Patterson Cottage
Beals, Maine
The first step in making the stairs on the tree was to make flat facets to receive each of the seven steps. To perfectly align each facet we used a jig to guide cutting. A lazar level's beam was bounced back from the jig to get alignment.
You can see the lazar beam making the plumb bob string glow and the light going on to bounce off the mirror in the center of the jig and return directly to the lazar. When all that happens the jig is in the right position!
The light again but with the mirror removed.
Several facets showning.
The bases for the steps overlap each other quite a bit as you can see here.
Detail of the jig. Bolts were screwed into the tree. The wooden guide was set vertically and at the correct angle, then a Forstner bit was used to cut the wood to a uniform depth.
The step support pieces being assembled by Lissa and Bob The wood is 2" thick hemlock.
One of the under-step supports.
The "first" step propped in its place. Two lower steps will be placed on the floor - not the tree.
The individual pieces of wood making up the support are being left as shown here rather than carved or smoothed. This reflects the style of exposed rafters and beams in the house.
