Single Step Stairs

This project uses only one sheet of plywood. It makes a four level step that is 32 3/4 inch tall. I use mine for my kids (2 and 5 yr old) to get on to the trampoline, you can use yours for whatever. Hope you enjoy!

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Step 1: Tools and Materials

Tools and Materials needed:

1 Sheet of 3/4 inch Exterier Plywood
Grid Paper
Pencils
Rulers
A Large Square (Makes 90 degree)
Wood Glue
Nails and Hammer
or Nail Gun and 2 inch long nails
Wood Screws (I used 1 1/4 inch Coarse Thread)
Power Drill
Pilot Hole tool (Makes room for the head of the screw and not crack the wood)
Screwdriver
Long Clamps
Sand Paper and Sanding Block
or Jitterbug or Orbital Sander (electric or pneumatic)
Hand Saw (I do not recomend takes way too long)
or Circular Saw and Jig Saw

humberto ribas says: May 15, 2011. 6:35 AM

Nice adaptaton for Santos Dumont's stairs (early 1900's). This great Brazilian inventor, the first one really make a plane take off in 1906 or 1909 (not be catapulted like the Wright brothers did, and like all airplanes actually do to fly), used this concept for short spaces.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ai2v2xzDgc&NR=1

blodefood in reply to humberto ribasJan 9, 2012. 8:25 PM

I know he wasn't first, but Alexander Graham Bell (inventor of the telephone) launched and flew his first aircraft the Silver Dart in February 1909 in Baddeck, Nova Scotia. It was an exciting time in the beginning of Canadian aviation!

A replica of the Silver Dart was built and flew on the centennial of the first flight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYXRflJgJGg

static in reply to humberto ribasMay 30, 2011. 3:13 AM

These are also known as Jefferson stairs. Because Thomas Jefferson advocated their use. The design predates Jefferson, promotion of the design, so your claim is off around 200 years or so. The first wright flyer took off on it's own power, evidently later flight did used a catapult if the wind wasn't favorable. I have no interest in that peeing contest, as I don't the Marconi Vs. Tesla first radio transmission contest. Your claim about the alternate thread stairs doesn't really help your argument on the first flight credibility.

haruspex in reply to humberto ribasMay 17, 2011. 10:16 AM

Really no need to spark such a big debate:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santos_Dumont#The_first_fixed-wing_aircraft:_The_14-bis_versus_the_Wright_Flyers

It is very heavily argued whether Dumont, the Wright brothers, or others had the first heavier-than-air aircraft based on many specifications. Please don't make such statements as fact.

hintss says: Jul 9, 2011. 9:07 AM

cat scratching post?

chicopluma says: Jun 25, 2011. 1:48 AM

cool design

cbg3868 says: May 16, 2011. 1:14 AM

I note that your trampoline has safety features to protect your children from falls from this "toy". Do think that maybe a hand rail of some sort would also be beneficial. I know that some homeowners insurance policies do not like trampolines and have been known to cancel policies. There are times that I feel that pools are safer that trampolines. I highly recommend the consulting with your insurance company before venturing into installing either.

Pilgrim55 (author) in reply to cbg3868May 16, 2011. 6:35 PM

I thought about a hand rail but the whole thing, steps, kid and all, might fall over because of the weight. If the child stops up top and leans to one side with the hand rail I thought it might tip over. I guess I could put one on each side and that might balance it out.

askjerry says: May 15, 2011. 8:39 PM

The design is very good... the time and effort taken to design the whole unit from one sheet with very little waste... brilliant. Excellent job!

Pilgrim55 (author) in reply to askjerryMay 16, 2011. 6:27 PM

Thanks! Plywood has gotten so expensive these days. Since I wanted to make this out of Exterier Grade I needed a way to cut costs. It took a little time to plan but worth it.

karlpinturr says: May 15, 2011. 7:39 AM

Very nice indeed! Certainly cheaper, better-looking and more versatile than actual trampoline ladders tend to be.

I almost want to say that 'form has followed function', but it hasn't - the two go hand-in-hand here.

I think the tops/treads have a slightly 60's retro look about them.

And storage space, too!! That's great for when the kids have run off indoors without their shoes...

The only fly in the ointment for me is my inner pedant wondering why they're called 'single step' stairs... I mean, there are 4 steps/treads to them, and you've used 7 steps for this Instructable - or maybe I'm missing something?

nicknewbie in reply to karlpinturrMay 15, 2011. 8:49 AM

they are called that because when you use them you take one step per lever rather than two with traditional stairs

karlpinturr in reply to nicknewbieMay 15, 2011. 11:20 AM

Sooo..., 'traditional' stairs are/were a LOT deeper (front-to-back) than the ones in every house I've ever known?

Presumably something to do with not over-taxing the rich with such steep flights to reach the next level (and probably very quickly became status symbols)?

Hmmm... Thinking about it, that would account for the 'sweeping' staircase that so many films used to show...

So, thanks, nicknewbie.

nicknewbie in reply to karlpinturrMay 15, 2011. 3:56 PM

sarcasm doesn't work when you don't understand what your being sarcastic about presumably something to do with not over-taxing the rich

karlpinturr in reply to nicknewbieMay 16, 2011. 12:50 AM

Sorry, that wasn't actually meant to be sarcastic - I was typing what I thought, as I thought it, and not re-reading and editing it enough.

I should have said (having slept on it) that manor-houses etc., afforded more room for grander staircases, which some designers and/or Lords-of-the-manor may have (partly) justified as a way of not over-stressing their hearts - though everybody knows/would-have-known that that would have been, at best, a secondary concern.

Again, sorry about the mix-up.

mtamburo in reply to karlpinturrMay 15, 2011. 8:03 AM

What a great instructable!
My interpretation of "single step" :
each tread is meant for a single (adult sized) foot.

Pilgrim55 (author) in reply to mtamburoMay 16, 2011. 6:38 PM

Thanks! I think you sumed it up the best. Each step is made for one adult sized foot, however in this case I just increased the size as much for the top area and still use just one sheet of plywood. I thought that might be safer for the kids. Who knows I might could have made each step and made another step?

karlpinturr in reply to mtamburoMay 15, 2011. 8:10 AM

Hmmm! - Sounds plausible, thanks.

craftyv says: May 16, 2011. 12:31 AM

Great design. I see them as storage shelves or room/area dividers. I want some but nobody I know does woodwork i'm afraid. Very good Ible.

lesteryoder says: May 15, 2011. 10:06 PM

The very first thing I though of when I saw the picture of your project was my two cats. I think that your design would be a great indoor play area for cats. They like to climb and explore. With some slight modifications like cutting some large holes in some of the sides and installing a shelf inside that area for them to crawl in and lay on. The added shelves could even have holes in them so the cats could climb down between the layers. That said, I do like your design for what it is intended for and your ability to cut this out of one sheet of plywood.

acoleman3 says: May 15, 2011. 9:35 PM

i be one could build/secure a column on the back and go up with another course. maybe even expanding it further up with taller and taller columns on the back of each course up to the next floor. cheap easy to build stairs for the inside of the home.