saw in glulam beam

[storken]

hello!

I am about to start project stairs. (it will be indoors and it's going to look nice)
right now I have a bunch of glulam beams that are 56 thick and will become the stringers under the actual staircase.

my question is: what is the best way to cut them to get straight cuts and relatively good corners (even though they won't be visible)

I'm leaning towards a circular saw, but are there better ideas?

 

[pbengtsson]

Now I don't know how you planned, but a good handsaw provides good and straight cuts; it's not difficult to saw at right angles as long as the saw is good. You don't need machines for everything.

But please describe in more detail how you plan to cut the beam, then maybe there are other tips.

 

[storken]

well, it will be 7 steps and three sidepieces. so 21 triangles that need to be cut from laminated wood. it is 56mm thick so I thought it would be easier with a machine and straighter especially. will cut a few more for the steps themselves which will be of similar thickness.

thinking about buying a Dewalt D23620 it goes through 65mm then I will have more use for it.

 

[vojma]

Plunge saw?

Using the guide rail, you can make the cut exactly where you want.

My Makita gives such fine cuts that if you polished them with 2000-grit sandpaper, they would get scratches.

However, I'm a tiny bit doubtful about how deep it cuts. It might not be enough for 56 mm when using the guide rail...

 

[pbengtsson]

I think I understand what you mean, that saw works, it's best if you can place several reglar together and make a cut across so you manufacture three triangles directly, then cut perpendicular, and you have three more, etc. Have an OSB or something you're not worried about underneath so it's easy to saw with everything lying flat and stable.

 

[storken]

although three balks being 3*56mm is over 1.5 dm in thickness, I do get a track in balk number two which means I don't have to draw on that one either. not bad!

 

[pbengtsson]

but three beams become 3*56mm, which is over 1.5 dm in thickness, however, I can indeed make a groove in beam number two, so I don't have to draw on that one too. Not bad!

Not on top of each other but beside each other. What is tricky with a circular saw is making short cuts if you're not used to it. If you place them next to each other, each cut will be 1m and you'll get three pieces with the exact same angle.

 

[storken]

yeees. now I get it yes yes, of course! great post!

 

[PCLarsson]

are you going to say out jack from the wagon piece or were you thinking of screwing/nailing the triangles

also have a staircase construction in progress

 

[storken]

are you going to cut out notches from the stringer or were you thinking of screwing/nailing triangles

I also have a stair project in progress

fun! I was thinking of cutting out notches and not adding triangles (I have seen that description) I happened to find 9 glulam beams on Blocket and on the spot I decided to use them as steps too. Otherwise, I was thinking of having three stringers and cutting up a solid wood countertop for the steps. I plan to plane them so everything is clean and nice, then cut out the stringers, pre-drill, etc., and then fit them and mount on-site.

how are your plans going? how are you going to do it? thoughts and tips are all welcome!