rybakj52 Posted April 1, 2011 Share Posted April 1, 2011 Hi everyone! So my little sister is trying to build a spiral staircase for her dollhouse from scratch, but is having a hard time figuring out how. She's had several (failed) attempts and I don't want her to get discouraged. Does anyone know an easy (and affordable) way to do this? It feels like its so hard for me to help her when I'm so far away :wub: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CindyLee Posted April 1, 2011 Share Posted April 1, 2011 has she checked online at the mini staircases to see how they're constructed? Or maybe checking online about lifesize ones, there may be a site that tells how to do it. If you find out how to make one let me know! I was wanting to try a spiral staircase in my Tennyson to save space in the kitchen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rybakj52 Posted April 1, 2011 Author Share Posted April 1, 2011 we've looked online and they do have tutorials but they either look very primitive or the directions don't make sense and theres only a couple of pictures. shes tried popsicle sticks and a skewer using bits of a straw to space them and it actually came out pretty well but it didnt have a railing and after a few days the stairs fell off :wub: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparklepuppies Posted April 1, 2011 Share Posted April 1, 2011 In Kelly's (rodentraiser) Washington Album, she showed how she made hers. http://www.greenleafdollhouses.com/forum/i...&album=1709 There was also a discussion about this last week, there may have been some more suggestions. http://www.greenleafdollhouses.com/forum/i...ic=28538&hl Some people use the fancy fans sold in the bridal section for the steps, or you could drill holes in your wood pieces. I wish her luck! Show us pictures when she completes it! :wub: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muriel Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 Did she get her stairs sorted? I built a really easy spiral staircase for my DHE bash - see the pics at the end of the album for detail of the build. I cut the shape of the step/tread out and then drilled a hole the size of a dowel in the centre part of the step. Then I stained the step, dowel and railings the colour I wanted. (If you're going to paint, then you can build first and then spray paint everything together). I just used a spacer to make sure that the steps were evenly spread and glued with a drop of superglue to hold it immediately and then a drop of wood glue to hold it longer in place. Each step gets glued slightly around the dowel so it forms a spiral. - I did this by eye, making each step overlap by the same amount. For the railings I glued the posts to the step and the next step up to help secure it and keep it straight (again with a drop of superglue and a drop of wood glue). Then got a chain to use instead of a handrail - you could use a cord/string instead of a chain. If you've got any questions ask away! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 Here is the best spiral stair tutorial I've found. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judithfa Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 I was lucky - a wonderful spiral staircase (in pieces) came with the Ashley kit. I used the flat "spindles" from HBS and cut a long piece of good cording, coated it well with Elmers glue to "harden" it, and then shaped around the stairs on the spindles, and then glue it on them. B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rybakj52 Posted April 12, 2011 Author Share Posted April 12, 2011 Sorry everyone, I had a lot of coursework the last few weeks. She hasn't figured it out yet and I don't go home until June. We've been skyping but it was pretty hard. I decided we should start off easier so I'm showing her how to make tables and chairs. Thank you all for your help though!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amyole Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 Maybe it's too late, but I was finally able to add a pic to my Orchid gallery of the spiral staircase I have started for it (I was only able to add one pic successfully to the album so far). I don't think I'll be able to do any railing for it - one is space issue and the other is my lack of skill. The people that use this staircase will have to have very good balance, I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minime Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 I have an Ashley kit, I could trace or scan the pieces for you if you want. Here's a picture of an Ashley that Minis On The Edge did with a good shot of the stairway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Peggi made a spiral stircase for her White Orchid/ Snow White and the 7 Dwarves house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jas Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 I am thinking of adding a spiral staircase from one of the third floor balconies to the roof for a rooftop deck. I was looking online and even the unfinished ones were almost 100.00. Glad I found this thread! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 Don't forget our own Don makes a spiral stair kit: http://www.greenleafdollhouses.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=27318&hl=%2Bspiral+%2Bstairs&fromsearch=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jas Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 Just looked at his site, beautiful stairs! Where I thought I could put the stairs was from one outside balcony to the roof but then I realized it is not one flight up but two. That would be one tall staircase. The other place I could put them is from one of the top floor rooms to the roof from inside. I am still tossing around the idea. I really liked the outside one darnit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kreativitea75 Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 I bought a built spiral staircase from a seller on ebay: they are all he sells and he usually lists one a week at a very reasonable price. The username is Tmaggio911 and I just checked: no staircase listed, but there will be one within the next few days. You can click on "items for sale" and then "completed listings" to check out the prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jas Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodentraiser Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 Er, Tracy, I think I deleted that album. The house was in such bad shape and the wood plys had separated to the point where I had walls the thickness of a piece of paper. Even after getting it mostly done. it was still falling to pieces so I did the best thing and took out what I could salvage and then gently sent the dollhouse to that big suburb in the sky. I think I still have the spiral staircase, but that and all my dollhouse stuff is 2000 miles away from me in storage right now and because I no longer had the house, I took down the album. I am so sorry - I never even thought that anyone would want to see it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoey Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 http://minitreasures.pbworks.com/w/page/20981965/stairs#Instructionsforminiatures Here's a site I found that may help. I know this may be too late, but just in case it might help 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalesq Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 http://minitreasures.pbworks.com/w/page/20981965/stairs#Instructionsforminiatures Here's a site I found that may help. I know this may be too late, but just in case it might help There are some great ideas here. Thanks for the link! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.