Got a new idea to test out, stay tuned.

[@jimmytwizzle7836]

Always interesting to watch an amateur having ago. Then usually they call a professional out after to fix it.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Stay tuned for our next video. We enjoy the process of figuring it out on our own. :)

[@johnmcmillan7048]

I am something of a woodworker myself. I've had a little experience steam bending walnut for chair legs. I would echo what some have suggested: 1.Cut wood into thin strips 1/8"-3/16"(no thicker). 2. Green wood is preferred. I would use green trees. I would not use a steamer on the first try. I don't think its needed or wanted. 3.People who do this use a jig to clamp everything to (very important)...I would suggest for a jig use the area (corner) where the stair treads and the balustrading (spindles) meet. You should be able to clamp vertically (against the stair treads) and horizontally (against the spindles). Note: just now, saw earlier vid showing Brian doing clamp up on that part of stairs...DUH. Of course protecting the treads and spindles very important, because you will need to glue the strips while they are green. Use Polyurethane glue. It is very strong and it actually needs moisture to set up correctly, so the green wood moisture will be good. Gorilla Glue is one brand. I would try wrapping hand rail in a spiral continuously, using thinner wire (your parachute cord might be ok) to hold everything in shape. You might try using radiator hose clamps at only one end, then let the rest of the material go where it wants as you clamp the hand rail up the stairs using "C" clamps. I would also suggest doing only one at a time. Use gloves and wear old clothes. This glue does not easily come off. If you get on skin and allowed to dry it will have to wear off. If it gets on clothing...well I guess it could be a fashion statement! No joke, but it is the best glue! If you are not careful it could turn into a mess. I could go on and on but my suggestions are just mine. you folks have the hard part. Good luck! Your neighbor, John

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

We are going to stick with the laminated strip idea, but switching to birch plywood instead of live tress, and skip the steamer. We've got new ideas for clamping, securing into place, stay tuned! We did get some great glue suggestions from a circular stair builder, so going with the DAP plastic resin glue product. We will be limited to 8 foot lengths (size of the plywood sheet) and then have to fashion the joins as we go. Thanks for the ideas! Sounds like we are on the right track.

[@raymondrussell500]

Since you are getting some spring back, don’t block out the middle , instead progressively block out towards each end so you get a tighter radius. Also steam the green wood to make it even more flexible. It also might help that you bend each slice and as you add the next slice, glue it together with the previous slice as you clamp up each rail. This will help hold the bent shape of the rail when dry. Best of luck!

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Good suggestion. The toughest areas are the ends. They are staying straighter than the middle. We did try green at the end of this video and it was a huge difference. But we do have one more idea to try. I think you have a great suggestion of doing one laminate at a time. We will have to bend first then let it dry before doing the glueing. thanks!

[@raymondrussell500]

@@ColoradoMountainLiving , glueing up the laminate while wet as you form or bend will help hold the bend and is usually the technique used.

[@jamiemckenzie8516]

Brian the one wood that would really work with that radius is Willow if that grows in your area !

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

The kind of willow that grows here is more like a shrub , the moose eat it. But I like your thinking.

[@williekp1]

You two deserve to do very well. You work very hard.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Thank you

[@mawacal]

the end result will be worth the effort!

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

hope so!

[@ws775]

Once it's done you'll be an expert!

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

hahah you got that right!

[@jamesbaldwin7676]

Steam bending is for boats and chairs but has little use to the stairbuilder. Of all the various ways of fabricating curved handrail, steambending is not one of them. As a retired stair and handrail guy, I can honestly say I've never had any use for steam bending other than to further relax the individual pieces of a planned strip-laminating procedure. In fact curved and raked handrail segments were most often, just cut and shaped from flat boards and then joined together to form long lengths. This remains a complex process but still viable. Full-round handrail segments may even be cut flat from a board and joined together without considering helical twist. You just have to be able to calculate helical curvature. The conjoined, flat radius pieces, will follow the helical curve close enough to become a handrail.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Thanks for the input. We did not steam the laminates , seem to be plenty flexible enough.

[@clydedecker765]

The number of teeth per inch makes cleaner or quicker cuts on the bandsaw. (Remember you must clear the sawdust out of the cut as you go...Less teeth with deeper gullets mean faster cuts but not necessarily as clean.) I'd still steam the green ones. Acorn to Arabella puts cuts in almost the entire length (but not all) of their rails to keep the splits out but there is not a planned twist. You may need to tie (bundle) the slats as you go up the rails to keep them working together They will spiral around as you go up and need bundling to prevent ugly cracks forming... Lots of luck guys. You may have some happy accident results yet!

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

We did notice it doesn't take much to clog up the saw with sawdust. We have a new idea to test out as well. stay tuned!

[@clydedecker765]

OH - I did see a guy on a PBS show (the guy with the mustache and the blonde assistant) who sawed cherry into thin strips and built a spiral stair rail. It was a magnificent result. He does explain and show how but I can't remember it...

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

We do have a new idea to test out, with strips of birch plywood, stay tuned as Bryan explains his next idea

[@DavidIrthum]

Ahh, thank you for this wonderful view. I miss living in Colorado.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Shambala_G]

Respect to you guys for your tenacity 💪👍👏 Just call it the learning curve 😍

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Thank you 🙌

[@Ah_Bo]

Ever watch "How to Make a Curved Railing (No Steam Required)" by Steve Porter? I think his idea of assembling layer by layer with combinations of glue and brad nails may work on your railing. It certainly worked on mine: I just have my 21 feet curve railing done and installed.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

That sounds great!

[@wendylaca1783]

I used to steam Windsor chair back just a few tips. You can only steam deciduous wood not evergreen tree wood. Add 1 cup of ammonia in your steamer when heat the wood. Use a metal strap the with and length of the wood your bending the wood needs to be compress while bending. Make plywood form the radius of the rail your bending.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

I remember you mentioning this. Someone else recommended a video series from a guy who steams wagon wheel wood for a living. He mentioned the same things you are saying; decidious trees and ammonia and the metal strapping. Thanks for the confirmation.

[@good-timeshomestead2183]

Try a curved limb close to the arch you need. Less to steam and bend. Just a thought. Looks amazing, true craftsmanship!

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Nice thought. Thanks for the support!

[@stephenmatthews9378]

Bend the wood on the outside of your posts, that way when they relax, they will be the correct radius

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Seems like doing it that way would result in an even wider radius when it relaxes

[@stephenmatthews9378]

@@ColoradoMountainLiving yeah you’re probably right

[@petershale9940]

I watch harry rodgers from england with his group of bodgers, they use green trees then steam them for making furniture etc you might find some interesting tips, good luck with the rail will look good when finished, love the channel cheers from australia

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Sounds great! thank you

[@johnoliveri5544]

i would love to live in a area with so much wildlife around. i give you guys a lot of credit. i would of given up on building the rail by now. i have so many ideas that i would do or try, but i know you wouldn't like them. keep trying, i am sure you will get it the way you want it. you might not have any trees left, but you will have a railing. lol

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Thanks! WEll part of the fun is in the doing as well as the figuring out process.

[@jockflynn54]

I think Stephen Matthews is on the right lines ,you may want to over bend them so when they relax they will be closer to the required bend, anyhow good luck gonna look great when you get there.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Thanks! I think we have a new idea that will be less dependant on the bending process. Stay tuned!

[@jackterry7664]

The narrower bandsaw blade is easier to make curves, and circles. The wider blade is stronger for more straight cuts, plus the pitch of the teeth makes a difference too.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Got it. Appreciate the distinction.

[@elisabethe8055]

Last resort, use a heavy duty stiffened rope, like for ships! At least it bends, and it actually looks good. Have you tried young spruce? Bendy and hardy. We use them for fence called #gärdesgård . Boiling in in hot water (steam should work fine) and then they bend and bowe as you want! :)

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Funny, that is our back up option, if all else fails. We do have another idea for more pliale wood. Have been told that deciduous trees been more readily with less problems.

[@FunwithBooboo]

Would you consider using a nice thick jute rope or even a thick metal cable? I had another idea: get a 1 1/2 to 2 inch plastic clear tube that is curved as your railing. Put it in you prepared cradle posts by tying it down. Then pour liquid epoxy. When the epoxy dries, remove the clear plastic tube or leave the plastic tube. Ha ha. Another crazy idea

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

We did consider that.

[@mikerieger8964]

Add wood glue between the slices and put it back in your jig.when it dries it will be perfect

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

We are definitely going to use glue in our next attempt.

[@markpashia7067]

Not a lot of experience but when I tried bent wood years ago it seemed to work well in the middle but the ends really did not want to bend as well. Unless you had a perfect jig the last food or so of each end just wanted to stay straight. I ended up bending longer boards and then sawing off the rigid ends by a foot or so and then joining the shorter boards together that had taken the correct radius. I might be wrong but just a thought.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

we noticed the same thing in our trials. we will probably go longer than necessary just in case we can't fix that issue.

[@andyteohockguan2235]

Awesome

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

thanks!

[@stephenmatthews9378]

Put the ends through between the posts, and your laths on the outside apart from the first and last

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

we got a new idea, that might just work with glue and clamps

[@craftybear01]

Based on having built a couple of staircases I think you need to start from a different position. You're essentially trying to make a jig for wood bending using the spindles. Firstly they're not firm enough to cope with the pressure and secondly because you're bending the wood based on the inside curve of the spindle they won't match the centreline of them. Also when a normal staircase is made you set the rail at the top and bottom then place the spindles in the gap. Therefore 2 things to try. 1) use some CAD (Cardboard Aided Design) to make a jig which matches the curve and rise using plenty of plywood and steam and bend the rails on that. It can be as solid as you like and you won't be trying to bend it iin situ climbing up a staircase 2) once you have a railing that matches the curve put in the newel post and a spindle at the end of your rail piece, fix it to them then insert spindles underneath to match the height. Rinse and repeat all the way up!)

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Thanks for the expert advice. I think a supportive form sounds like a great add. Since we already have the newel post, it would be a matter of adding the mortise on the post, wherever the rail ends up. The spindles can still be adjusted for height, and we have additional spindles to add, so sounds like a great plan!

[@gumbystown]

Here in Placerville Idaho we've gotten two feet of snow in the last couple days. I'm still using the plow on the pickup I haven't had to get the tractor out yet

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Wow. Can you make quick work of it with 2 feet? Bryan was done in about 10 minutes yesterday but he was only blowing out the drifted areas.

[@tode5675]

You'd be well served to try to find access to a planer. I regularly run lumber for friends through mine but you guys are hundreds of miles away. You'll get a uniform thickness and a glue ready surface after planing. You can/should still cut your blanks just plan on knocking off 1/16th or so from each side to true them up and smooth them out. Oh! Plane before bending!

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Hopeing the birch plywood idea could work out for us, working with a smooth surface to start with should help a lot .

[@edmcentee]

I think if you stagger your overlap/joints longer, you'd have better luck going up. Instead of the 4" you were planning, try the distance between your balisters for a layer.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

That's an interesting idea.....

[@Tjaeger68]

what if you leave them in one peice and put a ratchet strap between both ends and make a templet out of some cardboard and match it up. kinda like stringing a bow .. Dont know just an idea. by the way love the channel.. I Dream about a homestead one day in the mountains.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

we may end up using straps, but have a new clamping idea to test out.

[@gilbertmick62]

Bryan tu va finir par avoir le dessus de cette rampe courage tout les deux 😊🤗🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷bisous de France

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Thank you!

[@ChuckBronson100]

Your getting they’re Amy and Brian. May I suggest that when you start glueing up the pieces use lots of wax paper on the steps, (if you already didn’t know that)

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Good point! Got a new idea to test out, stay tuned!

[@raysaxton9981]

Stop cutting in to strips and don,t worry about the Y axes, do a compression steam bend in a larger radius, if you look at what you have done already, it still lays flat on the floor.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

ok. we've got a new idea. might not need steam after all.

[@jackterry7664]

Vergo ought to be able to keep the coyotes away!

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

The danger is he chases off after them. He has more self control around the moose but not when he sees a coyote!

[@Clothis64]

It may be a failure, but you can learn the consequences and do better next time. It’s a good thing!

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Very true thank you

[@stevenrussell2218]

If you can find some ash trees going in a wet or swampy area they will work best n cut them in 1/4" straps n use urethane glue that dries in the presence of moisture n steam them in 140 degrees celuis for like 5hrs min

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Hmmm we don't have anything like that around here. But have heard Ash is the best for bending.

[@earlye]

You could put blocks next to the posts to force the bend to be of a tighter radius.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

We did have blocks next to the posts, but perhaps using bigger ones

[@earlye]

@@ColoradoMountainLiving I'd also try, after it cools and dries, glue and re-clamp. The glue will resist the wood's attempt to spring back. Or at least, that was my experience while making a small heart-shaped box.

[@JRS2248]

put the whole pole in the steam box for a good hour, heavy steam. Take it out and clamp it to the uprights and let cool. not that hard. Laminating thin strips the strips need to be 3/16 to 1/8 inch thick they do not have to be steamed. You need to glue them up into a form and let them dry.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

I think we are leanign towards the strips (specifically birch plywood for uniformity) and may skip the steaming, just working on teh form now.

[@davidkilbourne5422]

I'm no expert at bending wood but could you somehow cut the green trees and maybe tie them at 3 or 4 places together and let them soak for say 4 days, in maybe a creek or river where you could keep an eye on them( might be a little wet and or frozen) put them where you want on the stairway and as they dry, mabe they would keep their bent shape. Just a thought, not really a good one because I'm just bumfuzzeld. You guys no that for sure lol. O well you can laugh at me anyway. That's really a hard thought that I've never had to do. But I have faith that you'll figure it out. Just keep trying!

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Interesting ideas, but that's just not practical around here. it's too cold out for that one! lol WE go a new idea to test out , stay tuned!

[@troyhickey4300]

I don't know your guys likely hood of finding or having any near by but willow and grape vines bend really easy if you just soak them for a couple days.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

SOmeone else mentioned that as well. We don't have any access to that type of thing, but we are also looking for something very sturdy as well that will add to the stability of the stairwell.

[@andrewfranklin4802]

suggest using a dowel pin joint on end of rail about 7/8 dia

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Thank you. We thought of that, but now have a new idea. stay tuned!

[@919Drones]

What about using 2” x 4”s in place of the spindles. They will be more rigid. Just while you are forming the railing.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Maybe some more sturdy blocking . But we have a new idea that won't put so much torque on the spindles.

[@leroybrown7757]

.. patience and persistence...oh and plan B...plan C ..plan D...and so on the learning comes with the trying & the succeeding comes after many failures...and the knowledge comes with both.. skritches for master viggo ☮️&🌱's

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Are we on Plan E yet?? LOL feels like it

[@josephlansberry737]

You may want to check “Engels Coach Shop KZbin” He has a life time of experience bending wood.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

A very good suggestion that was mentioned earlier. I watched the video of the top 10 reasons for failure and got a couple of good tidbits to try for the next round. thanks!

[@stevenszikora2375]

Myself I would go with rod iron railing. Sometimes better let the pros do it. Lot more efficient.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

That's cool. Sometimes the fun is in the doing and figuring out.

[@davidhosmer1424]

HERESY and maybe a bit tacky - PVC electrical conduit and wrapped with rope, leather or ??? Good effort, don't get discouraged. Thanks and take care

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

hahaha. Well probably not got with PVC, would opt for Rope if all else fails. But we do have another idea to try. STay tuned!

[@handyman5455]

If you screwed the railing pieces together before you unclamped it would hold its curve

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

That's another idea to try. We still need to add the glue first.

[@terrycavanah8008]

Willow or birtch

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Thanks. I think we ended up with birch.

[@terrycavanah8008]

Use willow

[@terrycavanah8008]

Or birtch

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

WE are looking at birch plywood....stay tuned for our next idea!