Welcome to the Appendix, this is where you can keep up to date with the latest additions to the site. Some of the larger articles or indexes may be added to for more than a month, we will keep these live all the time we are adding to them.
We will keep a list of updates and items added in the past 30 days.
Current updates.
I have noticed recently that the 3D models are not working on all platforms, I have started adding links to full page display. This will allow the model to open in its own page so the focus works correctly without just scrolling the page.
I work on many of these pages live, some of these pages take weeks or months of work. I may have author notes on these pages to keep you up to date with where I am heading with that page.
Author notes will be in red.
Tangent handrail Versus CAD. – KnoStairs.
A look at the differences. Tangent handrail is not an exact science, even though the geometry used when drawn into a CAD programme is accurate to […]
Tread Designs – Curtail ends. – KnoStairs.
The curtail step. The curtail is one of the fanciest starts to a stair, it is designed solely for the Monkey’s tail or scroll, the curves […]
Cutting the opening cap joint. – KnoStairs.
Once the handrail opening cap joint has been determined it is time to cut the cap, I will normally do this on a blank piece of […]
Changing a square newel to a turned newel. – KnoStairs.
Adding a turned newel for a handrail feature end. In this article, we will look at cutting down a square newel post (Illu’ 1), shaping the […]
Spiral or straight staircase? – KnoStairs.
Do spiral staircases save space? The simple answer is: NO. Spiral stairs do not save space. If they did we would see more spiral stairs in […]
Diminishing handrail rebate.
How to get the rebate cut for setting the diminishing handrail under a stringer or ceiling line.
Staircase & Handrail reference.
Books. A Simplified Guide to Custom Stairbuilding and Tangent handrailing. This is the book I referenced most of all when learning the tangent system of handrailing. You may have to read some of the explanations a few times but if it was that easy anyone could do it. ISBN 0-941936-63-5 Modern practical stairbuilding and handrailing.…
Newel removal – starter tread replacement. – KnoStairs.
How to remove the newel post and bottom tread to replace with a feature tread. The stages involved. Introduction to this article. How the stairs are […]
Staircase and handrail 3D model introduction.
A look at some of the 3D infographic videos we are creating, these show how the various staircase and handrail parts fit together.
Staircase and handrail stretch out. – KnoStairs.
How the stretch out of the staircase shows the handrail flow or can be used to create the handrail flow for smoother transitions.
Stair drawing – check list. – KnoStairs.
A check list for the processes used in drawing a staircase and handrail, used as a reference for getting the processes in the correct order.
Spindle fitting.
Different ways to seat the spindles into the treads and fit them to the underside of the handrail. Historic and modern practices for setting the spindles.