Re: Outdoor Stairs

koykoy,

Bro, nothing to be scared or concerned with the continuous weld applications on your materials, bro, makakapal yung mga bakal mo so I don't see any reason for burn through. Actually ang sarap mag apply ng welds dyan sa makakapal na metal surfaces. May I suggest using E7018 rods for deeper penetration and good metal fusion.

OK, stay safe while working on your project !!! 😉

Re: Outdoor Stairs

Thanks Rosy for the encouragement, finally started this project during the long holiday. Just to document this:

This is only a 4feet high outdoor stair to access the roofdeck, right side will be attached to the wall, with 2feet wide steps and standard 7-11 inch riser-tread. I will be using 2x6 channel bar stringers (5/16 thick) and 3mm checkered plates. Also ordered angle bars (1-1/2 x 1/4 thickness) to support the steps, while at the same time function as nosing. The design might be a bit big for the requirement but since this will be an install and forget project, big is the key. Also, I have superactive dogs that are going to wreak havoc to lanky structures. Further, since the roofdeck is used for partying and getting drunk, a flexy stair might be dangerous for my 300lb drunk cousins and guests.

So, to start:

-Used excel as my drawing board to scale the exact dimension and length needed for the stringer as well as how the project will look. 🙂

-The few yet very heavy materials:
2x6 channel bars for the stringer
2-1/2 round tube (sched 40) for the support column
1-1/2 x 5mm angle bars for the step support/nosing
3mm checkered plate

Hey bro koykoy,

Damn, with the thickness of materials you are using, you won't even have a problem in welding, wala kang mabubutas dyan. With 5/16" and 1/4" wall thickness, oks na oks ang welding application and metal fusion dyan, well, provided you can apply your welds properly. hehehe

Have fun with the steel stairs project !!!! 😉 :banana1:

Re: Outdoor Stairs

@kokoy, that is a very good project. and I am happy to see another one cebuano here in the forum. btw. where in Cebu are you?, I am here in Lapulapu City

Re: Outdoor Stairs

Hi @quarxdmz, I am from Consolacion. Good to know you here, maybe we can share good suppliers for our projects.

I bought my steels at Atlantic Hardware. They seem to have a very good price. Also, the Bosch sale were exclusive to Atlantic only, Belmont did not do the sale.

Re: Outdoor Stairs

for my 3/32" welding rods, I think only Atlantic Hardware (hiway mandaue) has it. For now I do not have big metal projects.

Re: Outdoor Stairs

got it. i purchased 1/8 e6011 and 3/32 e6012 rods from belmont.

i think ill go find 1/8 e7018 rods tomorrow as @rosy suggested. have u tried using this rod and where might i find them?

Re: Outdoor Stairs

I got my other rods from Halleys, it is an all-welding-shop along Patalinghug Ave. this is the road straight down from the old Mactan bridge. Halleys is about 1Km after the bridge on your right, going Marigondon.

Re: Outdoor Stairs

thanks bro. will visit there sometime

Re: Outdoor Stairs

Update:

Done with the layout, preparing of wooden forms and positioning the stringers. It took 4 of us to manipulate the positions, damn, these things are heavy. I would have wanted to weld but my dad is so keen in doing the welding so I let him do the welding and I was just grinding & painting. hahaha. The angle bars are already mounted, will be prepping & welding the some of the metal sheets today but I will still leave some steps for him. 🙂

Weld beads are smoothed out to receive the metal step plates on top.

Re: Outdoor Stairs

Looking good bro ...

Re: Outdoor Stairs

Well koykoy, you're more than half way through the metal stairs, that is great ! Installing the checkered plates for the steps will now be simpler and easier so I suppose kayang kaya mo na yan, hehehehe ! Tell your dad ikaw na mag kakabit ng plates, stitch or spot welds lang yan !

Oh don't forget to double or triple prime the metals since it is exposed to the outside elements.

CHEERS bro and good luck sa project !! 😉

Re: Outdoor Stairs

Looking very good!

This question is probably too late but, did you consider the superstition on number of treads on stairs, i.e. Oro, Plata, Mata.

I don't believe in it but when I built my house, had to follow it. I can't have my relatives visiting and, each time, thinking malas.

At any rate, counting your treads, looks like you're on Oro, so that's superstitiously OK.

Re: Outdoor Stairs

Looking very good!

This question is probably too late but, did you consider the superstition on number of treads on stairs, i.e. Oro, Plata, Mata.

I don't believe in it but when I built my house, had to follow it. I can't have my relatives visiting and, each time, thinking malas.

At any rate, counting your treads, looks like you're on Oro, so that's superstitiously OK.

Hehehe. At first I considered it but the house is on a steep front slope so there are at least 5 stairs around so didnt bother nalang. I did 2 steps yesterday, my dad made the next 2 and I did the last 3 today. I actually practiced on the steel plates. Some are okey, some are very ugly. 6011 and 6012s are okay to use, I cant seem to get the groove on the 7018.

Re: Outdoor Stairs

Update: Did the railing this weekend. Was supposed to order black iron round pipes but my father was here and eager to weld so went to my local hardware stores, only substandard gi pipes are available so no choice but to get them (about 2.5 mm from the standard 3.5 mm for sched 40 2" pipe).
top rail - 2inch (Php 800)
rail vertical support - 1.5 inch (Php 620)
2 mid rails - 1inch (Php 340)

Things I learned:
1. Cutting & fitting round pipe is time consuming. Enjoyed nevertheless.
2. Just used 6011 to melt those GI coating. Smoke and occassional fire in the rods are experienced.
3. Tack welding was the only method available due to the thin metal (my AC welder minimum is 80A) with 3/32 rods.
4. For non-structural parts like the small mid-rails, I didnt fit anymore and just used leftover rods as "gap-filler".
5. @JayL's welding magnets are so much helpful.

Re: Outdoor Stairs

Glad you did not pick the BI pipes and just settled for GI pipes. Black Iron pipes may be a bit cheaper but do rust easily upon contact with water. The BI pipes will last you longer, just make sure you immediately coat with metal primer the joints because the finished welds are the ones that would rust easily, well that is based on actual experience unless you used stainless steel rods to weld those pipe joints.

Well the metal stairs project is already looking good now and sure looks sturdy enough for heavy traffic or use !! :2thumbsup:

Congrats bro and Cheers ! :cool01::groupwave: